Retail Associate

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California is seeking a Retail Associate for USC Bookstores, Hospitality, Housing and more. The role involves serving students, faculty and guests, meeting sales goals and processing transactions with accuracy.

The position requires a flexible schedule, regular travel within Southern California and occasional overnight trips across the United States. A driver’s license and DMV pull notice are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 6–12 months of retail experience.
• Retail sales experience.
• Valid CA driver’s license required; DMV Pull Notice System involvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service to students, faculty, staff and external customers.
• Meet customer needs, offer options, resolve problems and follow up with customers.
• Ensure full customer satisfaction and maintain a friendly, helpful demeanor.
• Assist customers in locating merchandise and handling returns/exchanges.
• Perform cashiering functions in accordance with university policies.
• Maintain a neat and fully stocked sales floor.
• Travel within Southern California and some overnight travel within the United States.

Skills

Customer service

Retail sales

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

DMV Pull Notice System

Job description

USC Auxiliary Services, one of the largest divisions at The University of Southern California, is focused on making a difference for over 65,000 students, athletes, faculty, staff, and guests who visit our campuses each day. Through our innovative services, our six central business units (USC Bookstores, USC Hospitality, USC Housing, USC Transportation, the USC Hotel and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) collectively create the best USC experience for future leaders, scientists, filmmakers, engineers, and doctors alike. Auxiliary Services works tirelessly to welcome all visitors into the Trojan family. We are driven to succeed by our commitment to uphold our unifying values. Being part of the Trojan Family means belonging to an amazing international community that reaches beyond cities, industries, and time. Owned and operated by USC, the USC Bookstores embrace talent, nurture skills, and support ambition! A thriving retail organization with nine physical locations, a booming online presence, and over $35 million in annual sales, USC Bookstores are dedicated to creating the Best USC Experience. The Best USC Experience means outstanding customer service, excellent products, and a great place to work!

We are seeking a Retail Associate to join our rapidly growing team. The Opportunity: Are you passionate about providing exceptional customer service? Are you driven to set and exceed high sales goals? Then we want you! As our Retail Associate, you will be a fountain of knowledge for our guests as they browse our spacious locations. With your friendly, helpful demeanor, you will help our team create the best USC experience for each guest that comes through our doors. We will depend on you to help us set, and surpass, all of the sales goals that meet our growing needs. Join us today!

***This position requires regular travel throughout Southern California and some overnight travel within The United States. The position requires a flexible schedule that may include working any day of the week (Monday-Sunday shifts) aligned with retail hours, and late evenings.***

Accountabilities

• Provide customer service to students, faculty, staff and external customers.
• Meet customer needs, offer options, resolve problems and follows up with customers.
• Ensure full customer satisfaction without unnecessarily referring customer to other staff members.
• Maintain friendly, helpful demeanor.
• Provide professional, knowledgeable, courteous customer service.
• Assist customers in locating merchandise, take special orders, answer questions, perform gift wrapping and/or other special services, communicates policies on returns and exchanges.
• Monitor for shoplifting.
• Resolve customer complaints and processes merchandise returns, refunds or exchanges.
• Perform all cashiering functions in accordance with department and university cash handling policies and procedures.
• Check price tags for alterations.
• Protect department against monetary losses by requiring appropriate identification for check cashing.
• Use appropriate verification procedures for credit card purchases.
• Keep sales floor neat, clean and fully-stocked.
• Shelve new stock, inform buyers of fast- and slow-selling stock, maintain thorough knowledge of inventory.
• Ensure merchandise is attractively displayed.
• Maintain cashiering desk/areas in a clean, organized fashion.
• Keeps cashiering area well-stocked with necessary supplies, such as shopping bags, credit card drafts, etc.
• Assist with answering incoming calls and directing them to the appropriate person or department.
• Make tags for damaged merchandise, delivers daily to designated area.
• Return misplaced merchandise to correct department daily.
• Comply with all university and department policies and procedures.
• In the absence of department manager, supervise student workers and/or Retail Associate Trainees.
• Assist department manager in training new staff Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
• The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.
• This role will require travel within Southern California. Must be willing to drive.

Qualifiers

• Minimum Education: High school or equivalent.
• Minimum Experience: 6 - 12 months.
• Minimum Field of Expertise: Retail Sales.
• Valid CA driver's license required. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System.
• A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information please visit the policy website.
• In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values.

Preferred Experience

• Preferred Field of Expertise: USC Retail Associate Trainee Experience.

We pride ourselves in creating the BEST USC EXPERIENCE, and that begins with our employees! We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. For more information please visit https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks. This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. As members of the Trojan family, employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans! The work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all of its members. USC has great minds that transform the world with their talents and research. Will you be one? Join us! FIGHT ON!

Compensation

• The hourly rate for this position is $20.00.
• When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

EEO Statement

USC is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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USC is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business.

As the largest private employer in the city – responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region – we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills.

As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family - the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work.