Store Manager en YWCA Evanston North Shore

Description

This position is located in Evanston, Illinois

The Store Manager is the key leader and ambassador of our Evanston Shop for Good store, which first opened in 2020 and relocated to its new Central Street location in November 2024. This position maximizes revenue and volunteer engagement for YWCA Shop for Good, one of two volunteer-driven women’s resale boutiques—alongside our Wilmette location—that fund the domestic violence, economic advancement, equity, and aquatics programs of YWCA Evanston/North Shore. Reporting directly to the Shop for Good Retail Area Manager, the Store Manager oversees a part-time Assistant Store Manager and approximately 15 volunteers, and collaborates with diverse stakeholders to create a welcoming, respectful, and customer-focused environment that amplifies the YWCA’s mission. 

As a mission-driven social enterprise, this role inspires and engages customers, donors, volunteers, and community partners through a profitable and purpose-driven retail experience. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, flexibility, teamwork, and a keen sense of fashion and current trends. Equally important is being comfortable and engaged with the issues YWCA uplifts and addresses, a willingness to grow individually in these areas, and a dedication to creating a safe, trauma-informed, and welcoming environment for everyone while advancing YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women. The Store Manager is responsible for developing and implementing retail strategies that align with department goals, managing daily store operations, and providing input on department priorities and procedures.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE & EXPECTATIONS

At YWCA Evanston/North Shore, how we work is just as important as the work itself. To be successful in this role, employees are expected to demonstrate the following:

• Commitment to Mission: Uphold and advance YWCA’s mission, values, and leadership principles in all aspects of work.
• Living Our Values: Embody our core values—Transparency, Collaboration, Curiosity, Belonging, and Justice—with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in every interaction, internally and externally.
• Competency-Based Practice: Actively engage in our competency framework: Mission-Driven Impact, Collaborative Spirit, Curious & Purposeful Learning, Transparent Communication, Accountability to Community, and Role & Operational Excellence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Sales and Inventory Management (30%)

• Ensure each customer and donor has a positive experience by creating an environment that fosters exceptional customer service and a deep understanding of customer and donor preferences.
• Ensure the implementation of a transparent, consistent, volunteer-driven inventory management process, including but not limited to a clear protocol for donation acceptance, inventory selection, sorting, and pricing that results in curating items that maximize store revenue.
• Assist in setting ongoing revenue goals and strategies to meet those goals, track and monitor progress, and report on sales goals.
• Develop and implement sales strategies that maximize revenue and ensure the timely turnover of inventory within the season.
• Maintain an exceptional shopping environment that aligns with YWCA brand guidelines, offering a boutique shopping experience for customers in a clean, organized, and well-merchandised space.
• Implement appropriate loss prevention strategies and ensure the disposal of unwanted items through the selected clothing pick-up vendor.
• Coordinate with the Area Retail Manager to seek out large donations of high-end goods from local stores and ensure timely pickup.
• Collaborate with Area Retail Manager and Shop for Good Wilmette staff to determine weekly sales and email content with support from YWCA marketing and communications team
• Work in partnership with Shop for Good staff, YWCA communications and Marketing team, interns, and/or volunteers as available to develop and post engaging social media content on the store’s Instagram account.

Operations and Supervision (30%)

• Update, monitor, and ensure compliance with store protocols, including but not limited to maintaining store cleanliness and organization, managing store opening and closing procedures, processing bank deposits, providing timely financial reports, and overseeing other critical store operations.
• Initiate and support communications with the Area Retail Manager, YWCA Operations Director, and property owner (as applicable) to ensure that maintenance issues are addressed in a timely manner
• Develops, motivates, and maintains a highly functioning team that demonstrates positive morale and adheres to high standards of service delivery.
• Hires a diverse staff in accordance with agency policies and procedures and submits timely, accurate, and completed hiring paperwork.
• Ensures new hires are onboarded in accordance with agency policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, developing, reviewing, and submitting new-hire work plans for those working 20 hours or more per week, and training on agency operations, policies, procedures, and job responsibilities.
• Oversees the workflow and productivity of staff, including, but not limited to, maintaining accurate work schedules, reviewing and approving timesheets and activity reports in a timely manner, setting and regularly reviewing professional goals, expectations, and accomplishments.
• Develops staff capacity and morale by providing regular supervision and effective coaching, including but not limited to meeting individually with staff working 20 hours or more a week at least twice a month and providing consistent and timely feedback to those working less than 20 hours a week as determined by performance needs, recognizing and recording staff accomplishments and disciplinary issues.
• Ensuring all staff receive timely performance reviews.
• Stays current with agency technology and its proper usage, including, but not limited to, taking the initiative to seek out personal training opportunities, training direct reports on proper usage, and ensuring staff maximize their efficiency with the use of available technology.
• Acts as primary liaison between leadership and direct reports and ensures timely, thorough, and effective organizational communication so staff feel informed and aware of organizational policies, practices, and procedures, and growth. Effectively advocates for staff by regularly soliciting staff input and representing staff needs and interests to agency leadership.
• Ensures all staff understand and adhere to all policies in the Employee Handbook.

