District Manager in Training

About Our Company

Lids Sports Group is the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia. Operating out of Indianapolis, IN, our retail stores offer officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional sports teams, plus top brands like Nike, New Era, Adidas, and Mitchell & Ness. 

We currently operate 1,200+ locations domestically and 50+ internationally, including specialty concept stores for the NBA, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, and numerous MLB teams. In recent years, Lids has built partnerships with iconic global brands including Marvel, Playboy, and the Harlem Globetrotters, and gained ambassadors like Justin Jefferson, Quavo, and Josephine Skriver – creating a community for both sports fans and fashion lovers. 

The company is currently expanding with the goal of becoming the largest licensed brick-and-mortar sports retailer across the globe.

General Position Summary

The District Manager in Training is an inspiring field leader who trains under the District Sales Manager within a specific given geographic area to drive strategic product sell-through, deliver key business results, hire, and develop store associates. As a DMIT you are ensuring that store operational principles are followed and that each store provides exceptional service by offering their expertise on Lids’ products and services. District Managers in Training are accountable for their smaller market (approx.:3-5 stores) within the district under the support and guidance of the District Sales Manager. 

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

People & Training Development 

• Manage the store’s hiring strategy, including planning needs, recruitment strategy, projected turnover, and leaves of absence. Develop Store Managers (SM) in the skills of recruiting and training to continually strengthen the talents and results in the market.  
• Share role and behavior expectations and coordinate onboarding training programs to acclimate new team members to Lids. 
• Engage team members by creating a fun and productive environment, including helping them understand how their work supports the success of the district and Lids overall.  
• Contribute to a respectful and inclusive team environment by establishing supportive working relationships and adhering to Lids Brand Standards (e.g. company dress code, etc.) 
• Hold SMs accountable for managing and developing their store team.  
• Address all employee concerns or issues and administer the progressive steps of discipline, including knowing when to partner with internal support (e.g. HR, RD, etc.) to take appropriate action.  
• Drive team engagement through impactful store visits and follow-up by ensuring DMIT’s stores are provided recognition, gap assessment, ongoing training, and continuous check-ins, including performance management and documentation when relevant, to support and reinforce career and personal growth.  
• Provide consistent, documented appraisal of store’s performance and work to give feedback on areas of strength and opportunity while keeping in line with Company objectives.  
• Collaborate across store channels and/or districts using company Discussion Boards or district and regional chat platforms. 
• Ensure compliance of all established company policies, procedures, and guidelines including, but not limited to, safekeeping of company inventory, funds, and property. 
• Successfully complete the DMIT Training Program to enhance core skill set (ie: recruiting, developing, coaching, leading and training). 

Customer Experience 

• Ensure that stores deliver exceptional customer service, achieving key performance indicators (KPIs) and sales target. 
• Create a “selling culture” within the stores by training and coaching on selling techniques with all associates and helping them understand how their work supports company objectives and the success of the store and Lids overall.  
• Resolve customer feedback and address issues, including customer escalations, urgent requests, and resolve to “make it right” to customers.  
• Drive customer participation in special offers such as Access Pass, Fanatics Sportsbook, etc. by ensuring all associates are educated on program details.

Additional Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Operations  

• Manage individual stores compliance within the scheduling and payroll process to align with budget, policies, procedures, and applicable law.
• Hold SMs accountable to planning, preparing, and managing the schedule according to labor requirements, availability, safety requirements, inventory management and budget considerations to maintain efficiency and effectiveness of operations.  
• Manage business disruptions and provide operational continuity (e.g. store closures, employee absenteeism, schedule / wages, operating hours impact, etc.). Perform work / essential functions of subordinates as needed.  
• Manage operations-focused company-level directives, promotions, and initiatives (e.g. from Lids HQ).  
• Understand and adhere to people’s safety policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment.  
• Ensure store technology and equipment is maintained as instructed– MPOS, Lids Custom, etc. – by verifying continued functionality, facilitating periodic updates, or ordering repair or maintenance as needed. 
• Maintain store facilities, supplies, and services by executing service requests, assessing maintenance or repair needs, placing repair work orders, or replenishing store supplies. 
• Support in performing inventory audits as needed to confirm inventory accuracy. Research store discrepancies and analyzes reports.  
• Ensure proper cash management practices, including accurate open and close of the till and consistent counterfeit protection practices and bank drops. 

Product & Inventory Management

• Ensure adherence to visual brand standards, inclusive of optimal layout and visual merchandising (VM) or product presentation strategy, window activations, hardware flips, mannequin flips, and seasonal or weekly merchandise changes.  
• Monitor and manage sell-through by monitoring product levels and ensuring inventory accuracy. 
• Monitor execution of special pricing signage and promotional presentation adjustments during operating hours to align with overall product sell-through strategy. 
• Ensure stores execution of weekly markdowns and markups as needed to ensure proper pricing. 
• Manage any transfers or ship-backs (e.g. process damages) according to company standards.

Job Required Knowledge & Skills

• One-year relevant experience or; two year degree in related field and at least two years of relevant experience or; three years of relevant experience. 
• Proven supervisory skills. 
• Proven ability to perform independently with minimal supervision. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate verbally in a clear, audible, and grammatically correct manner. 
• Ability to operate a computer, as well as maneuver relative software programs.

Reports To

• District Sales Manager 

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