Lead Operations Associate

GameCornerSJ; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

GameCornerSJ in San Jose, CA is seeking a Lead Operations Associate to guide back-of-house fulfillment and inventory workflows. You will mentor junior staff, oversee multi-platform order processing, and ensure accurate, timely shipments for our growing TCG inventory.

The role bridges floor operations and store management, requiring hands-on leadership, strong organizational skills, and commitment to safety and policy compliance during openings, closings, and peak shipping periods.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years in retail operations, warehousing, or logistics.
• Strong familiarity with trading card games and related ecosystems.
• Experience using inventory and shipping software; cash/POS handling.

Responsibilities

• Lead duty coverage for openings, closings, and weekends.
• Coach and onboard junior staff; improve processing speed and accuracy.
• Oversee daily fulfillment, orders, in-store pickups, and shipments.
• Maintain organized, safe, and retail-ready workspace.
• Document inventory variances and shipping delays for management.

Skills

Retail ops leadership

TCG domain literacy

Inventory management

Cash/POS handling

Job description

The Role

GameCornerSJ is seeking a Lead Operations Associate to serve as a back-of-house and fulfillment leader. You will elevate our daily inventory workflows, mentor junior staff, and drive our e-commerce order accuracy. This role bridges the gap between floor operations and store management by maintaining an organized, highly efficient processing environment for our vast TCG inventory.

Core Responsibilities

Shift Leadership & Operations Development

• Act as Operations Lead: Serve as the primary leader on duty overseeing fulfillment during designated opening, closing, and weekend shifts.
• Mentor Operations Associates: Provide real-time coaching, support onboarding for new hires, and reinforce processing speed, grading accuracy, and store performance standards.
• Manage Shift Handoffs: Document operational notes, shipping delays, and inventory variances for the incoming management team.
• Enforce Workplace Culture: Maintain professional boundaries, promote safety, and ensure policy compliance across the clock. Ensure team compliance with legally required timekeeping, meal periods, and rest breaks.

Fulfillment Excellence & Logistics

• Supervise Daily Fulfillment: Oversee staff to ensure all digital orders and in-store pickups are accurately picked, packed, and processed.
• Manage Mail Drop-offs: Ensure all outgoing mail and carrier shipments are securely prepared and dropped off on schedule.
• Resolve Inventory Friction: Handle multi-platform listing errors, stock discrepancies, and order fulfillment issues calmly and professionally.
• Support Team Decisions: Back up Operations Associates when complex inventory scenarios or order adjustments require tier-two authorization or finality.

Inventory Systems & Space Management

• Execute Daily Systems: Run e-commerce backend platforms, audit digital inventory counts, and manage daily shipping reconciliations.
• Maintain Visual & Operational Standards: Keep the sorting stations, storage spaces, and fulfillment counters clean, organized, safe, and retail-ready.
• Verify Stock Accuracy: Oversee collection intakes and ensure trading cards are correctly evaluated, graded, and entered into inventory databases using approved procedures.

Cash Handling & Loss Prevention Oversight

• Enforce Procedures: Audit and verify accurate inventory records, fulfillment logs, and shipping transaction documentation.
• Protect Company Assets: Safeguard inventory, equipment, confidential data, and other business assets from loss, theft, or damage.
• Investigate Discrepancies: Report shortages, damaged product, suspected fraud, inventory concerns, or suspicious activity immediately to management.

Success Metrics (What Success Looks Like)

Day 30: Independently run opening/closing operations procedures, master multi-platform fulfillment workflows, and accurately process standard shipments.

Day 60: Lead shift fulfillment solo, utilizing inventory and shipping software efficiently without management intervention.

Day 90: Proactively spot warehouse operational gaps, mentor junior staff on grading/sorting speed, and maintain target order accuracy metrics.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Proven Experience: Minimum of 2 years of retail operations, warehouse fulfillment, or logistics experience.
• TCG Domain Literacy: Deep familiarity with at least two major hobby systems, e.g., Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Pokémon, Lorcana, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!.
• Inventory Fluency: Proven experience with inventory management software, shipping systems, and cash/POS procedures for pickups.
• Leadership Drive: Demonstrated ability to delegate tasks, make structural decisions under pressure, and coach peers.
• Physical Capability: Ability to lift, carry, and move heavy inventory boxes or freight weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Stamina & Mobility: Ability to stand, walk, and remain active in the operations space for extended periods.
• Operational Reliability: Availability to work flexible hours, including peak shipping days and weekend hours.

Preferred Attributes (Bonus Points)

• Industry Experience: Prior employment within a hobby, comic, or tabletop gaming e-commerce ecosystem.
• Advanced Grading Systems: Deep background sorting, grading, and conditioning raw high-value singles or large bulk collections using industry standards.
• Logistics Optimization: Experience improving workspace ergonomics, reducing processing times, or managing high-volume holiday shipping spikes.