American Girl Assistant Department Manager (Exempt/ Salaried)

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER.It's our heritage and it's also our future. Because we don't just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard-when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:The American Girl Retail team is integral in providing lifetime memories to American Girl fans and their families. Our experiential retail stores provide shopping destinations like no other. This requires Innovation, Collaboration, and Execution from all who are a part of this division. Our in-store experiences range depending on location from Girl and Doll Salons, Full-Service Restaurants, Personal Shopping, Ear Piercing (Girl and Doll), hosting Parties/Celebrations to name a few. Expect a dynamic and fast-paced role where you get to make decisions that impact the team as well as our customers.

The Opportunity:The Assistant Department Manager is located at our American Girl Chicago Flagship Retail Stores and reports directly to the Department Manager. This role supports the daily operations of the assigned department, ensuring alignment with financial, customer service, and operational goals. Key responsibilities include motivating and developing team members, implementing merchandising strategies, and delivering exceptional customer service experiences that reflect the company's standards and objectives.

What Your Impact Will Be:

Leadership

• Provide floor leadership to ensure the environment is friendly, positive, and professional at all times.

• Manage lunch and break schedules as well as covering call-offs.

• Coach and motivate the department staff to the expected performance standards.

• Support in leading creative and informative storewide and weekly departmental meetings with all staff.

Customer Service

• Ensures that staff creates a positive, friendly, and professional atmosphere.

• Ensures customer is treated as #1 priority.

• Ensure each customer is greeted within 30 seconds.

• Ensure appropriate sales/cashier floor coverage to maximize service.

• Ensure that the shopping environment is safe for both internal and external customers.

• Oversee in monitoring communication with customers by phone and written correspondence.

• Oversee in the training of the principles of MAGIC-Meet, Assess, Guide, Inspire, and Celebrate in conjunction with the Retail Leadership Team.

• Support Department Manager to achieve data capture goals.

• Oversee in monitoring progress through weekly recaps and regular on floor coaching and developing.

Merchandise Sales/Business Development

• Proactively develops business strategies to exceed sales plans in designated area of responsibility as agreed upon with Department Manager. Support and participate in achieving financial goals, KPI's, Data Capture for the store and delivery of the Company's revenue plan.

• Oversee and participate in the strategic plan for new items, special promotions, creation of floor plans; communicates safety stock changes, and signage needs in conjunction with the Retail Leadership Team.

• Oversee and participate in the monitoring of new item selling and special promotions. Oversee and participate in the initiation and execution of seasonal floor moves in conjunction with the Retail Leadership Team.

• Ability to establish and execute priorities with a sense of urgency.

• Shop competition and provide feedback as business dictates.

• Timely completion of assigned projects. Communicate concepts for additional business strategies.

Communication

• Regular discussions with sales department clerks, Department Managers, Visual Manager, and Store Director.

• In partnership with the Department Manager communicate with P&C, Visual, Corporate, Cafe, AP, ASM, Operations Manager, and others as needed to effectively manage the business.

Performance Management/Staff Development

• Manage in providing regular performance coaching and feedback.

• Partner performance issues with Department Manager on a timely basis with recommendations to overcome the issue.

• Manage in writing and conducting timely comprehensive performance appraisals.

• Ensure associates attend training sessions.

• Hire, coach, and discipline, as necessary.

• Develop specific plans to increase the skills of sales associates.

• Empower associates to solve customer requests.

• Oversee in ensuring compliance of all AG Place policies and procedures.

Merchandise Replenishment

• Execute monthly inventory counts.

• Proactively analyze reports to drive revenue.

• Ensure the selling floor is fully and consistently replenished with entire assortment.

• Maintain product assortment for the top of cash wrap and cash wrap line of fixtures.

• Analyze all aspects of new products to ensure appropriate merchandise flow.

• Work with visual and operations partners on merchandising issues included but not limited to new items and low inventory.

What We're Looking For:

• 3-5 years of Retail Operations experience in a high volume, premium, fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrate leadership and motivational skills in a retail environment.

• Strong ability to coach, develop, and empower staff.

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks with urgency.

• Excellent customer service orientation.

• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking.

• Well-developed computer skills: proficient in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.

• Proven track record in sales, performance management, and staff development.

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Ability to work, a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays to support business needs.

Salaried:

The annual base salary range for this position is between $63,000 and $80,000.

**This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however annual base salary will be determined based on a candidate's work location, skills and experience.Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.**

Don't meet every single requirement?At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work:

American Girl is subsidiary of Mattel, a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate:Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate:At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute:We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Who We Are:

American Girl is a premium brand for girls and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT,www.mattel.com), a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences.Our products are sold in collaboration with the world's leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel's award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us athttps://jobs.mattel.com/andwww.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

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