UNIQLO Management Candidate (UMC) - Mid Career

UNIQLO; New York (NY); On-site; USD 84,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Competitive paid time off

401K plan

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Transit flexible spending account

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Merchandise discount

Job summary

UNIQLO is launching the Management Candidate (UMC) Program in the United States, starting January 2027. The program trains candidates to become Store Operations Leaders through hands-on store management, inventory planning, layout and visual merchandising, and P&L oversight.

You will be mentored by Store Managers and Learning & Development, rotating through locations, and advancing toward Store Manager or General Manager roles after successful completion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 1–3 years of retail, food & beverage, hospitality, or sales management experience
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now and in the future
• Flexibility to relocate to various locations over the course of your career
• In-person orientation at NYC office during the first two weeks of the program

Responsibilities

• Oversee store operations including opening, mid-day, and closing procedures
• Lead and develop associates through feedback and performance conversations
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and retention initiatives
• Drive store profitability through sales planning, labor, and customer service excellence
• Engage in hands-on mentorship with senior store leadership and participate in regional business reviews

Skills

Leadership development

Retail operations

Customer service

People management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Admin or Hospitality

Job description

Similar Industry Titles and Key Words: Store Manager in Training, Executive Team Leader in Training, Retail Store Management Trainee, Store Management Development Program, Retail Leadership Program

Department: UNIQLO stores, On-Site

Reporting to: Store Manager and Store Learning & Development Trainer

Start: January 2027, July 2027

Salary Range*: $84,000 - $91,000

Duration: approximately 12 months

Location: U.S. Store Location assigned based on business expansion plans. Relocation, housing costs, and all other benefits listed below are subject to company policy.

The UNIQLO Management Candidate (UMC) Program is shaped to leverage your existing management, customer service, and operations experience and guide you toward becoming an impactful UNIQLO Store Operations Leader. As a UNIQLO Store Manager you will take on many roles, such as an innovator, talent developer, problem solver, and above all a global business leader. You will join a community of passionate and diverse peers in this training program, which is expected to last approximately nine months. You will be assigned to work in one of our U.S. stores where you will take on the responsibility of a business owner, overseeing sales and inventory planning, layout & visual merchandising, profit and loss, people management, and customer satisfaction.

As a member of the Store Management team, you embody Company’s philosophy of “Changing Clothes. Changing Conventional Wisdom. Change the World,” by driving sales and profit with your team and building customer loyalty through excellent customer service. Under the mentorship of your Store Manager/Trainer, you will oversee an engaged, productive store team by leading by example through demonstrating strong leadership and initiative.

As a UMC, you will be learning from your trainer how to support the store and team in the following areas:

Store Operations

• Manage opening, mid-day, and closing store procedures
• Oversee cleanliness, organization, and visual merchandising standards
• Execute daily stock replenishment and manage backroom efficiency
• Support point-of-sale and customer service operations

Leadership & Management

• Coach and develop associates through feedback and performance conversations
• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives
• Build a positive and inclusive team culture
• Learn workforce planning and talent management practices

Sales Planning & Review

• Understand and manage store profitability
• Analyze labor, sales, and productivity metrics
• Develop action plans to achieve business goals
• Learn strategic decision-making through retail business reviews

Training & Development

• Engage in hands-on mentorship with Area Managers, Store Managers or Learning & Development Trainer
• Participate in district and regional business reviews
• Gain exposure to multi-store leadership and business planning

Anticipated Career Growth

After successful completion of the training program, depending on your previous work experience and achievement level in the program, you could follow an expedited career path of the following:

• Store Manager
• General Manager/Area Manager

To learn more about Careers at UNIQLO please visit: https://careers-us.uniqlo.com/

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree, business administration or hospitalities studies preferred 1-3 years of retail, food & beverage, hospitality, or sales management experience
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship now and in the future.
• Available to join in-person orientation at our New York City office & NYC Training Store during the first two weeks of the program.
• Flexibility to relocate to various locations over the course of your career
• Flexible work schedule, which could include early mornings, late nights, or overnights as well as weekends and holidays
• Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodations
• Strong leadership experience and work ethic
• Analytical and intuitive mindset to drive innovative processes and compliance with various laws that impact the business
• Passion for customer service
• Ability to adapt and multi-task in a fast-changing environment
• Team player mentality
• Ability to capture fundamental issues, out of box thinking, and challenging the status quo

General Benefits

• Relocation assistance depending on distance
• Competitive paid time off package
• 401K plan
• Medical, dental, vision coverage
• Medical flexible spending account
• Transit flexible spending account
• Short- and long-term disability
• Employee assistance program
• Merchandise discount

Physical Demands: This position involves constant moving, talking, hearing, reaching, and standing. Involves standing for at least two consecutive hours. Involves lifting at least 30 lbs. May occasionally involve stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders. Vision abilities include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. May involve reaching above eye level. Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodations

Next Steps

Before being considered for interviews, a pre‑screening questionnaire will be given to selected applicants.

The interview process consists of three rounds of virtual interviews:

• Recruiter Interview
• Store Manager/Director Interview
• Interview Preparation
• C‑Suite and HR Leader Interview

Please expect a 4-6 week turnaround time. We will start interviewing around early September (applications may close early if there is an influx of candidates)!

Salary

• The offered salary or salary range is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, overall experience, relevant experience, education level, certifications, applicable skills and expertise, and location of the position. Start dates are subject to change based on business needs.

NOTICE FOR CALIFORNIA JOB APPLICANTS AND EMPLOYEES:

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The Company is committed to equal pay initiatives and will not ask candidates for their current or past salary.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Fast Retailing does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, citizenship, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or because of any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state or local law.