Assistant Store Manager (f/m/d)

Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company founded in 1973. At a time when all life on earth is under threat of extinction, we aim to use the resources we have—our business, our investments, our voice and our imagination—to influence changes needed to protect our planet. A registered B Corporation and founding member of 1% for the Planet, Patagonia is recognised internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism, contributing over $145 million in grants and in-kind donations to thousands of grassroots environmental groups around the world.

Your role:

We are in business to save our home planet. You’ll be helping us achieve this by providing a complete shopping experience for our customers, according to the European Retail strategy. This position will assist in managing the retail store consistent with the short and long-term interests of the company, its employees, and the local community in which they work. The Assistant Store Manager provides excellent customer service by maintaining the highest level of store standards. This position will support the Store Manager in achieving customer service and sales goals, monitoring expenses, and ensuring the store operates to uphold our company’s mission.

Main tasks:

Customer Service and Sales

• Provide best in class customer service, where the customer is treated with great importance and respect. Be an example for all employees on know how to provide a great customer service to every customer that walks in the door. 

• Give accurate and current information about the product for all inquiries; if the correct information is not at hand, do everything possible to provide an answer before the customer leaves the store.

• Be a brand advocate for the Company; represent the Company positively to internal and external customers.

• Be a resource for product knowledge, sales and customer service standards/techniques, store operations, and Company initiatives.

• Be an environmental ambassador by leading on environmental initiatives and environmental story telling in partnership with the Sales Associates and the environmental team.

Merchandising and Maintenance

• Maintain high merchandising values that reflect the Patagonia image by being creative, educational, inviting, and expressive.

• Check stock daily and restock when necessary to ensure that all products are available for customers.

• Perform merchandising duties: folding, hanging, and displaying product according to retail merchandising standards.

• Assist in displaying all featured merchandise prominently in each section.

• Maintain the store and employee break area clean.

Operations

• Assume responsibility for opening and closing the store and securing all assets.

• Maintain all building mechanical systems and report any malfunctions to the Architecture Department so that systems can be fixed.

• Maintain store security including building security and cash handling.

Communication and support to the Retail Store Manager

• When the Retail Store Manager is absent for whatever reason, to ensure a good update and overview of what is happening from both the commercial store point of view and within the team to the Retail Store Manager.

• Inspire employees so that each person contributes to the productivity of the store.

• With the store manager evaluate all store employees. Ensure that reviews are given on schedule and documentation is received in Human Resources according to the guidelines outlined by the Human Resources Department.

• Act as the go-to person for the retail store team when the Retail Store Manager is absent.

Activism

• Create stores that are centres for the community and can educate our customers on environmental, social, and political issues.

• Encourage all staff to participate in planning events in the store.

• Educate self and staff on global and local issues. Get actively involved.

• Ensure we “walk our talk”. Operate stores that are environmentally responsible by recycling, conserving water, electricity and carpooling or cycling.

What we’re looking for:

• A love of the outdoors

• A passion for saving our home planet and making a positive impact through your work

• 3-5 years of experience in retail or related customer service experience.

• Language skills: fluent in English and German. Other languages are a plus.

• Excellent customer service and sales skills.

• Stock management experience is a plus.

• Patagonia product experience/knowledge is a plus.

• Personal or professional experience with outdoor sports.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

• Ability to effectively train, delegate and set clear expectations.

• Ability to work in a self-motivated environment. Pro-active thinking.

• Demonstrated flexibility on the job

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Accuracy and attention to detail.

• Effective communication skills.

• Ability to effectively work in a team. 

Other important details:

• Store is open 6 or 7 days per week. Number of scheduled hours per week varies. Must be available to work minimum of one weekend day, one opening shift and one closing shift throughout the week.

Why join our store?

Our stores are designed to be hubs for our communities, where we inspire, educate and engage with environmental and social defenders and those who love wild places and outdoor sports. For example, we support local groups with grants, donations, volunteers, advocacy, and events.

You will join a passionate team working to protect the wild places around us and changing the retail industry for the better, whilst having fun together.

Perks:

Note: Below is only an indicative list and may change at the time an offer of employment is made.

· Events and workshops with environmentalists, change-makers, educators and sports ambassadors

· Taking part in employee-lead groups such as Sports, Internal Communications, Footprint, Pride, Pata Parents and Events, or create your own!

· Ongoing unique learning and development opportunities such as our own programme Earth University and workshops in anti-racism, core sports, among others.

· Possibility to apply for an Environmental Internship (spending time away from your regular job to work for an environmental group, while being paid your regular salary) after one year of employment

· Option to participate in our 1% for the Planet grants council, being trained and empowered to review and make funding decisions on the grant applications from environmental groups. 

· We are an activist company and have policies in place to support employees that want to engage in activism.

· Retail field days, where you and your colleagues experience a day together in the outdoors. 

· All employees interns and their families have access to our Employee Assistance Programme, designed to provide third party, confidential support on a wide range of topics relating to emotional, behavioral and social challenges 

· All employees and interns have access to Unmind, our workplace mental health platform

· Fully paid maternity leave (duration varies by country). After nine months of employment, we offer 12 weeks of partner leave and 12 weeks of adoptive leave. Pro-rated for part-time employees.

· Access to a seasonal clothing allowance to showcase our gear in the store and in the wild. 

· Access to Patagonia discounts and sample sales, as well as discounts at other outdoor and value-aligned companies

· Plus other benefits specific to each region

At Patagonia, we commit to becoming an anti-racist company that leads by example. This means doing the work to be inclusive and equitable, across all aspects of our business.  

Every person who applies to join Patagonia receives equal employment opportunities, and we value a welcoming environment where each member of our EMEA team feels included, respected and empowered, regardless of their race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, civil status, national origin, disability or age. 

At Patagonia, we strive to have inclusive representation within our organisation and embrace a diverse mix of talent to contribute to our culture. We actively seek applications from Black and People of Colour (BPOC) and other underrepresented groups.

As we are in business to save our home planet, we can only do this together.

Please make sure that your CV and cover letter are in English.

Disclaimer for recruitment agencies:

Thanks for your interest in supporting us for this role, but we don’t accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies