Lead Store Associate

New Store Opening – Lead Store Associate Type of Work: Full‑Time Shift Availability: Candidate must have open availability on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Starting Hourly Pay Rate: $19.50/hr Location: 443 South Broad St, Meriden, CT 06450 About the Role: As a Lead Store Associate, you’ll be at the forefront of delivering exceptional experiences to our customers while guiding and inspiring your team. As a key player in our retail operations, you’ll serve as a brand ambassador, drive performance, and help shape a welcoming, compliant, and high‑performing retail store environment. What You’ll Do Customer Experience & People: Lead by example to create a warm, welcoming environment where every guest feels valued, and coach your team to deliver exceptional service with every interaction. Empower associates to build meaningful customer relationships through personalized product recommendations and expert guidance. Drive consultative selling on the floor by encouraging open‑ended questions, active listening, and thoughtful product education. Foster a culture of loyalty by guiding the team to enroll guests in our rewards program and capture customer insights that enhance future experiences. Support your team in resolving customer concerns with empathy and professionalism, ensuring every challenge becomes an opportunity to build trust. Promote a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace—where positivity and teamwork fuel great customer experiences and smooth operations at checkout. Operational Excellence & Processes: Execute opening and closing duties, including daily huddles and cash reconciliation. Verify customer IDs and maintain accurate POS profiles. Ensure inventory integrity through precise transaction processing and order fulfillment. Lead inventory counts and participate in overnight audits. Maintain a clean, organized, and guest‑ready store environment. Uphold compliance with SOPs, safety protocols, and state regulations. Achieve daily KPI goals through consultative selling and upselling strategies. Reinforce customer purchase decisions and highlight complementary products. Stay informed on promotions and product updates to deliver a seamless shopping experience. Leadership & Team Development: Guide and support store associates in daily operations. Lead by example in customer service and operational excellence. Train new hires and conduct ongoing training sessions. Provide real‑time coaching and feedback to drive team performance. Delegate tasks effectively and act as the go‑to leader in the absence of store management. Support conflict resolution and promote a positive workplace culture. Adapt quickly in a fast‑paced environment and take on additional duties as needed. What You’ll Bring Must be 21 years of age or older. High School Diploma or GED certificate. Minimum of 1 year of experience in a customer‑facing or sales environment. Minimum of 1 year of experience using POS systems and cash handling. Minimum of 6 months of leadership experience in a retail environment. Hands‑on experience in retail store operations, including opening/closing procedures and reconciling cash drawers. Experience as a Store Associate demonstrating consistent performance. Strong leadership and team‑building skills. Familiarity with retail SOPs, safety protocols, and loss prevention practices. High attention to detail, especially in cash handling and inventory management. Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a high‑volume, compliance‑driven setting. Availability for a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional overnights. Multi‑tasking ability and quick pivot to other tasks. Comfortable using technology and learning new tools to support operations and customer interactions. Strong time management and organizational skills. Strong de‑escalation skills to redirect upset customers positively. Basic proficiency in mathematics and computer applications. Solution‑driven mindset when dealing with upset customers. Strong conflict resolution skills and ability to handle high‑stress situations. Capacity to support store leadership by taking initiative and proactive approach. Ability to work across all stations within the store based on business needs. Even Better If You Have Previous knowledge of inventory management, systematic restocking of merchandise, fulfillment of online and in‑store orders, and conducting daily inventory counts and comprehensive audits. Background in a sales role with focus on tracking KPIs and meeting sales targets. Experience within a regulated retail setting. Physical Requirements The role requires the employee to stand for extended periods, regularly stand, walk, talk, or hear, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, use hands and fingers to feel, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 25 pounds. Occasionally required to climb, balance, and lift up to 50 pounds. Requires close vision. Compensation & Benefits Competitive Pay and Benefits Generous PTO and Parental Leave Life/Disability Insurance Community Involvement Referral Bonuses and Product Discounts Benefits vary by state, role type, and eligibility. Curaleaf is an equal‑opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. Individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr