Retail Assistant Manager

**Retail Assistant Manager**

Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) is the leading destination in Toronto to experience sustainable horticulture, and to better understand our collective role as stewards of our ecosystem. With free admission and over 300,000 visitors a year, TBG welcomes everyone to learn to love plants. Beyond an inspiring plant oasis, we are a dynamic community hub and an engaging learning environment.

In partnership with the City of Toronto, TBG is embarking on an exciting landmark capital expansion. Today the Garden is a 4-acre botanical garden nestled in the City of Toronto’s Park System adjacent to Edwards Gardens and the Wilket Creek Trail. As the Garden prepares to expand its managerial oversight across thirty-five acres (in a phased approach), the organization is scaling up to achieve sustained organizational performance as a relevant and inspiring living museum.

Toronto Botanical Garden connects people and plants, fostering sustainable communities and developing reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning.

**How you will make an Impact**

The Botanical Garden is seeking a Retail Assistant Manager to support the organization as a destination retailer, delivering inspiring guest experiences at our Garden-based shop and online storefronts. Core to your role is ensuring that the TBG brand is reflected in the retail environment, helping to strengthen the brand's impact and audience engagement. Through your entrepreneurial mindset you will advance the Garden’s retail operations and strategy. And your dedication to guest experience will inspire and activate our Garden’s workforce of volunteers and staff, to provide positive experiences for our diverse audience. Through all of these effort you will contribute to Garden being an inspired plant place, and engaging learning environment and a dynamic community hub.

**Job Scope**
- Assists Retail Manager with all aspects of running the physical store, including but not limited to opening and closing the store, providing a safe and welcoming environment, while showcasing the Garden’s mission through retail.
- Leads the Garden’s online storefront, including promotions, imaging and story telling weekly
- Trains and manages volunteers and part-time in the retail environment, ensuring that they feel valued and engaged in the work they are doing
- Manages retail workforce schedule, along with the teams daily functions
- Trains volunteers/staff on new programs, products, procedures, and policies.
- Leads all shipping, receiving and inventory management, including inputting stock into Shopify.
- Coordinates with accounts payable for vendor invoices and credits
- Manages, organizes, and maximizes use of stock space.
- Leads the effort to maximize store inventory flow.
- Track progress to goals and success of marketing efforts
- Support Retail Manager in handling customer inquiries and service recovery
- Manges online order fulfillment along with special order requests
- Work closely with the Marketing and Audience Engagement team to promote retail and elevate the retail presence at TBG events.
- Analyzes sales data and assists in creating reports to assess store performance.
- Regularly walks the Garden and keeps current with what is happening at the Garden to support a positive guest experience.
- Builds, calibrates, and expands the Garden’s retail experience to strengthen the brand while looking for new opportunities that support engaging diverse audiences.
- Works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including event committees and contractors, along with education, development, horticulture, marketing and audience engagement.
- Stays up to date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to ensure the garden remains at the forefront of destination retail experiences.

**Requirements**:

- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in retail.
- Two years in stock/operations management.
- Proven track record of guest experience, inventory, and people management
- Organized, process focused and detail oriented with superb time management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of audiences.
- Proactive self-starter who exhibits initiative and leadership.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Point of Sale Systems-Shopify (preferred), inventory entry and management systems.
- Passion for nature, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.
- Experience or personal interest in cultural organizations such as museums, botanic gardens, arts or nature-centered institutions.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds, climb ladders
- Must be available to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and statutory holidays.

**Job Characteristics**
- You are passionate about the mission of Toronto Botanical Garden, to connect pe