AE - Merchandising Team Leader (Assistant Manager)

About the Role

As the full-time Merchandising Team Leader, you are the Store Team Leader's "go-to" in developing and implementing the Merchandising strategy for the store. Your passion lies in training and coaching your team into great merchants delivering AEO brand Visual standards every day. Through your leadership, your team always nails floorset execution and rocks merchandising and marketing brand standards. You ensure the store is always "guest ready" through effective replenishment. Most importantly, you represent our company values and bring your REAL self to work every day.

Responsibilities

• Driving sales: As a key Leader on Duty (LOD), you're an expert at maximizing Fitting Room and Salesfloor productivity and building guest loyalty through a best-in-class guest experience. You contribute to the overall financial success of the store by analyzing reporting and daily trends to make strategic business decisions. You assist the Store Team Leader in developing short and long-term business plans to drive key KPIs.
• Merchandising innovation: You coach your team to deliver an outstanding guest experience by ensuring your store is always representative of AEO Brand Standards. You lead day-to-day merchandising, sell-through adjustments, and replenishment. You identify merchandising opportunities and create action plans to address them.
• People leadership: You motivate and inspire your team through AEO's core values, holding them accountable to customer service standards, especially on the Salesfloor and in the Fitting Room.
• Talent development: You prioritize recruiting and hiring strong talent to ensure the store is staffed to meet business needs. You take pride in training and developing your team to provide outstanding service.
• Teamwork: You provide ongoing performance feedback through real-time coaching, prioritize team touchbases, development plans, and performance reviews, and drive associate engagement by celebrating outstanding performance.
• Operational innovation: You execute and innovate daily operational procedures, support the team in maintaining visual standards, and ensure Fitting Rooms are always guest-ready and aligned with AEO Brand Standards.
• Integrity: You maintain store safety standards, commit to Asset Protection standards, adhere to AEO's policies and procedures, and always do the right thing.

Qualifications

• Passion for AE and Aerie products.
• Previous experience leading teams in a retail management role.
• Strong multi-tasking skills with attention to detail; excellent priority-setting and time management abilities.
• Experience leading and developing teams, with a general understanding of employment law.
• Strong business acumen.
• Flexible availability to work when guests shop.

Benefits

• 40% off product at both AE & Aerie year-round, plus additional seasonal discounts with new floorsets.
• Opportunities for development, skill-building, and career advancement.
• Store contests with chances to win free merchandise and exclusive prizes.
• Health care benefits (medical, vision, and dental), subject to eligibility requirements.
• Wellness benefits.
• 401(k) retirement benefits.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Employee stock purchase program.
• Paid time off, paid sick leave, and parental leave and benefits (varies by job level, location, and employment classification).
• Holiday pay (varies by job level, location, and years of service).
• Discretionary bonuses and other incentives at AEO's discretion.

Full-time position located in Kansas City, KS, United States.