Chief Workshop Manager: Guest Experience Leader

Build-A-Bear Workshop; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Build-A-Bear Workshop seeks a Chief Workshop Manager to drive overall workshop success, ensuring a top-tier Guest experience, strong team performance, and achievement of financial goals. You will oversee payroll, forecasting, scheduling, and brand-aligned operations across a busy retail environment.

You will hire and coach leaders, enforce policies, manage inventory and merchandising, and partner with the Assistant Workshop Manager to maintain high standards and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of management experience in a customer-centric business.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience using store technology solutions (POS, scheduling, HRIS, time and attendance).

Responsibilities

• Drive sales and team performance by coaching AWMs, SLs, and Bear Builders, ensuring a Guest experience that reflects the Experience First culture, and managing payroll, forecasting, and scheduling based on business trends to achieve or surpass targets.
• Create weekly schedules and determine associates’ daily assignments with the assistance of the Assistant Workshop Manager (AWM); direct their work, including managing break schedules, completing assigned tasks and daily priorities, and serving as a role model leader.
• Make hiring and promotion decisions, taking into consideration feedback and recommendations from the AWM regarding applicant selection and staff advancement.
• Lead and inspire your team during scheduled shifts, enforcing and adhering to Build-A-Bear Workshop policies, procedures, and standards. Identify and communicate any possible violations to the District Manager and/or Territory Manager immediately, for escalation to HR. Take appropriate disciplinary actions in coordination with DM and HR as required by policy, and deliver corrective actions to team members, with the assistance of the AWM, when violations occur. This includes store security and cash management, product confidentiality, safety, attendance, business conduct, and all other policies as communicated in the associate handbook.
• Ensure that all merchandising displays and layouts adhere to brand standards, creating an inviting and cohesive store environment.
• Exercise common sense and independent judgment in responding to and leading the team to maintain operational efficiencies and adherence to store safety policies and procedures and in resolving Guest issues.
• Oversee inventory management processes, including receiving, stocking, and inventory counts.
• Build and develop a high-performing team in partnership with the AWM that consistently delivers an exceptional Guest experience.

Skills

Leadership

Guest focus

Communication

Team coaching

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate's degree or higher preferred

Tools

POS

HRIS

Scheduling

Job description

Build-A-Bear Workshop seeks a Chief Workshop Manager to drive overall workshop success, ensuring a top-tier Guest experience, strong team performance, and achievement of financial goals. You will oversee payroll, forecasting, scheduling, and brand-aligned operations across a busy retail environment.

You will hire and coach leaders, enforce policies, manage inventory and merchandising, and partner with the Assistant Workshop Manager to maintain high standards and guest satisfaction.