Volunteer and Donor Management (25%)

• Collaborate with the Retail Area Manager, Marketing and Communications, Development, and volunteers to recruit, train, and manage a diverse team of volunteer workers across various backgrounds, including race, gender, age, sexuality, and socio-economic status, as effective ambassadors of the organization in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with shop staff and Marketing and Communications to organize and maintain a volunteer support team to assist in setting annual plans to increase community awareness of the store, increase donations, and highlight local women designers and artists.
• Support Area Retail Manager and YWCA staff in updating the shop volunteer handbook and coordinating and implementing a regular schedule of volunteer training.
• Maintain weekly schedules for up to 30 volunteers and maintain timely and professional communication with volunteers as needed.
• Work in partnership with the Retail Area Manager, shop staff, and Marketing and Development teams to create a work environment that celebrates and acknowledges volunteer contributions, incentivizes volunteer sales, and fosters a deeper commitment to the YWCA.
• Collaborate with the Retail Area Manager and Marketing to support donor retention, increase donations, and provide regular acknowledgments to recurring donors.
• Coordinate with the Development team to identify one-time team volunteer opportunities for corporate partners and assist in developing cultivation strategies for turning donors and volunteers into financial contributors to YWCA.
• Support the Retail Area Manager in collaborating with the Director of the Domestic Violence and Economic Advancement Programs to create shopping opportunities through pre-paid vouchers and potential future on-site job training programs for YWCA program participants seeking to increase their economic security.

Community Outreach (15%)

• Collaborate with Retail Area Manager, Marketing & Communications, and Development teams to assist in planning and implementing marketing and outreach efforts to expand awareness, donations, and revenue, including special events, and community and corporate partners.
• Represent YWCA Evanston/North Shore with local organizations, including Central Street Business Association, to expand awareness of YWCA across North Shore communities.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Attends staff trainings, quarterly all staff meetings, and participates in agency committees as available.
• Pursues professional development.
• Understands and adheres to all YWCA Evanston/North Shore procedures and policies as well as YWCA Employee Handbook.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High school degree or equivalent required.

Experience and/or Training:

• At least 4 years in a women’s retail environment with increasing responsibility for sales, inventory management, merchandising, and supervision.
• Possesses deep knowledge of women’s clothing brands.
• Experience in a customer-service-driven environment.
• Experience in mission-related activities demonstrates a commitment to community service.
• Experience working with volunteers.

Technology/Equipment:

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Intermediate proficiency in point-of-sale systems (specifically ResaleWorld/Liberty or similar is desired).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and/or Training:

• At least 8 years in a women’s retail environment with increasing responsibility for sales, inventory management, merchandising, and supervision.
• Experience training and supervising others in a retail environment.
• Experience engaging clothing donors.
• Experience planning and implementing marketing and outreach efforts.

Technology/Equipment:

• Advanced proficiency Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced proficiency in point-of-sale systems (specifically ResaleWorld/Liberty or similar is desired)

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Intermittent (less than 15%), Occasional (15-45%), Frequent (50-75%), and Continuous (over 75%).

• Frequent nights and/or weekends required for events or meetings.
• Occasional local travel required.
• Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer or standing in a store environment.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, climb stairs, reach with hands and arms, and reach above shoulders.
• Occasionally required to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to move about the facility.
• Must be able to operate controls for computers and other equipment.
• Frequently must lift items above head or get items down from above for customers to view by climbing a ladder.
• Occasionally, must assist donors and customers with loading and unloading vehicles.

The mental and physical requirements described here represent those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Employee will work in a resale store environment.
• Employee may occasionally attend meetings in an office environment.
• Employee may not have a private, dedicated office space.

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

 Salary: $22.74 - $27.79 per hour. A starting hourly rate higher than $22.74 is based on a level of experience and education that significantly exceeds the minimum requirements and is commensurate with the compensation scale.