Assistant Manager – Museum Shop

Sandwich Glass Museum; Sandwich, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandwich Glass Museum seeks an Assistant Manager to support the Museum Shop's daily operations, purchasing, inventory, and e-commerce. You will work closely with the Shop Manager, supervise staff, and lead the shop in their absence, ensuring top-notch customer service and smooth performance.

You will develop leadership skills to eventually assume the Shop Manager role, balance multiple priorities, and represent the Museum professionally in person and online.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement: retail, supervisory, or management experience preferred.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Experience with inventory management, purchasing, merchandising, or POS systems preferred.
• Comfortable handling cash, reconciling sales, and preparing deposits.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently when the Shop Manager is not present.
• Ability to supervise and motivate staff in a positive manner.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in a busy retail environment.
• Interest in art, glass, crafts, local artists, museums, or cultural organizations a plus.
• Experience with e-commerce or online retail is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Shop Manager with daily operation and management of the Museum Shop.
• Lead the shop in the Shop Manager's absence and support future transition.
• Open and close the shop according to procedures.
• Ensure accurate cash handling, register reconciliation, and bank deposits.
• Maintain high customer service standards; keep shop clean, stocked, and appealing.
• Monitor daily sales and identify opportunities to improve retail performance.
• Plan and prepare the shop for special sales and seasonal events.
• Coordinate product selection, merchandising, pricing, inventory, staff, and operations for special sales.
• Assist with setup/breakdown of special sales and ensure merchandise security.
• Develop merchandising displays aligned with events and goals.
• Assist in day-to-day purchasing and inventory management.
• Monitor inventory levels and assist with reorders and aging items.
• Assist with vendor communications, POs, receiving, pricing, and invoicing.
• Maintain accurate inventory records and price tagging.
• Manage inventory rotation to stay fresh and aligned with demand.
• Analyze sales trends to inform purchasing decisions.
• Support online store inventory management and online/offline coordination.
• Communicate inventory changes to the E-Commerce Lead.
• Schedule, train, and supervise shop staff; provide guidance during operations.
• Share leadership and resolve routine issues in the Manager's absence.
• Foster a positive, collaborative shop environment.

Skills

Retail supervision

Staff supervision

Customer service

Cash handling

Inventory management

Merchandising

Purchasing

POS systems

Leadership

Event preparation

Tools

Point-of-Sale systems

Job description

The Assistant Manager plays a key leadership role in the successful operation of the Sandwich Glass Museum Shop. Working closely with the Shop Manager, this position supports the day-to-day management of the retail operation, including sales, purchasing, inventory, e-commerce, staff coordination, special sales, and financial procedures.

The Assistant Manager will serve as the lead manager in the Shop Manager’s absence and will be developed to assume the Shop Manager role in the future. This position requires a highly organized, customer-focused individual who is comfortable taking initiative, managing multiple priorities, supervising staff, and representing the Museum in a professional and welcoming manner.

Key Responsibilities

Retail Shop Operations

• Assist the Shop Manager with the daily operation and management of the Museum Shop.
• Take the lead role in the shop when the Shop Manager is not present, ensuring that the shop operates smoothly and that staff have the direction and support they need.
• Open and close the shop according to Museum procedures.
• Ensure accurate cash handling, register reconciliation, and preparation of bank deposits.
• Maintain a high standard of customer service and ensure the shop is clean, organized, well-stocked, and visually appealing.
• Monitor daily sales activity and identify opportunities to improve the customer experience and retail performance.
• Take a lead role in planning and preparing the retail shop for special sales, seasonal events, Museum programs, and other high-volume retail opportunities.
• Coordinate product selection, merchandising, pricing, inventory levels, displays, staffing, and operational needs for special sales.
• Assist with set-up and breakdown of special sales and ensure all merchandise is properly accounted for before and after events.
• Help develop creative merchandising presentations that support Museum events and seasonal sales goals.

Purchasing & Inventory Management

• Assist in day-to-day purchasing and inventory management in coordination with the Shop Manager.
• Monitor inventory levels and identify products that need to be reordered, rotated, discounted, or discontinued.
• Assist with vendor communications, purchase orders, receiving, pricing, and invoice processing.
• Assist in maintaining accurate inventory records and ensure new merchandise is properly entered, priced, tagged, displayed, and available for sale.
• Manage inventory rotation to keep merchandise fresh, seasonal, and aligned with customer demand.
• Assist in analyzing sales trends to inform purchasing and product selection decisions.
• Help maintain an appropriate balance between established best-selling merchandise and new products from artists and vendors.
• Work closely with the E-Commerce Lead to ensure that merchandise selected for online sales is appropriately managed.
• Coordinate inventory availability between the physical shop and online store.
• Communicate inventory changes, new product arrivals, discontinued items, and seasonal merchandise to the E-Commerce Lead.

Staff Support & Supervision

• Assist the Shop Manager with the scheduling, training, and day-to-day supervision of shop personnel.
• Provide guidance and direction to staff during daily operations and special sales.
• Help train staff on customer service, merchandise knowledge, sales procedures, cash handling, opening and closing procedures, and Museum policies.
• Serve as a resource for staff questions and resolve routine operational issues in the Shop Manager’s absence.
• Help foster a positive, collaborative, and professional shop environment.

Leadership Development

• Work closely with the Shop Manager to learn all aspects of the Museum Shop operation.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of purchasing, inventory management, staffing, sales, financial procedures, monthly reporting requirements, e-commerce, vendor relationships, merchandising, and special event operations.
• Gradually assume additional management responsibilities with the goal of being prepared to step into the Shop Manager position when needed.
• Serve as the Shop Manager’s primary operational support and designated backup.

Qualifications

• Previous retail, supervisory, or management experience preferred.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Experience with inventory management, purchasing, merchandising, or point-of-sale systems preferred.
• Comfortable handling cash, reconciling sales, and preparing deposits.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions when the Shop Manager is not present.
• Ability to supervise and motivate staff in a positive and professional manner.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Comfortable working in a busy retail environment and managing multiple priorities.
• Interest in art, glass, crafts, local artists, museums, or cultural organizations is a plus.
• Experience with e-commerce or online retail is highly desirable.

The Assistant Manager is expected to be a visible and dependable leader within the Museum Shop. This individual should demonstrate initiative, sound judgment, accountability, and a willingness to learn all aspects of the retail operation.

The successful candidate will not simply assist with daily tasks but will develop the knowledge and leadership skills necessary to step into the Shop Manager role and maintain continuity of the Museum Shop's operations.

Why This Position Matters

The Museum Shop is an important part of the Sandwich Glass Museum's visitor experience and provides an opportunity to extend the Museum's mission beyond its galleries. Through thoughtful purchasing, strong merchandising, excellent customer service, and successful online and in-person sales, the Shop connects visitors with glass artists, local makers, and products that reflect the Museum's history and identity.

The Assistant Manager provides essential operational and leadership support while helping ensure that the Shop is financially successful, well organized, and prepared to grow. Developing this position as a successor to the Shop Manager also provides the Museum with important leadership continuity and institutional knowledge, reducing disruption when management responsibilities transition in the future.