Assistant Store Manager FT - North Star Mall

AKIRA Assistant Store Manager

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 35+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com.) AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand. AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other high fashion competitors: Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner , and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position

Assistant Store Manager

Overview:

AKIRA Assistant Store Managers are fanatical salespeople, driven by goals and dedicated to servant leadership. They excel in ensuring customers are styled by experts who eat, sleep, and breathe fashion. Our mission is to help customers look and feel their best. Assistant Store Managers are relentless in recruiting and developing top-tier talent to maintain a high-performing team. By leading through example and adopting an ownership mindset, they go above and beyond to achieve both personal and store objectives.

Essential Functions:

• Assisting the store management with recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding exceptional employees.
• Supporting the training, mentoring, and retention of talent to encourage growth and success.
• Helping to cultivate and maintain a positive and energized store atmosphere.
• Contributing to the selling culture by promoting AKIRA's 5 Steps of Selling.
• Providing constructive feedback to team members, both in real-time and through written communication.
• Motivating and encouraging employees to achieve their best performance.
• Assisting in maintaining seamless store operations and ensuring visual presentation meets AKIRA standards.
• Supporting the enforcement of AKIRA policies with consistency and professionalism.
• Striving to exceed individual sales goals with enthusiasm and dedication.
• Contributing to the store's daily, weekly, and monthly sales goals to drive success.
• Leading by example to reflect and promote AKIRA's culture and Code of Conduct through our 4 Principles.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 1-year experience in a retail environment, with some management exposure.
• A genuine passion for fashion and a strong interest in current trends.
• A diligent work ethic with a focus on achieving team and personal goals.
• Strong leadership potential with the ability to motivate and guide a team.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills to support store operations.
• High energy and the ability to act with urgency when needed.
• Ability to support and assist in supervising, motivating, and guiding employees.
• Flexibility and openness to new ideas and adapting to change.
• Solid understanding of visual merchandising and delivering exceptional customer service.
• Knowledge of store operations, including inventory control and loss prevention procedures.
• Ability to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a hands-on approach.
• Collaborative attitude, building strong relationships with team members and managers.

Physical Requirements:

• Move product, supplies and/or boxes repetitively; ability to push, pull, lift a maximum of 50 lbs. based on needs of the role
• Ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time, including a 10-12 hour shift

Diversity & Inclusion:

At AKIRA we believe that treating everyone in a first-class manner is essential to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects our values and our community. This is deeply rooted in our company's principles, culture, and fashion. We continuously strive to cultivate a company where employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. Our unique workforce is directly linked to our success and makes us stronger collectively.

Benefits and Perks:

AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and employee discount. We are committed to encouraging internal development and providing significant career enrichment opportunities. Most importantly, what has propelled AKIRA's growth and success over the years has been the dynamic culture within the company - if you're filled with passion, have a strong desire to get things done, and if you want to go to a place where you know your work matters and where you can implement your ideas and decisions, then AKIRA just might be the place for you.