Retail Lead (on campus) 3 positions

University of California - Merced; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 35,817 - 41,328; Full time

Job summary

University of California - Merced is seeking a Retail Lead to oversee a team of student employees across campus locations. You will support management in enforcing policies, supervise customer service, transactions, stocking, and training while utilizing university vehicles for location coverage.

The role requires 40-hour weeks, weekend/evening availability, and ServSafe certification within 90 days. This on-campus position emphasizes safety, accuracy in cash handling, and inventory control.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading teams.
• Must be able to work a 40-hour work week with weekends/evenings.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions in English.
• Ability to accurately handle money.
• Ability to handle checks and complete credit card transactions.
• Experience food preparation and general maintenance of a kitchen or dining area.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical equations.
• Legible handwriting and proficiency with computers.
• Higher education food service experience (preferred).
• Prior cashiering experience (preferred).
• Prior merchandising experience (preferred).
• Cafe experience/Barista experience (preferred).
• Must be ServSafe certified within 90 days of employment (required).

Responsibilities

• Operational Coverage: ensure policy adherence, manage staffing and attendance, maintain stock levels, provide customer service, and coordinate across locations.
• Food and Workplace Safety: maintain temperature logs, sanitize surfaces, monitor quality of perishable items, enforce hygiene, keep logs.
• Training & Oversight: lead student staff, manage training program, assign tasks, oversee opening/closing checklists, review shipments and quality, promote safety.

Skills

Team leadership

Effective communication

Cash handling

Food service basics

English literacy

Math skills

Computer proficiency

Cashier experience

Merchandising experience

Cafe/barista experience

ServSafe certified

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

POS system

Job description

Job ID: 87734

Location: Merced

Full Time

The University of California, Merced is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The hourly wage the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $26.40 (step 3) or in accordance with the CBA if the candidat3e is internal.

This represented position (SX) position is 100% on campus. Initial Applicant review will take place on or around August 10th, 2026. Posting may close any time after that without notice.

About UC Merced

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses and one of the youngest universities to be designated an R1 research university. With approximately 9,100 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced is a smaller, more intimate campus compared to its sister campuses, while equipped and staffed as a cutting edge, 21st century research institution. With bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships and a growing community in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.

Ranked in the top 30 among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and #1 for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, UC Merced is uniquely equipped to provide world class educational opportunities to dynamic and enterprising students in the Valley and throughout the state. In partnership with UC San Francisco, UC Merced has launched a rigorous medical education program that will supply the Valley with culturally competent providers dedicated to improving local access to quality care. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design and is accelerating the continued economic development of the region.

About the Job

The Retail Lead acts as the operational representative overseeing a team of student employees. The Retail Lead will assist and support the initiatives of management to maintain the integrity of policies and procedures. Under general supervision of the Retail Supervisor, the Retail Lead will ensure employee performance including but not limited to food/beverage preparation, customer service, the overseeing of transactions through a point-of-sale system, stocking, and job duty accountability. Further, the Retail Lead will assist with inventory, ordering, scheduling, student worker training, as well as maintain the standards of a sanitary working environment. This position will serve as the Retail Lead at various campus locations to support retail operations. Frequently, this position will utilize University vehicles to travel from location to location supporting these logistics as well as transporting the Food Trailer to location.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Coverage. While on shift, ensure that all employees are following policy and procedures. Ensures employee scheduling to given labor shell, and records time and attendance alterations to the guidelines of the Attendance Policy. Utilizing pars and order history, maintains adequate stock levels of products and supplies and merchandises them as accordingly. Provides and coaches friendly and efficient customer service. Provide coverage to staffing of any position per operational need. Communicates the needs of employees and customers to management. Required to maintain an acceptable attendance record, be punctual, and meet deadlines. Position will utilize University vehicles to oversee various Retail locations across campus and to respond urgently as needed.

2. Food and Workplace Safety. Maintain the temperature logs for hot and cold held items. Ensure all surfaces are cleaned and sanitized. Inspecting of perishable products for quality, identify problems, and report to management. Ensure student employees are following safety and hygiene guidelines. Maintain the waste log. Keep preparation, storage, and service areas clean/debris free; proactively identify & correct hazards and issues.

3. Training & Oversight. Lead and direct a team of student employees while on shift. Utilizes and maintains the student employee training program. Assist in assigning specific jobs for student staff as to keep them on task and to meet goals and deadlines. Utilize and maintains the Opening and Closing Checklists and ensures staff is following guidelines. Receive & review incoming shipments and confirm quality of product entering facility, as well as accurate product delivery and invoicing. Delegates and assigns a wide range of tasks to student employees. Works to ensure prevention of injuries within the operation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and/or equivalent certification/experience/training; and

• 3 years of relevant experience (required)

• Experience leading teams.

• Must be able to work the hours of a 40-hour work week with the possibility of working weekends and evenings.

• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of people.

• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions in English.

• Ability to accurately handle money.

• Ability to handle checks and complete credit card transactions.

• Experience food preparation and general maintenance of a kitchen or dining area.

• Ability to perform basic mathematical equations.

• Legible handwriting and proficiency with computers.

• Higher education food service experience (preferred).

• Prior cashiering experience (preferred).

• Prior merchandising experience (preferred).

• Cafe experience/Barista experience (preferred)

• Must be Servsafe certified within 90 days of employment (required).

Background Check

Background check required.

Policy Statement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy

The University of California, Merced is a smoke and tobacco free workplace. Information and the Smoke and Tobacco Free policy is available at http://smokefree.ucmerced.edu

E-Verify

All employers who receive Federal contracts and grants are required to comply with E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify electronically verifies employment eligibility by comparing information provided on the I-9 form to records in the DHS and SSA databases. Certain positions funded by federal contracts/subcontracts requires UC Merced to notify job applicants that an E-Verify check will be conducted and the successful candidate must pass the E-Verify check.

Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University of California visit: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/