Retail Sales Lead

Minneapolis Institute of Art; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental & vision

37.5-hour work week

11 paid holidays

Vacation accrual

Job summary

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is seeking a Full-time Retail Sales Lead to elevate the visitor shopping experience through exceptional customer service, strong product knowledge, and proactive store operations. You will support daily store activities, including POS, inventory, and e-commerce fulfillment, while guiding Sales Associates to meet sales and membership goals.

Candidates should have at least 3 years in elevated retail, be willing to work varying shifts, including evenings and

Qualifications

• BS/BA or equivalent education/experience required
• Minimum 3 years retail experience in elevated service
• Must be available to work onsite at Mia
• Ability to lift and carry objects up to 25 lbs

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional, knowledgeable and welcoming customer service and product recommendations
• Oversee POS handling, inventory counts, and merchandising
• Assist Store Manager with opening/closing procedures and cash handling
• Maintain clean, organized sales floor and stockroom
• Manage email, voicemail and e-commerce communications for timely fulfillment

Skills

Customer service

Sales knowledge

Organization

Interpersonal communication

Teamwork

Education

BS/BA degree or equivalent

Tools

POS system

Inventory management

E-commerce platform

Job description

Full-time (37.5 hours weekly), non-exempt, union
Hourly rate: $26.35
Reports to: Store Manager

The Job

Support daily operations of a profitable retail business through exemplary customer service, strong sales, and an organized and welcoming store environment. Serve as a day-to-day resource for retail staff and assist the Store Manager in the daily operation of the store including inventory management POS expertise, customer service, in-store and e-commerce platform, and maintaining a visually compelling store. Retail Sales Leads work varying shifts and must have consistent weekday and weekend availability.

In this role, you will…

• Lead by example by providing exceptional, knowledgeable and welcoming customer service, while modeling appropriate service standards.
• Be accountable for in-depth knowledge of product lines, artist, and Mia knowledge to enhance the visitor shopping experience and assist with questions, communicating artists’ stories, and making product recommendations to visitors.
• Ensure an elevated customer service experience takes priority over division of responsibility (DOR) workload, and strive to act in the best interest of our visitors to provide a seamless front of house experience.
• Respond to customer questions and resolve routine concerns or issues.
• Assist Store Manager with opening and closing procedures, cash handling, sales, and daily store operations, ensuring Sales Associates follow established processes.
• Successfully execute daily retail operations, including point of sale (POS) handling, product organization, inventory counts, and audits.
• Oversee store voicemail, email, and e-commerce operations, including monitoring communications and managing timely, accurate fulfillment of e-commerce orders.
• Provide on-the-job guidance and expertise to Sales Associates, sharing knowledge of products, artists, processes, and day-to-day responsibilities to strengthen team performance.
• Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner with minimal supervision while effectively prioritizing tasks.
• Demonstrate initiative, accountability, and adaptability to changing priorities and operational needs.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe sales floor, stockroom, and other shared common work areas.
• Help direct daily work activities and maintain appropriate floor coverage.
• Drive results in sales and membership goals through active customer engagement, strong product knowledge and recommendations, and awareness of current merchandise, promotions, and sales opportunities.
• Provide feedback to the Store Manager on sales-floor observations and encourages Sales Associates to meet sales goals.
• Restock merchandise and maintain displays and visual presentation as directed by managers.
• Receive, unpack, price, label, and stock merchandise as directed by managers.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required or assigned.

To be successful in this role, you have…

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the proven ability to provide excellent customer service, collaborate effectively, build positive working culture and respectful relationships, embrace feedback, and contribute to a shared team and customer-focused goals.
• Strong organization and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
• Agile and able to thrive in a fast-paced and mission-driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree or equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform essential functions of the position.
• Minimum of 3 years retail experience in an elevated service environment.
• Must be available to work onsite at Mia.
• Ability to lift and carry objects up to 25 lbs.
• Flexibility to consistently work museum hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by the store scheduling.

Mia Culture

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is an audience-centered, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome. Mia is Mission Driven, Generous, Agile, Emotionally Aware, and Positive, and endeavors to create a workplace culture where staff are responsible to one another, to our visitors, and to themselves to do the best work possible.

Mia Benefits And Perks

Health and Wellness: Mia offers comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and vision coverage. We have a wellness and employee assistance program to support your overall wellbeing.

Financial Security: We provide financial peace of mind with a variety of options, including a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health expenses and a Dependent Care Account (DCA) for dependent care expenses. Our 403(b) Retirement + Savings Plan includes a percentage of salary contribution from Mia after two years of employment (and minimum hours and age eligibility requirements are met).

Additional Perks: In addition to paid vacation, personal, sick days, enjoy a balanced work-life with a 37.5-hour work week and 11 paid holidays.

Join Mia and enjoy a workplace that values your health, financial security, and personal development, all while contributing to a vibrant cultural institution.

Posting Deadline

This posting will close on November 2, 2026.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.