Assistant Store Manager

About the role

The Assistant Store Manager uses automotive, customer service, operational, and leadership expertise to operate the NAPA retail store and help make NAPA the dominant parts supplier in the market. Acting as primary support to the Store Manager across all store functions, the role maintains active customer‑facing sales responsibilities while overseeing store operations—including counter sales, inventory/receiving, delivery coordination, housekeeping, and other tasks—by coaching team members, monitoring progress, and stepping in as needed to maintain standards, ensure coverage, and support store continuity. This position is designed as a developmental pathway to becoming a Store Manager and may require overtime hours and keyholder responsibilities for opening and closing the store.

Responsibilities

• Partner daily with the Store Manager on operations, sales execution, inventory health, labor/scheduling alignment, and team performance.
• May have direct influence and responsibility for direct reports and financial impact of labor planning.
• Actively sell and build customer relationships across retail and wholesale channels (in‑store, phone, and external dealer/wholesale calls as needed).
• Model expected behaviors, processes, and customer standards.
• Execute or oversee opening and closing routines (security, cash reconciliation, end‑of‑day reporting, facility readiness).
• Handle or support administrative tasks: scheduling input, compliance documentation, performance tracking/reporting, and basic P&L awareness items.
• Monitor and act on core store metrics (sales, inventory accuracy/turn, customer satisfaction, cleanliness/organization, labor efficiency, loss prevention) by uncovering trends and problem‑solving for solutions.
• Provide leadership oversight, training, and overall performance management for flexible execution of all store functions (counter sales, order pulling, receiving, stocking, delivery coordination, etc.) as business needs require: set expectations, coach the team, monitor outcomes, and step in to assist when necessary to ensure continuity and standards.
• Support talent development: provide coaching and mentor successors for advancement.
• Drive adherence to safety, asset protection, operational processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Technical or trade school courses or degree completion.
• Experience in the automotive after‑market service industry or hobby/DIY world, or at least the willingness to learn all things automotive.
• Leadership experience.
• Passion for delivering customer care and building long‑term relationships.
• Thrive off working in a very fast‑paced and complex environment.
• Knowledge of cataloging and/or inventory management systems.
• Ability to lift 60 lbs in some situations.
• Background and/or passion for automotive industry, heavy equipment, farm industry, diesel, marine, or dealership.
• Experience in a parts store, auction, retail store, auto body/collision, or fast food/restaurant/convenience store management experience.
• Entirely customer‑centric (external/internal).
• ASE Certifications a plus.
• NAPA Know How Position Performance Measures:
  • Customer satisfaction and issue resolution effectiveness
  • Sales performance and overall effective operations in the store
  • Product knowledge and technical advisory capability
  • People metrics – turnover, time to fill, payroll to GP, schedule compliance
  • Store metrics – sales, P&L, OPEX