Retail Firearms Lead Sales Associate

VANCE OUTDOORS INC; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore (SOSS) in Columbus, OH is seeking a Sales Associate Lead to support the department manager and drive sales. You will assist customers, manage inventory, and help maintain a positive store culture while ensuring compliance with BATFE/NFA regulations.

The role requires strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with supervisory responsibilities for 15-40 employees. Prior retail experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Experience in a customer-facing retail environment.
• Knowledge of firearms safety, ATF compliance and related regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist with all aspects of customer service for internal and external customers.
• Communicate issues to management and help resolve them promptly.
• Assist with inventory movement and maintain department/store procedures.
• Promote a positive culture and ensure staffing coverage.
• Coordinate with departments to provide an efficient work environment.
• Open/close stores and respond to security issues during business hours.
• Lead sales associates and manage day-to-day tasks and shifts.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Teamwork

Inventory control

Compliance

POS systems

Staff scheduling

Training

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

POS Systems

Payroll Systems

Excel

Word

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Columbus, OH 43224

SUMMARY: This position is primarily responsible for sales and assisting the department manager or store manager by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists with all aspects of customer service (internal and external customers alike)
• Ability to handle customer and employee issues, along with communicating to management regarding issues that need to be addressed.
• Assists with inventory to and from the bound books, warehouse, and sales floor.
• Is also responsible for promoting a positive culture within the department/store.
• Follows all procedures and policies that are compliant with State, Federal, and local regulations and laws regarding the sale of firearms and related accessories.
• Assists with managing and controlling ATF requirements regarding any company activity involving firearm use, manufacturing, purchases, transfers, dispositions, deliveries, transportation, and destruction of National Firearms Act (NFA) and Non-NFA Weapons.
• Reduces costs and increases efficiency at every step in the sales process through continuous improvement without sacrificing quality or safety.
• Coordinates with all departments thru store managers to provide a positive and efficient work environment.
• Assists with coordinating department sales associates’ work schedules and ensures that proper coverage is maintained to insure adequate staffing.
• Ability to open and close stores and assist or respond to all security issues during business hours.
• Ability to handle all jobs (sales, cash, merchandising, cleaning, warehouse, etc) within the store and manage or backup, as necessary.
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures.
• All other duties as required by management.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Is accountable for following all the prescribed rules and regulations regarding procedures as dictated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE). Is also responsible for keeping the costs of goods low and the margins high, in terms of buying and retailing of merchandise. The quality control of the merchandising, tagging of flyer items, and making sure the items that they have in stock are out on the sales floor.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly supervises 15-40 employees in the assigned Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

COMPETENCIES: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs workflows and procedures.
• Design - Generates creative solutions; translates concepts and information into images; uses feedback to modify designs; applies design principles; demonstrates attention to detail.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem-solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Project Management - Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget; manages project team activities.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.

Interpersonal

• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Leadership

• Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; inspires respect and trust; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively; builds commitment and overcomes resistance; prepares and supports those affected by change; monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Delegation - Delegates work assignments; matches the responsibility to the person; gives authority to work independently; sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; provides recognition for results.
• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions and opinions of others; accepts feedback from others; gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating, and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; makes self-available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); fosters quality focus in others; improves processes, products, and services; continually works to improve supervisory skills.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Organization

• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; displays orientation to profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.
• Cost Consciousness - Contributes to profits and revenue, conserves organizational resources.
• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethics; upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Self-management

• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Meets productivity standards; completes work in a timely manner; strives to increase productivity.

Safety And Security - Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality - Consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

BUSINESS-RELATED CONTACTS:

• Warehouse Manager
• Marketing Coordinator
• ATF Compliance
• Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore (SOSS)
• Other Locations Management
• Buyers

QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

COMPUTER SKILLS: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of: POS Systems, Payroll Systems; Internet Software; Spreadsheet Software (Excel), and Word Processing Software (Word).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 50 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and explosives. The employee is frequently exposed to high, precarious places. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Essential Functions/Physical Requirements: Sales Associate Lead

Equipment Used: Computer, light cleaning implements, step ladders