Assistant Store Manager

NAPA Auto Parts; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

NAPA Auto Parts in Hickory, NC seeks an Assistant Store Manager to lead daily store operations while maintaining active customer-facing sales responsibilities. You will oversee counter sales, inventory, deliveries, and housekeeping, coaching teammates to ensure consistent standards and coverage.

This role serves as a developmental path toward Store Manager, with potential overtime and keyholder responsibilities for opening and closing the storefront.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a fast-paced retail or automotive environment.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of inventory management and store operations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Store Manager on operations, sales, and scheduling.
• Actively sell and build customer relationships across channels.
• Model expected behaviors and customer standards.
• Execute opening/closing routines and ensure store readiness.
• Handle administrative tasks and compliance documentation.
• Monitor store metrics and drive improvements.
• Provide coaching and development for store team.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Inventory management

People management

Operating procedures

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary
The Assistant Store Manager uses their automotive, customer service, operational and leadership expertise with all customers and team members to successfully operate our NAPA retail store and lead NAPA to be the dominant parts supplier in the market. The Assistant Store Manager is a primary support to the Store Manager across all store functions while maintaining active customer-facing sales responsibilities. This role has critical oversight of the store operations- ensuring completion of all store functions including counter sales, inventory/receiving, delivery coordination, housekeeping, and other operational tasks by coaching team members, monitoring progress, and stepping in to assist or perform tasks if necessary to maintain standards, ensure coverage, and support store continuity.

Job Summary
The Assistant Store Manager uses their automotive, customer service, operational and leadership expertise with all customers and team members to successfully operate our NAPA retail store and lead NAPA to be the dominant parts supplier in the market. The Assistant Store Manager is a primary support to the Store Manager across all store functions while maintaining active customer-facing sales responsibilities. This role has critical oversight of the store operations- ensuring completion of all store functions including counter sales, inventory/receiving, delivery coordination, housekeeping, and other operational tasks by coaching team members, monitoring progress, and stepping in to assist or perform tasks if necessary to maintain standards, ensure coverage, and support store continuity.
The Assistant Store Manager role is designed to be a developmental pathway to becoming a Store Managers. This role may require overtime hours scheduled based on business need, as well as keyholder responsibilities opening and closing the store.

Responsibilities

• Partner daily with Store Manager on operations, sales execution, inventory health, labor/scheduling alignment, and team performance. May have direct influence and responsibility for direct reports of the store and financial impact of labor planning.
• Actively sell and build customer relationships across retail and wholesale channels (in-store, phone, and external dealer/wholesale calls as needed).
• Model expected behaviors, processes, and customer standards.
• Execute or oversee opening and closing routines (security, cash reconciliation, end-of-day reporting, facility readiness).
• Handle or support administrative tasks: scheduling input, compliance documentation, performance tracking/reporting, and basic P&L awareness items.
• Monitor and act on core store metrics (sales, inventory accuracy/turn, customer satisfaction, cleanliness/organization, labor efficiency, loss prevention) by uncovering trends and problem solving for solutions.
• Provide leadership oversight, training and overall performance management for flexible execution of all store functions (counter sales, order pulling, receiving, stocking, delivery coordination, etc.) as business needs require: set expectations, coach the team, monitor outcomes, and step in to assist when necessary to ensure continuity and standards.
• Support talent development: provide coaching, and mentor successors for advancement.
• Drive adherence to safety, asset protection, operational processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent. Technical or trade school courses or degree completion
• Experience in the automotive after-market service industry or hobby/DIY world, or at least the willingness to learn all things automotive
• Leadership experience
• Passion for delivering customer care and building long term relationships
• Thrive off working in a very fast paced and complex environment
• Knowledge of cataloging and/or inventory management systems
• Ability to lift 60lbs in some situations
• Background and/or passion for automotive industry, heavy equipment, farm industry, diesel, marine, or dealership
• Experience in a parts store, auction, retail store, auto body/collision, or fast food/restaurant/convenience store management experience
• Entirely customer-centric (external/internal)
• ASE Certifications a plus
• NAPA Know How

Position Performance Measures

• Customer satisfaction and issue resolution effectiveness
• Sales performance and overall effective operations in the store
• Product knowledge and technical advisory capability
• People metrics- turnover, time to fill, payroll to GP, schedule compliance
• Store metrics- sales, P&L, OPEX

Physical Demands / Working Environment

• Retail and warehouse environment with frequent customer interaction
• Standing and walking for extended periods throughout the shift
• Ability to lift and move parts and equipment up to ~60 lbs
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching (including use of ladders/stools)
• Use of equipment such as hand trucks, dollies, and hydraulic lifts
• Requires visual accuracy for identifying part numbers and sequences
• Fast-paced environment requiring multitasking and attention to detail

GPC conducts its business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. GPC's policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons.