Department Lead (Sales/Floor Supervisor)

Our Story So Far

Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz is one of the oldest and most iconic toy retailers in the world. Frederick August Otto Schwarz dreamed of a marvelous, bountiful emporium full of extraordinary, one-of-a-kind toys from all over the world. His dream became a reality, and as one of America's oldest brands, we have provided this wonder to families for more than 160 years 

The Job

The Department Lead is responsible for coaching our team of associates to deliver a memorable visit to each of our guests. The Department Lead will take ownership of their assigned areas and is accountable for the performance of their departments. This role will collaborate across the Operations, Visual, Merchandising, Facilities, and third-party teams to maintain standards throughout the day.

Reporting to: Department Manager

What You'll Do

Guest

• Coach the team to deliver the store selling vision with a focus on outstanding guest engagement and product knowledge.
• Assist in maintaining standards at all service touch points by adhering to best practices, escalating concerns, and communicating changes.
• Show an understanding of effective zoning and partner with Department Managers to adjust the daily plan as needed.
• Embody a “guest before task” mentality and make decisions focused on maximizing the guest experience.
• Monitor guest feedback and partner with senior leadership to address opportunities to improve in a positive and constructive way.
• Complete regular observations of associates in your area, providing objective feedback to team members to enhance the guest experience.
• Be an active presence on the sales floor to lead by example and ensure our standards are being met consistently to promote a positive guest experience.

Team

• Check in with your team on the sales floor, taking time to observe and understand how to adapt your leadership style to suit a diverse range of people.
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with the team to build connections, understand needs, and recognize how you can support their development.
• Assist in monitoring uniform stock levels and escalate any uniform issues as needed.
• Assist in sharing key communications across the team to ensure they are aware of key events, business goals, and expectations for their areas.
• Lead Department Specialists and Sales Associates to stay on task within their assigned departments of responsibility.
• Be aware of product updates and assist in the training of product knowledge across your team.
• Support the Department Manager within your assigned area of business as it relates to staffing, product, and other store objectives. 
• Identify ways to boost team engagement and share these with the leadership team.
• Escalate employee concerns and feedback to senior leadership.

Store

• Help oversee daily cash handling operations, ensuring processes are adhered to consistently.
• Oversee daily opening and closing procedures.
• Take ownership of your assigned area to ensure product layout is maintained to planogram and flag stock levels to the Operations team.
• Cascade product feedback to the senior leadership team.
• Support inventory management controls and follow processes to reduce in-store shrink.
• Support key business activity such as floor moves, sale launches, and inventory counts.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the operations of the store at large and be able to support where needed.

What You Have

• 2+ years experience in a leadership role within a fast-paced premium retail or experience-based environment.
• Experience with cash handling procedures.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal ability.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Flexible availability in line with a Flagship Retail environment across days, evenings and weekends.
• Capable of lifting up to 25 pounds, and bending, twisting, and standing for long periods of time.

This job description should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by this role. Employees are required to perform other related functions as assigned. 

FAO Schwarz is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.    

FAO Schwarz strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, interns, or any other covered persons, on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin including ancestry, ethnicity, sex including pregnancy, gender identity, and transgender status, gender, physical or mental disability, including gender dysphoria and similar gender-related conditions, alienage or citizenship status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, unemployment status, caregiver status, credit history, salary history, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state and local laws, with respect to hiring, promotion, discipline, firing, compensation, benefits, or other terms, conditions or privileges of employment.    

If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, or during the course of your employment, please contact the Director of Human Resources at HR@fao.com .   

Apply online at faoschwarz.com/pages/careers; Indeed.com; or GetHired.com   

FAO Schwarz is an EEO employer - M/F/Vets/Disabled