Full Time Store Manager - Paddock Shops

Build-A-Bear; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Build-A-Bear Workshop in Louisville, KY seeks a Chief Workshop Manager to lead the workshop toward exceptional Guest experiences, guide a high‑performing team, and achieve financial goals while enforcing brand standards.

You will drive sales by coaching leaders, manage payroll and scheduling, and oversee hiring, discipline, and inventory processes as part of a dynamic retail team. This role demands strong leadership, customer focus, and adherence to policies.

Qualifications

• Requires a minimum 2 years of management experience in a customer‑centric business.
• High school diploma or GED required; associate’s degree or higher preferred.
• Experience with POS, scheduling, HRIS and time and attendance systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales and team performance by coaching managers and leaders, ensuring a Guest experience aligned with brand standards.
• Create weekly schedules and assignments, manage breaks, and set daily priorities with guidance from the Assistant Workshop Manager.
• Make hiring and promotion decisions with input from the Assistant Workshop Manager and leadership.
• Enforce company policies, conduct discipline as needed, and address violations in coordination with District/HR teams.
• Oversee merchandising displays to adhere to brand standards and maintain an inviting store environment.
• Manage inventory processes including receiving, stocking, and counts.
• Develop a high-performing team in partnership with leadership to deliver exceptional Guest experiences.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Team coaching

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate's degree or higher

Tools

POS systems

Scheduling software

HRIS

Time and attendance

Job description

As a Chief Workshop Manager (CWM) at Build-A-Bear, you will be responsible for the overall success of the workshop, ensuring an exceptional Guest experience, a high-performing and engaged team, achievement of financial goals, and consistent adherence to all company policies, procedures, and brand standards.

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.

Required Qualifications:

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2-4 years of store management experience
• Associate’s degree or higher in business, management, or a related field
• Proficiency in the use of common store technology solutions (POS, scheduling, HRIS, time and attendance)

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Ambitious, success‑oriented, and motivated by achieving goals.
• Balances creativity, fun, and operational discipline.
• Exercises sound judgment in ambiguous situations and independent decision‑
• Demonstrates initiative, resilience, and adaptability.
• Leads with confidence, positivity, and an energizing presence.
• Maintains composure and clarity under pressure.
• Unites teams around shared goals and a joyful Guest experience.
• Ability to work a typical retail schedule including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to sit, stand, move, and lead an active retail environment for at least eight hours a day.
• Work environments include indoor/outdoor malls, strip centers, and other retail locations.Ability to lift > 25 pounds.

Your Performance Will Be Measured On:

Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following.

• Leadership effectiveness, decision‑making, and independent judgment
• Sales performance and profitability
• Delivery of an Experience First culture for Guests and associates
• Talent management, including hiring, development, and retention
• Compliance with company policies and procedures
• Operational excellence and adherence to brand standards
• Payroll management and scheduling effectiveness
• Team engagement, collaboration, and communication
• Stakeholder feedback, including District Manager and corporate partners

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at‑will employment, and Build‑A‑Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may be deemed appropriate.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.