Associate District Manager

Located in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area across multiple locations.

About the role

The Associate District Manager supports district operations by leading a portfolio of approximately eight to fifteen stores while directly supervising Store Managers and retail and services team members. This role drives sales, profitability, operational execution, and talent development within assigned stores, partnering closely with the District Manager to align with company strategy and brand standards. The Associate District Manager takes a hands-on leadership approach, working closely with store teams to deliver exceptional customer experience, strengthen store performance, and foster a culture grounded in the brand values. Regular store visits and active coaching of store leaders are essential.

Responsibilities

• Sales and Profitability
  • Supports district sales and profitability goals through consumer education, exceptional customer experience, payroll and expense management, and inventory and loss prevention oversight.
  • Ensures brand culture, pet nutrition education, and messaging are consistently embedded in store operations.
  • Maintains and improves store performance through regular coaching, development, and feedback with Store Managers and teams.
  • Conducts regular store visits to evaluate sales performance, merchandising execution, marketing events, and customer service opportunities, addressing gaps and identifying improvements.
  • Partners with the Sr. District Manager and Store Support teams to share insights, feedback, and recommendations on products, initiatives, and field execution.
  • Analyzes financial reports and operational metrics to identify opportunities for sales growth, profitability improvement, and expense management.
  • Leverages data and reporting to support decisions impacting sales, customer experience, payroll, staffing, and inventory.
  • Encourages an ownership mindset within store leadership teams by promoting accountability for business results and expense management.
• Operations and Services
  • Champions the engagement journey and models customer service expectations, helping leaders teach a personalized approach with each Pet Parent.
  • Actively assesses the three engagement steps: Contact, Curiosity, and Connect.
  • Ensures the highest level of customer service across assigned stores and partners with Store Managers to resolve customer concerns promptly.
  • Supports consistent execution of visual merchandising directives, brand standards, and service expectations.
  • Assists in implementing initiatives from Store Operations, IT, Marketing, and HR to enhance operational effectiveness and store performance.
  • Maintains timely communication with store leaders and district leadership, sharing updates, trends, and insights impacting store operations or team engagement.
  • Partners with Store Operations, Buying, and Supply Chain teams to ensure stores maintain appropriate inventory levels and meet merchandising standards.
• Talent Management
  • Communicates clear expectations and reinforces accountability to performance and behavioral standards.
  • Assists with recruiting, interviewing, and selecting Store Managers and store-level team members in partnership with the District Manager and HR.
  • Recognizes and evaluates team member performance while providing coaching and development opportunities for store leaders.
  • Supports retention and career development by helping store leaders create development plans and build strong internal talent pipelines.
  • Provides coaching and mentorship to Store Managers to strengthen leadership capability, operational execution, and team engagement.
  • Actively supports performance management efforts when standards and expectations are not met.
• Team and Culture
  • Promotes a culture where team members feel valued, supported, and connected.
  • Reinforces brand culture and values by modeling inclusive leadership and encouraging collaboration across teams.
  • Regularly visits stores to recognize strong performance, share best practices, and provide coaching to leaders and teams.
  • Communicates clearly, provides constructive feedback, and actively listens to build trust and strong working relationships with store leaders and team members.
• Competencies
  • Drives Vision and Purpose: Motivates others through a compelling vision and strategy.
  • Drives Engagement: Creates a climate where people are motivated to achieve organizational objectives.
  • Instills Trust: Gains confidence and trust through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
  • Builds Effective Teams: Builds strong teams that leverage diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
  • Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and organizational goals.
  • Plans and Aligns: Prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years in multi-unit and store management within the retail industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent work experience.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the natural pet retail industry is preferred.
• Ability to identify, motivate, and retain top talent to drive team success.
• Strong business ownership mindset with a demonstrated ability to take initiative and lead by example.
• Ability to achieve high performance levels through effective team leadership and delegation.
• Strong analytical, strategic, and conceptual skills with the ability to translate insights into action plans.
• Ability to interpret financial reports and turn data into actionable business goals.
• Proficient in MS Office applications.
• Ability to exercise discretionary authority and hold both self and team accountable for achieving performance measures and executing organizational initiatives.
• A sense of adventure and the ability to integrate fun into the workplace culture.
• Passion for pets.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to work around pet hair and dander.
• Must be comfortable working with a wide variety of animals, including small and large dogs.

Work Environment

• Operates in a standard office environment and store environment.
• Travels within the market by vehicle 60 to 80% of the time.
• Must hold and maintain a valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• Some job duties are performed while seated indoors with little or no exposure to hazards.

Benefits

• Paid bi-weekly on a W2 basis.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – medical and dependent care.
• $25K life insurance policy (employer paid).
• Short and Long-term disability (employer paid).
• Greatly discounted, employer-subsidized pet insurance.
• PTO (paid time off) – 2 weeks in first year, 3 weeks in second year.
• Paid Parental Leave – 4 or 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 1 year of service, 1560+ hours worked.
• Paw-Ternity – paid Pet Adoption bonding time.
• 401(k) Program – employer match at a rate of 0.25% for each 1% contribution, up to 6%. Must be 21 or older.
• Employee Assistance Program / 24X7 – completely confidential.
• 25% employee discount on goods & services.
• Team Member Feeder Program - eligible for two units (bags or cases of cans) of participating vendors' products each month.

Pay

$80,000.00 - $108,000.00 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.