Retail Associate

Ross Stores; Novato (CA); On-site; USD 24,424 - 25,113; Part time

Job summary

Ross Stores seeks a Retail Associate in Novato, California, to ensure a positive shopping experience for customers. Responsibilities include assisting customers, maintaining a clean work area, and ensuring proper merchandise presentation. Suitable candidates should communicate effectively and perform basic math for sales transactions. The role offers a competitive pay range of $17.73 to $18.23 per hour, based on experience and skills.

Qualifications

• Effectively communicate with customers, associates, and store leadership in a friendly, respectful, cooperative manner.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations commonly used in retail environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure customers have a positive shopping experience.
• Maintain a clean work area and proper merchandise presentation.
• Assist customers with merchandise and answer questions.

Skills

Customer communication

Mathematical calculations

Job description

The Retail Associate role is responsible for ensuring customers have a positive shopping experience. The associate makes eye contact, smiles, greets all customers courteously, treats fellow associates with respect, follows company best practice standards, maintains a clean work area, and ensures proper merchandise presentation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Understands that safety is the number one priority and practices safe behaviors in everything they do.
• Maintains a high level of awareness on the sales floor to create a safe and secure shopping environment for everyone, keeping egress clear and reporting any unsafe conditions.
• Treats all customers and associates with respect and courtesy; is friendly and professional at all times.
• Assists customers – is register‑trained, helps with merchandise, and answers questions politely and knowledgeably; greets customers with eye contact, a smile, and says "hello" and "thank you" throughout the store.
• Provides prompt and efficient responses to customers at all times and handles all customer issues courteously, calling store leadership when needed.
• Represents and supports the company brand at all times.
• Performs cleaning tasks such as sweeping, mopping, dusting, wiping counters and mirrors, replenishing restroom supplies, and disinfecting high‑touch areas.
• Maintains a professional appearance and adheres to the company dress code at all times.
• Performs daily assigned sizing and recovery per company best practice to keep the store neat, clean and organized.
• Expedites newly received merchandise to the sales floor, merchandises items per best practice and monthly presentation guidelines, and maintains brand familiarity within departments to assist customers.
• Understands loss prevention awareness programs, the Shortage Highway, the Store Protection Specialist (SPS) position (where applicable), and merchandise protection standards.
• Demonstrates integrity and honesty in all interactions; safeguards confidential information, cash, credit card details, and merchandise.
• Follows all Mark‑Out‑of‑Stock (MOS) policies, properly processing MOS merchandise and notifying store leadership for disposal approval.
• Follows all cash, check, charge‑card, and refund procedures, voids, and offline processes; maintains accuracy in handling bankable tenders.
• Act with urgency to maximize productivity by executing store best practices and minimizing steps and touches in workflow.

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Work Processes
• Business Acumen
• Plans, Aligns & Prioritizes
• Builds Talent
• Collaborates
• Leading by Example
• Communicates Effectively
• Ensures Accountability & Execution

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED

• Effectively communicate with customers, associates, and store leadership in a friendly, respectful, cooperative, and pleasant manner.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations commonly used in retail environments.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / ADA

• Use all store equipment, including PDTs, registers, and PCs as required.
• Spend up to 100% of working time standing, walking, and moving around the store.
• Regularly bend at the waist, squat, kneel, climb, carry, reach, and stoop.
• Occasionally push, pull, and lift more than 25 pounds.
• Use janitorial equipment, rolling racks, ladders, and other assigned supplies.
• Certain assignments may require other qualifications and skills.
• Stockroom shift associates: regularly push, pull, and lift more than 20 pounds.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

DISCLAIMER

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all‑inclusive listing of duties. Content is subject to change at management's discretion.

EEO Statement

Ross is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities, and experience. Ross is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $17.73 – $18.23 per hour. The range is dependent on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, relevant education, certifications, seniority, and location. The range listed is one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards vary by position and location.