Retail Store Manager

Outdoor-Researc; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

11 paid holidays

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Transportation benefits

PTO and sick time

Volunteer time

401k with discretionary match

Outdoor Benefit

Product discounts

Employee interest groups

Job summary

Outdoor Research in Seattle, WA is seeking a Retail Store Manager to oversee operations across three locations (Seattle, Des Moines, Bellingham). This full-time role requires leadership, strong organizational skills, and a passion for outdoor gear.

You will drive sales, manage budgets, coordinate merchandising with the marketing team, and train staff to deliver exceptional customer service while engaging with local communities through in-store events.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of experience in retail sales.
• Retail management experience.
• Merchandise planning familiarity.
• Knowledge of basic marketing and advertising best practices.
• Ability to frequently travel regionally to Bellingham & Des Moines, WA.
• Active or previous participation in OR core sports preferred.
• Knowledge of and/or intermediate to advanced experience with Outdoor Research products.
• Basic computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite and POS systems.
• College degree or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Direct location-level leadership across three store locations while maintaining staffing coverage and morale.
• Drive store teams to achieve monthly and annual sales targets within budgets.
• Partner with in-house marketing to design and execute high-impact store layouts and promotions.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to launch targeted advertising initiatives across all locations.
• Build seasonal inventory stocking plans and attend concept-to-consumer meetings.
• Onboard and train retail staff in sales strategies, product knowledge, and customer service.
• Deliver exceptional customer service and host in-store marketing events with communities.
• Continuously evaluate and optimize retail operations to stay competitive.

Skills

Retail sales experience

Retail management experience

Merchandise planning

Marketing basics

Regional travel ability

Outdoor sports participation

Outdoor gear knowledge

MS Office / POS familiarity

Education

College degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office Suite

POS systems

Job description

About the Organization

Since 1981, Outdoor Research has been building award-winning outdoor clothing and gear. We stand behind every product we make with the Outdoor Research Infinite Guarantee® warranty. Find out how we were born from our founder Ron Gregg's research-led approach to problem solving, and discover the origins of our first products in Our Story. Discover our roots in U.S. manufacturing, our legacy in Made in the USA tactical gloves, and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the development of face masks and medical-grade personal protective equipment in Protection. Learn about our product processes using recycled materials, how we enforce the safety and wellbeing of our workplaces, and our commitment to all people and the planet in Responsibility. Meet some of our community members who work to create safe, accessible, and equitable outdoor spaces in our Community Partnerships and our Ambassadors. We'd be thrilled to have you join the team and find your Career at Outdoor Research.

Outdoor Research Values

• Curiosity: We are constantly striving to learn and improve ourselves. In our products, as a brand, as a team, and as individuals.
• Passion: We love what we do and take pride in sharing our work with others.
• Innovation: We are complex problem solvers.
• Collaboration: We are better together.
• Community: We embrace the collective impact we can have from our diverse perspectives; on each other, society, and our environment.

Position: Retail Store Manager 2026

Location: Seattle, Des Moines, and Bellingham

Position: Full Time

Rate: $85,000 -$95,000, with a potential for monthly sales bonus

About this role

We are looking for an organized, disciplined, and energetic leader who will run the operations of all Outdoor Research retail stores. (currently locations are Seattle, Des Moines & Bellingham).

What you will do

• Multi-Store Leadership & Staffing: Direct location-level leadership across three store locations (Seattle, Des Moines, Bellingham) while maintaining optimal staffing coverage and team morale across all sites.
• Financial & Budgetary Management: Drive store teams to achieve monthly and annual sales targets while maintaining oversight of operating expense budgets.
• Merchandising & Visual Execution: Partner with in-house marketing team to design and execute high-impact store layouts, rotating product merchandising, and promotional displays.
• Marketing & Advertising Coordination: Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to launch targeted advertising initiatives across all retail locations.
• Inventory & Seasonal Planning: Partner with the Retail Store Inventory Specialist to build seasonal inventory stocking plans aligned with Open-to-Buy budget and attend seasonal concept-to-consumer meetings to bring key product stories to life.
• Training & Team Development: Onboard and continuously train retail staff in sales strategies, product innovations, and elevated customer service techniques while leading by example on the floor.
• Customer Experience & Community Engagement: Deliver exceptional, memorable customer service throughout the purchasing process and collaborate with local community groups to host targeted in-store marketing events.
• Process Improvement: Continuously evaluate and optimize retail operations and processes to keep OR competitive, efficient, and best-in-class in an evolving market.

Position Requirements

What you should bring to the table

• Five plus years of experience in retail sales
• Retail management experience
• Merchandise planning familiarity
• Knowledge of basic marketing and advertising best practices
• Ability to frequently travel regionally to Bellingham & Des Moines, WA
• Active or previous participation in one or more of OR core sports preferred
• Knowledge of and/or intermediate to advanced experience with various outdoor gear and equipment, Outdoor Research products preferable.
• Basic computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word) and point of sale systems
• College degree or equivalent

What do we bring to the table?

• 11 paid holidays each year and 3 floating holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans
• Transportation benefits
• PTO and sick/safe time
• Paid volunteer time
• 401k with discretionary company match
• Ron Gregg Outdoor Benefit
• Product discounts
• Employee interest groups including various sports activities

Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Location

Seattle, WA

EOE Statement

OR is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment in an unlawful manner. Employment-related decisions are made based on an individual’s qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or military status, genetic information, political ideology or other applicable protected class status. This commitment extends to all employment practices including selection, hiring, placement, recruitment advertising, promotion or transfer, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, demotion, layoff, or separation. All employment decisions are based upon the qualifications of the individual and the job requirements.

OR supports this commitment with an Affirmitive Action Program, which is updated annually. The
objectives of the Affirmitive Action Program are to ensure that our team reflects the diversity of our local community. We fully support affirmative action to include women, ethnic minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities throughout our workforce. The OR Affirmitive Action Program is available for review by all employees and is maintained in the Human Resources Department.

This position is currently accepting applications.