Specialty Retail Store Manager

RETAIL STORE MANAGER

Full-Time In Person Gaithersburg, Maryland

Lead the store. Develop the team. Build lasting customer relationships.

About Watercrafters

Watercrafters has served Montgomery County residential pool owners since 1982. We are an established, independent pool and backyard-living company known for knowledgeable employees, quality products, dependable workmanship, and long-term customer relationships. Many members of our team have been with us for five, ten, or more years.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced retail leader to take ownership of our Gaithersburg showroom and guide the team through both our fast-paced pool season and the important planning and improvement work that happens during the winter.

This is a hands-on management position—not a back-office role. The Retail Store Manager is visible on the sales floor, supports customers, coaches employees, keeps daily operations organized, and helps the department achieve profitable sales and customer-retention goals. The right person is approachable and service-minded while also being organized, decisive, and comfortable holding a team accountable.

What You’ll Own

• Day-to-day store operations, including opening and closing, registers, water-testing stations, customer flow, and store readiness.
• Supervision, scheduling, training, coaching, and development of retail sales associates.
• A consistently professional customer experience, including timely follow-up and resolution of routine concerns.
• Sales performance, margin awareness, promotional execution, customer-retention programs, and consultative selling standards.
• Accurate use of CounterPoint, ALEX, Outlook, Teams, and other company systems.
• Day-to-day inventory accuracy, merchandising, signage, displays, special orders, and communication of purchasing needs.
• Safe chemical handling, clean and organized work areas, and compliance with company procedures.
• Coordination with the General Manager and Watercrafters’ Service, Renovations, Maintenance, Purchasing, Accounting, Marketing, and technical teams.
• Hands-on customer service in person, by phone, and by email, including product recommendations, follow-up, and routine issue resolution.
• Water-chemistry troubleshooting and basic pool-equipment guidance, with appropriate escalation of advanced technical matters.
• Equipment and special-order quotes, identification of additional service needs, and coordination with the appropriate Watercrafters department.

What We’re Looking For

• Prior retail management, assistant management, or comparable team-leadership experience.
• A strong customer-service mindset and the ability to sell through education and honest recommendations.
• Proven organization, follow-through, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Confidence setting expectations, coaching employees, addressing performance issues, and keeping a team productive.
• Comfort learning pool and spa water chemistry, retail products, basic equipment concepts, and specialized software.
• Sound judgment about when to solve a problem, delegate it, or escalate it.
• Pool-industry experience or Certified Pool & Spa Operator training is helpful, but not required for the right leader.

Schedule and Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-person position with a seasonal schedule. Availability for Saturdays, Sundays, selected holidays, extended peak-season hours, and occasional after-hours needs is required. The position is active and includes regular movement throughout the showroom, warehouse, and exterior display areas, along with safe handling of retail merchandise and work around properly stored pool and spa chemicals.

Why Join Watercrafters?

You will join a respected local company with more than four decades of experience and a knowledgeable, long-tenured team. This is an opportunity to lead a department where your organization, coaching, and ideas can make a visible difference while building valuable pool-and-spa expertise.

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief note describing your retail leadership experience and why you are interested in joining Watercrafters. Qualified applicants will be contacted regarding next steps.

Watercrafters is an equal opportunity employer. Emplo

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Describe a retail store or department you personally managed. What were you responsible for regarding employees, daily operations, customer service, sales, and opening or closing procedures?

Tell us about a time you identified and corrected an operational problem involving a POS transaction, return, cash-handling issue, inventory discrepancy, or employee procedure. What did you do, and what was the result?

Work Location: In person