Retail Assistant Manager

International Spy Museum; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

International Spy Museum in Washington, DC seeks a dynamic Retail Assistant Store Manager to lead our busy museum gift shop. This visible role coaches Sales Associates, maintains operational excellence, and supports floor leadership with a focus on guest experience.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years in retail management, experience in staffing, cash handling, and POS systems, and a track record of achieving sales goals while delivering top-notch customer service in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years retail management or supervisory experience.
• Experience staffing, scheduling, onboarding, training, cash handling, merchandising and POS systems.
• Proficiency with Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily retail operations and supervise up to 20 Sales Associates.
• Coach, train, and provide feedback on customer service and policies.
• Handle opening/closing procedures, cash handling, and documentation.
• Assist with recruiting, onboarding, and staff training.
• Support sales goals, payroll, budgeting, and expense monitoring.
• Deliver excellent customer service and lead by example on the sales floor.
• Maintain merchandising standards with accurate pricing and signage.
• Coordinate with buyers on product quality and opportunities.
• Assist with stock receiving, ticketing, and shelf replenishment.
• Participate in inventory counts and loss prevention efforts.

Skills

Customer service

People management

Coaching sales associates

Inventory knowledge

Business acumen

Organizational skills

Multi-tasking

Problem solving

Adaptability

Fast-paced environment

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

College degree or related coursework in business/marketing/merchandising/hospitality management

Tools

Retail POS systems

Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The International Spy Museum is seeking a dynamic, people-first Retail Assistant Store Manager to lead our fun and fast-paced museum gift shop. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on juggling multiple priorities, solving problems in real time, and supporting a team while delivering service excellence to every Museum guest.

The Retail Assistant Store Manager is a visible leader on the sales floor and manages all aspects of the daily retail operation. This position plays a key role in coaching and training Sales Associates and maintaining operational excellence. The Retail Assistant Store Manager will manage department administration in addition to floor support.

Success Traits

• Strong multi-tasker and can balance guest service, team support and operational tasks simultaneously
• Natural problem solver who takes initiative and is solution-oriented
• Passionate about working with the public, customer service, and creating memorable guest experiences
• Technically proficient with strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Responsibilities

• Assist in overseeing daily retail operations and supervising a team of up to 20 Sales Associates. Set expectations and provide feedback, coaching, and training related to customer service, product knowledge, point-of-sale, attendance, and store policies and procedures.
• Perform daily opening and closing procedures, including cash handling, register reconciliation, and other required documentation.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and training new staff members.
• Support daily, monthly, and annual sales goals. Generate reports and assist with payroll, budgeting, and expense monitoring.
• Provide exceptional customer service and lead by example on the sales floor. Respond courteously and promptly to customer inquiries and concerns.
• Execute merchandising standards and maintain a fully stocked, organized, and visually appealing sales floor with accurate pricing and signage.
• Provide feedback to Retail Buyers and Leadership on merchandise quality, customer feedback, and product opportunities.
• Support Logistics team with receiving, ticketing, and stocking merchandise. Support product maintenance by executing price changes, markups and markdowns accurately and efficiently, ensuring clear communication of any discrepancies.
• Assist with annual physical inventory and ongoing cycle counts.
• Support loss prevention initiatives by following operational procedures and helping minimize shrink.
• Attend and actively participate in weekly department meetings and monthly all-staff meetings.
• Represent the museum in a positive and professional manner.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as needed or assigned.

Education & Experience Required

• High School degree or equivalent. College degree or related college coursework in business, marketing, merchandising, and/or hospitality management preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in retail management or supervisory role.
• Direct experience in staffing and scheduling, training, cash handling, merchandising, and using retail POS systems.
• Proficient in Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel.

Skills Preferred

• Strong customer service and people management skills.
• Ability to coach Sales Associates on policies and best practices.
• Knowledge of retail inventory and visual merchandising practices.
• Strong business acumen and ability to monitor and support sales performance.
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and problem solving skills.
• Flexible, highly adaptable, and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Special Considerations

This is a full-time salaried position requiring the ability to work nights and weekends. Required to work some holidays as dictated by the needs of the business.

This role requires extended periods of standing and walking, will require a moderate amount of bending, and the ability to pick up, carry, lift, and move stock weighing up to 20 pounds.

Moving merchandise from other locations within the Museum using carts and dollies will be required.