Reports to: Executive Director
Type: 30-35 hours/week, hybrid on-site
Pay: $50-60k
About the Position
The Store Director is a key member of the leadership team at The Friends of the Conservatory. You will be responsible for directing the day-to-day operations of our Palm House Gift & Plant Store within the Volunteer Park Conservatory. This includes overseeing purchasing, inventory control, and sales in the Conservatory store featuring a variety of horticultural and arts items locally and nationally sourced that are of high quality and interest.
Though small, the Palm House Gift Store packs a big punch, with proceeds directly supporting the Friends of the Conservatory, whose mission is to inspire connection between people and nature through educational experiences in, and conservation of, the Volunteer Park Conservatory.
FOC p-rioritizes a collaborative, team-oriented culture where everyone has a high level of ownership and performance in their roles, and where we care for ourselves, each other, and our community. We are a flexible workplace and place high priority on the health and well being of our staff.
Strategy Development & Leadership (15%)
In collaboration with the Executive Director:
- Work with the Executive Director and Board of Directors on strategic planning, organizational goals and priorities, and annual budget, with a focus on long-term retail growth. This includes proposing creative ways to grow our store, sales events, and retail offerings.
- Produce Store Report for the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis, including tracking financial impact and numbers reached for all sales
- Attend monthly finance team meetings to review vendors payments and ensure adherence to FOC budget and financial procedures; Monitor revenue and expense budgets for the store,
- Collaborate with key staff to meld conservatory needs, education, and visitor experience.
Store Management (75%)
- Manage Store Performance: Ensure customers receive highest level of customer service, achieve retail sales targets, and establish a comfortable experience
- Manage Volunteer Staff: Recruit, train, and support the long term performance of volunteers, and plan work schedules.
- Manage Inventory:
- Research, evaluate, and select products from local artists, merchandisers, and suppliers with an emphasis on botanical, local and sustainable.
- Oversee the maintenance of plant material in shop and back stock areas to maintain healthy plants and minimize waste
- Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support the shop and back stock
- Effectively communicate with vendors to ensure on-time delivery of merchandise
- Coordinate sales opportunities with programs, exhibitions, other events and customer seasonality
- Create well-presented displays
- Monitor and order general supplies (bags, register tape, sticker stock etc.)
- Analyze sales reports and strategies: Determine which items are selling well and which are not, discern profit margins for each item, and design marketing/sales strategy.
- Update and maintain the store manual
Special Events (10%)
- Co-lead the development and execution of quarterly plant sales events and our end of year holiday market event in partnership with our events committee and our parks partners.
- Participate in FOC events as needed and provide administrative services on project basis i.e Store receiving and tagging merchandise, exhibition support, managing special event ticket sales etc.
Our Ideal Candidate
FOC needs people who value a growth mentality—people who are willing to do things differently, test things out, fail and get back up again. We hope to find someone who is curious and can connect to people with their heart, being vulnerable and authentic. We expect you to share our values of sharing power, trusting each other, being transparent, celebrating small successes, integrity, and cross-cultural respect and sensitivity.
FOC is most interested in attracting a teammate who will be successful and fulfilled in this role, not just someone who can check off every box.
Specifically, we are looking for:
- 3-5 years of retail and/or store management experience, including direct experience with purchasing and sourcing,
- Volunteer and/or employee management
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and an ability to maintain deep relationships with a variety of diverse students, partners, and community members.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to plan out project steps, create and meet deadlines, manage schedules, communicate through challenges, and stay highly organized with competing priorities and information; Operates with thoughtfulness around accomplishing goals
- A collaborative approach to problem-solving, including the ability to pivot to meet immediate needs, or address unforeseen.
- A persistent commitment to communication in the face of challenge and conflict.
The strongest candidates will have:
- 5+ years of experience
- A passion for plants, the conservatory, and getting creative.
What you Will Accomplish
During the first three months you will:
- Get familiar and comfortable articulating around FOC's mission, history, community culture, programs, and organizational goals.
- Learn and use the Square Point of Sale system for buying functions, inventory tracking, generating reports, and cash register
- Grow your knowledge of plants and specific plant care, as well as learn about our artists and vendors.
- Get to know the volunteers
Some fun projects on your 12 month horizon :)
- Established relationships with local artists and vendors
- Identify new products for the store
- Pop up events with local vendors/artists
- Co-coordinate Holiday Market
Hours, Location & Conditions
This position is 30-35 hours/week, with flexibility for some remote work (1-2 days per week). There occasionally will be evening or weekend time needed, during major events. Additionally, we offer a competitive benefits package:
- Open (unlimited) PTO to be used for vacation and sick leave.
- Monthly Healthcare stipend
- 13 paid federal holidays.
- Monthly commuter stipend of $140
- One-time home-office/tech stipend of $300.
- Annual professional development stipend of $500
- Annual bonus opportunity.
- Complimentary access to the Conservatory
We are also on track to add access to a health insurance plan this year. Not to mention, your office is located inside the Volunteer Park Conservatory!
Application Instructions:
FOC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within our staff, students, and governing institutions. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply.
Please submit your resume here [application link]. We do not require a cover letter. Please just answer the questions on the application.
First review of applications on Aug 26th
First interviews on Aug 29th
How to learn more
If you have any questions, please reach out to Board President, Caitlin Pontrella, at Caitlin@volunteerparkconservatory.org
