Retail Associate

Position Summary As a Retail Associate, you'll thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment, cross‑trained to ensure a smooth operation that enhances the shopping experience for every guest. You will be part of a dedicated team that values your unique skills and can be placed in any area of the store as needed. Responsibilities Acts as an ambassador to the museum, supporting the Art Institute of Chicago’s mission and upholding our company culture. Flexibly assigned to any area of the store each day to support both sales and operations. Greet and engage guests, sharing and selling museum store merchandise related to the Art Institute’s collections and exhibitions. Cross‑sell products to increase customer satisfaction and business revenue. Introduce promotions and opportunities to customers. Work with guests to determine their needs and recommend appropriate products. Maintain merchandise throughout the day by keeping the display area clean, ensuring proper pricing, and restocking. Participate in product‑knowledge training to stay current on product features and how they relate to the collection and exhibitions. Operate the point‑of‑sale system accurately, following proper protocols and consistent messaging with guests. Follow inventory‑control procedures and guidelines for cash and merchandise handling. Provide accurate information to guests regarding museum policies, exhibits, collections, special events, and programs. Offer a warm, welcoming greeting; be friendly, approachable, and resolve conflict professionally and courteously. Ensure orders are accurately fulfilled and excellent service is provided during pickup. Maintain a well‑stocked store for our guests. Contribute to a clean, smoothly operating store. Participate in inventory‑loss prevention to maintain a safe shopping environment. Maintain appearance, organization, and cleanliness of the receiving area, stockrooms, and sales floor. Load and unload stock from the warehouse truck, using special care to prevent damage. Receive all merchandise into the Chain Drive inventory system, ensuring correct pricing and matching shipping manifests. Report discrepancies or damages to the Operations Manager. Route merchandise to the sales floor and stockrooms, place stock in appropriate areas, and remove trash from receiving and stockroom areas. Perform daily morning sales‑floor recovery and restock product as needed. Restock store supplies (bags, gift boxes, tissue, etc.) daily before store opening and as needed throughout the day. Re‑ticket merchandise to reflect price changes, ensuring all stock on hand is priced correctly. Maintain compliance with all fire‑code regulations. Participate in cycle counts and physical inventories as requested. Monitor incoming packages and route as needed. Provide support and assistance to sales and merchandising teams as needed. Assist with other departments’ needs and work effectively with museum staff. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications High school diploma or GED. Minimum 1‑year warehouse or stockroom experience preferred. Basic knowledge of customer‑service best practices and good communication skills. Ability to learn and use Chain Drive, the Museum Shop’s point‑of‑sale system, and inventory‑management systems. Effective reading, writing, and communication ability with customers, peers, and management. Organized and thorough with close attention to detail and follow‑through. Willingness to assume responsibility. Professional appearance and communications at all times. Willingness to work flexible schedules, including weekends, holidays, and before or after hours as needed. Physical Requirements Regular lifting of objects up to 25 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds. General mobility including kneeling, bending, and movement throughout the museum. Standing up to 5 hours at a time. Ability to operate manual lift, hydraulic skid lift, hand truck, and dollies as required to move merchandise. Compensation & Benefits Hiring Range: estimated amount for positions based on the grade, final offers based on skill set, experience, qualifications, and other factors. Benefits: comprehensive benefits package. PTO Overview. Job classification: non‑exempt. Employment category: full‑time staff. Grade level: 3. Equal Opportunity Statement The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr