Lead Store Associate

Curaleaf; Panama City (FL); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Curaleaf Panama City is seeking a Lead Store Associate to guide daily retail operations and inspire the team to deliver exceptional customer experiences. You’ll be the brand ambassador, drive performance, and help maintain a welcoming, compliant store environment.

The role requires 21+ years, a HS diploma or GED, 1 year in customer-facing sales, 1 year with POS/cash handling, 6 months of leadership, and 6 months in store ops.

Qualifications

• 21 years of age or older.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year in a customer-facing or sales environment.
• Minimum 1 year of experience using POS systems and cash handling.
• Minimum 6 months of leadership experience in a retail environment.
• Minimum 6 months of hands-on experience in retail store operations, including opening/closing procedures and cash drawer reconciliation.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example to create a welcoming customer environment and coach the team.
• Empower associates to build relationships through personalized product recommendations.
• Drive consultative selling with effective questioning and product education.
• Promote loyalty by enrolling guests in rewards programs and gathering customer insights.
• Maintain compliance with SOPs, safety protocols, and state regulations.
• Lead opening/closing duties, manage cash reconciliation, and ensure a guest-ready store.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Cash handling

POS systems

Retail operations

De-escalation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

POS systems

Retail software

Job description

At Curaleaf, we’re redefining the cannabis industry with a strong commitment to quality, expertise, and innovation. As a leading global cannabis provider, our brands—including Curaleaf, Select, and Grassroots—offer premium products and services in both medical and adult-use markets.

Join us at Curaleaf to be part of a high-growth, purpose-driven company that champions corporate social responsibility through our Rooted in Good initiative, supporting community outreach and positive change. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, drive innovation, and help shape the future of cannabis.

Lead Store Associate

Type of Work: Full-Time
Shift Availability: The candidate must have open availability on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Starting Hourly Pay Rate:$17.50/hr
Location: 749 W 23rd St, Panama City, FL 32405

About the Role:

As a Lead Store Associate, you'll be at the forefront of delivering exceptional experiences to our customers while guiding and inspiring your team. As a key player in our retail operations, you'll serve as a brand ambassador, drive performance, and help shape a welcoming, compliant, and high‑performing retail store environment.

What You’ll Do:

Customer Experience & People

• Lead by example to create a warm, welcoming environment where every guest feels valued, and coach your team to deliver exceptional service with every interaction.
• Empower associates to build meaningful customer relationships through personalized product recommendations and expert guidance.
• Drive consultative selling on the floor by encouraging open‑ended questions, active listening, and thoughtful product education.
• Foster a culture of loyalty by guiding the team to enroll guests in our rewards program and capture customer insights that enhance future experiences.
• Support your team in resolving customer concerns with empathy and professionalism, ensuring every challenge becomes an opportunity to build trust.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace—where positivity and teamwork fuel great customer experiences and smooth operations at checkout.

Operational Excellence & Processes

• Execute opening and closing duties, including daily huddles and cash reconciliation.
• Verify customer IDs and maintain accurate POS profiles.
• Ensure inventory integrity through precise transaction processing and order fulfillment.
• Lead inventory counts and participate in overnight audits.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and guest‑ready store environment.
• Uphold compliance with SOPs, safety protocols, and state regulations.
• Achieve daily KPI goals through consultative selling and upselling strategies.
• Reinforce customer purchase decisions and highlight complementary products.
• Stay informed on promotions and product updates to deliver a seamless shopping experience.

Leadership & Team Development

• Guide and support store associates in daily operations.
• Lead by example in customer service and operational excellence.
• Train new hires and conduct ongoing training sessions.
• Provide real‑time coaching and feedback to drive team performance.
• Delegate tasks effectively and act as the go‑to leader in the absence of store management.
• Support conflict resolution and promote a positive workplace culture.
• Adapt quickly in a fast‑paced environment and take on additional duties as needed.

What You’ll Bring:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience in a customer‑facing or sales environment.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience using point‑of‑sale (POS) systems and cash handling.
• A minimum of 6 months of leadership experience in a retail environment.
• Minimum of 6 months of hands‑on experience in retail store operations, including but not limited to executing opening and closing procedures, and reconciling cash drawers.

Curaleaf Team Members need a minimum of 6 months of experience as a Store Associate demonstrating consistent performance.

• Strongleadership and team-buildingskills with the ability to coach and motivate others.
• Familiarity withretail standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and loss prevention practices
• High level ofattention to detail, especially in cash handling and inventory management.
• Excellentcustomer serviceandinterpersonal communicationskills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a high‑volume, compliance‑driven setting.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional overnights.
• Multi‑tasking with the ability to quickly pivot to other tasks
• Comfortable using technology and learning new tools to support operations and customer interactions.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Strong de‑escalation skills and the ability to redirect upset customers to result in a positive guest experience.
• Basic proficiency in mathematics and computer applications.
• The ability to maintain a solution‑driven mindset when dealing with upset customers.
• Strong conflict resolution skills and the ability to handle high‑stress situations.
• Ability to support store leadership by taking initiative and a proactive approach
• Ability to work across all stations within the store, based on business needs.

Even Better If You Have:

• Previous knowledge of inventory management, systematic restocking of merchandise, fulfillment of online and in‑store orders, and conducting daily inventory counts and comprehensive inventory audits to maintain stock accuracy and compliance.
• Background in a sales role with a focus on tracking KPIs and meeting sales targets.
• Previous experience within a regulated retail setting.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the