Leader In Training (full-time)

The Buckle, Inc.; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, medical, dental and vision

401(k) with company match

HSA and FSA

Teammate discount (40% off Buckle)

Paid time off

Job summary

The Buckle, Inc. in Aurora, IL seeks a Leader in Training (LIT) and Floor Leader to drive guest experience and sales through leadership and coaching. You will work with store management to recruit, train and develop teammates while performing merchandising, customer service and store operations.

Applicants excel in a fast-paced retail environment, demonstrate showmanship, and partner with the Store Manager and Leadership Team to meet sales goals, manage daily tasks, and uphold Buckle's standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; or 1–3 months related retail experience.
• Retail leadership or supervisory experience is a plus.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales and guest service experiences through leadership and training.
• Recruit, train and develop new teammates to meet daily standards.
• Manage visual merchandising, store operations and processes.
• Guide and coach teammates to maintain Buckle standards and performance.
• Collaborate with store management to achieve sales goals.

Skills

Guest service

Leadership

Team development

Sales knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED; or 1–3 months related retail experience

Tools

POS system

Job description

Summary

The Leader in Training (LIT) and Floor Leader position’s primary responsibility is to fulfill our mission statement: “To create the most enjoyable shopping experience possible for our Guests.” The LIT and Floor Leader performs a variety of sales, merchandising and operational tasks assigned by store management (e.g., cashiering, merchandise display and pulls, register procedures, and routine cleaning of facilities). Works directly with the Store Manager and Leadership Team to develop sales, recruit new Teammates and provide leadership.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay range: $15-$20/hr. The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons. For sales positions, Buckle pays a base rate plus commission on sales. The range listed is the estimated base rate plus commission for teammates in this position.

Full‑time teammates benefits:

• Health: Health, medical, dental and vision coverage, including preventive care at 100% and virtual care.
• Wealth: 401(k) with company match, health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). Performance bonuses and teammate discount (40% off Buckle products and 25% off gift cards).
• Peace of Mind: Time off, income protection, leave of absence support, supplemental insurance options, and additional benefits such as legal services and identity theft protection.

Part‑time teammates benefits:

• Teammate discount (40% off Buckle products and 25% off gift cards).
• Medical plan access, 401(k) with matching, mental health resources via EAP.
• Paid leave in applicable states.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Sales Generation and Guest Service

• Greet guests with a friendly, engaging attitude and provide legendary service.
• Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
• Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on guest needs and desires.
• Anticipate and fulfill guest needs by suggesting additional items and creating a wardrobe experience.
• Demonstrate product using product knowledge and sales education, sharing that knowledge with teammates.
• Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, payment policies, returns, and security practices.
• Maintain personal sales, target per hour, average sales and total net sales goals set by store management.
• Provide legendary service throughout the store in key areas: front 5, sales floor, fitting rooms, and register area.
• Know all exchange and return procedures and turn them into showmanship opportunities.
• Use the Sales Presentation Guide (SPG) daily to accomplish goals.
• Meet or exceed performance standards in Buckle business creators and guest loyalty programs.
• Investigate and expand guest selection using inventory manager, advanced product search, iPad apps.
• Build good guest relationships to develop a client‑based business.
• Lead by example with showmanship, customer service and attentiveness.
• Recognize and communicate guest levels with the team.
• Ask business‑driven and showmanship questions to managers, leaders, and teammates.
• Coachable: allows manager to educate them in sales presentation.
• Consistently perform leadership actions and maintain high standards, whether or not the manager is present.

Teammate Recruiting, Training and Development

• Recognize recruiting opportunities via Jobs & Careers cards, email referrals and teammate recommendation.
• Develop skills and assist in leading, directing, motivating and educating new teammates to meet daily standards on accountability, shift orientation, loss prevention and sales presentation.
• Maintain a positive attitude, positive floor culture.
• Demonstrate personal dress code and coach teammates.
• Participate effectively in daily setup, training, performance reviews using the Performance Tracker.
• Motivate teammates to initiate and complete daily tasks.
• Coach denim showmanship and denim fit cards with teammates and guests.
• Create and develop results in your department and balance all department manager actions, including mid‑week check‑in.
• During segment leadership: awareness of guests, involve them with product, vocal updates to leader and team, get guest names, understand cross‑team collaboration.

Visual Merchandise Management

• Own and influence product through zone ownership: product knowledge, placement, preference, weekly checklist, life cycle, track results.
• Recognize and assign zones and projects to teammates daily.
• Ensure teammates follow visual standards, visual library and weekly visual checklist with urgency.
• Execute new tools and videos that apply to zone ownership.
• Recognize merchandising opportunities from freight to floor and communicate recommendations.
• Provide informative store tours.
• Ensure sales floor consistently sized and freight displayed appropriately.

Operations

• Work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Use planner for opening and closing checklists.
• Watch for security risks, thefts and handle them.
• Follow loss prevention guidelines: bag and purse checks.
• Execute all POS procedures.
• Handle corporate calls.
• Know Buckle guidelines for returns and exchanges.
• Maintain positive attitude in challenging situations.
• Execute policies on payments, exchanges, loss prevention.
• Navigate and execute home‑page tools.
• Guide and give feedback to all non‑sales positions.
• Cover shifts when needed.
• Provide feedback to store manager and leadership on merchandise handling concerns.
• Communicate policy violations and concerns confidentially to appropriate parties.
• Maintain a clean, organized and shoppable store.
• Apply Buckle’s Code of Ethics and all policies, procedures and handbooks.

Supervisory and Leadership

• Comfortable giving and receiving feedback from peers and management.
• Support leadership and promote personal and store growth.
• Maintain professional, mature and stable relationships with teammates.
• Fulfill mission statement through high level customer service and team spirit.
• Handle special projects and other assigned duties.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related retail experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands

The job requires standing, walking, using hands, reaching, climbing, balancing, jumping, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking and hearing. Occasionally sitting. Must lift and maneuver up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities: close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and focus adjustment.

Work Environment

Regularly works in a retail store setting with moderate noise level.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Buckle is committed to hiring and developing the most qualified teammates from the communities we serve. Equal employment opportunity is a fundamental principle. Employment is based on personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination for protected characteristics as established by applicable law. Refer to State Law Supplements found on the Teammate Center, under Human Resources.

Please contact [e-mail] if you have questions or concerns about Buckle’s pay and benefits transparency.