Retail Associate

Ross Stores, Inc.; Opelika (AL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Ross Stores, Inc. in Opelika, Alabama is seeking a Retail Associate to ensure customers have a positive shopping experience. The role involves greeting customers, maintaining neat merchandise, adhering to safety protocols, and supporting store leadership in daily operations to meet business goals.

The position requires strong teamwork, clear communication, and the ability to handle routine transactions with accuracy while helping across departments as needed.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and communication skills are required.
• Ability to perform basic math for transactions.
• Friendly, respectful demeanor when interacting with Customers and Associates.

Responsibilities

• Greet customers and provide courteous assistance on the sales floor.
• Assist with merchandise presentation and stock replenishment.
• Keep the store clean and safe, report unsafe conditions to leadership.
• Operate registers and process transactions accurately.
• Support loss prevention and store policies as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Job description

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly manner, treats fellow Associates with respect, efficiently follows all company best practice standards as outlined in all work centers, maintains a clean work area at all times, and ensures proper merchandise presentation. The Retail Associate is expected to be engaged in these tasks as assigned during all working hours and will be expected to perform a range of functions in all areas of the Store as business needs require. The Associate may be requested to perform additional tasks in specific situations, if performance of these tasks will help achieve our Customer service and operational goals.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly manner, treats fellow Associates with respect, efficiently follows all company best practice standards as outlined in all work centers, maintains a clean work area at all times, and ensures proper merchandise presentation. The Retail Associate is expected to be engaged in these tasks as assigned during all working hours and will be expected to perform a range of functions in all areas of the Store as business needs require. The Associate may be requested to perform additional tasks in specific situations, if performance of these tasks will help achieve our Customer service and operational goals.

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. Maintains clutter free, clear egress to emergency exits. Immediately corrects or reports any unsafe conditions or practices to Store Leadership.
• Treats all Customers and Associates with respect and courtesy; is friendly and professional at all times. Recognizes fellow Associates using Company recognition programs.
• Assists Customers in any way necessary – is register-trained, assists Customers with merchandise, and answers Customer questions in a polite and knowledgeable manner. Greets all Customers by making eye contact, smiling and saying “hello” throughout the Store as well as saying “thank you” with every register transaction.
• Provides prompt and efficient responses to Customers at all times. Responds to Customer Service calls immediately. Handles all Customer issues in a courteous and helpful way, calling a member of the 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 including the front-end, sales floor and restrooms to help maintain merchandise, customer and Team areas.
• Maintains a professional appearance and adheres to the Company’s dress code at all times.
• Performs cleaning tasks such as sweeping, mopping, dusting, wiping counters and mirrors, and replenishing restroom supplies to help maintain merchandise, customer and Team areas.
• Performs daily assigned sizing and recovery per company best practice to ensure a neat, clean and organized store that is well-maintained and efficiently merchandised to standards.
• Expedites newly received merchandise receipts to the sales floor with a sense of urgency, merchandising all items per company best practice to the monthly presentation guidelines and maintaining merchandise/brand name familiarity within departments to assist Customers.
• Understands the Loss Prevention Awareness program, the Shortage Highway, the Store Protection Specialist (SPS) position (where applicable), and merchandise protection standards.
• As a representative of Ross Inc., demonstrates integrity and honesty in all interactions with Associates and Customers. Safeguards confidential information, cash and credit card information, and merchandise.
• Follows all Mark-Out-of-Stock (MOS) policies, including the identification of MOS merchandise, proper processing of each piece and the notification of Store Leadership to review and approve all disposals.
• Follows all policies and procedures concerning cash, check, charge card and refund transactions, voids and offline procedures. Maintains a high level of awareness and accuracy when handling bankable tenders.
• Demonstrates a sense of urgency to efficiently perform their role. Maximizes productivity by executing all Store best practices and minimizing steps and touches in their work flow.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (cont.)

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Work Processes
• Business Acumen
• Plans, Aligns & Prioritizes
• Developing Talent
• Collaboration
• Leading by Example
• Communication
• Ensures Accountability & Execution

Qualifications & 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.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS

Physical Requirements

Ability to occasionally push, pull and lift more than 25 lbs.

Ability to regularly bend at the waist, squat, kneel, climb, carry, reach, and stoop.

Ability to spend up to 100% of working time standing, walking, and moving around the Store.

Ability to use all Store equipment, including PDTs, registers and PC as required.

Ability to use janitorial equipment, rolling racks, ladders and other assigned supplies.

Associates who work Stockroom shifts: Ability to regularly push, pull and lift more than 20 pounds.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Certain assignments may require other qualifications and skills.

None