What are the responsibilities and job description for the Retail Manager position at RP Lumber?
Retail Manager (Hardware & Building Materials)
Oconomowoc, WI | On-site | Full-time | $20.00–$25.00 per hour
R.P. Lumber is hiring a Retail Manager for our Oconomowoc, WI store location. This is a hands-on, on-site leadership role for someone who can run a showroom, coach a team, keep inventory accurate, and deliver the kind of service contractors and homeowners remember.
This position reports to the General Manager and provides development across showroom, yard, and back-office operations for individuals interested in growing into broader store leadership over time. You will lead the store when the General Manager is away.
About R.P. Lumber
We are a family-owned building materials and hardware retailer founded in 1977. We now operate 100 locations across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Our promise is simple: Best Service. Best Value. We promote from within and look for leaders who want to build a long-term career in their community.
What you will do
Customer service and sales
- Lead by example at the sales counter, on the showroom floor, and at the register
- Train and motivate store associates to provide knowledgeable, exceptional customer service
- Resolve customer concerns quickly and fairly
- Support contractor and retail relationships, including follow-up and new-business prospecting
- Help the team load and stage deliveries so orders leave on time, complete, and in good condition
Showroom operations and merchandising
- Oversee receiving, stocking, pricing, and product presentation in the showroom
- Execute planograms, end caps, seasonal displays, key assortments, promotions, and price changes
- Keep the sales floor clean, organized, and easy for customers to shop
- Build product knowledge across hardware, lumber, and home-improvement categories so you can coach the team and help customers choose the right materials
Inventory, payroll, and store performance
- Record sales, returns, transfers, and adjustments accurately and on time
- Maintain stock levels that meet customer demand without over-investing in inventory
- Partner with warehouse and yard teams on accurate receiving and proper storage
- Reduce shrinkage, damage, and theft through clean processes and secure high-theft items
- Assist the General Manager with sales and profit goals, labor scheduling, payroll control, reporting, and back-office tasks
- Check and respond to company and customer email in a timely manner
Safety and team leadership
- Model a safety-first culture for employees and customers
- Help keep ladders, forklifts, trucks, and other equipment in safe working condition
- Give timely coaching and corrective feedback so associates can succeed
- Contribute to store meetings on performance, promotions, safety, and operational issues
- Create an open-door environment where people can raise problems and share ideas
- Perform other duties assigned by the General Manager or other qualified corporate representatives
Please note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee.
What you need to have
- 3–5 years of supervisory or retail management experience in hardware, lumber, building materials, home improvement, contractor sales, or a related field — or an equivalent mix of education and experience
- Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work with limited supervision
- Working knowledge of retail operations, merchandising, inventory control, customer service, and loss prevention
- Comfort using a point-of-sale (POS) system and other retail or business software; estimating software experience is a plus
- Enough math and business skill to read sales, margin, inventory, and labor numbers and use them to make store decisions
- Ability to work a flexible retail schedule, generally 50 or more hours per week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays based on store needs
- Valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record
- Ability to perform the essential physical functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including bending, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and frequently lifting or moving 50 to 100 pounds
Nice to have
- Associate degree or higher in business, retail management, construction, or a related field
- Experience in a lumberyard, hardware store, home-improvement retailer, or contractor-focused building-materials supplier
- Experience coaching associates, running planograms, managing inventory accuracy, or supporting labor and payroll decisions
- Familiarity with forklift operation, delivery coordination, yard operations, and safe storage of building materials
Pay Rate
Range: $20.00–$25.00 per hour
Potential pay rate based upon region, experience, education, licenses and certifications.
Pay Transparency: This compensation listed reflects the pay range reasonably expected for this posted position at the posted location(s). If this opportunity includes multiple job levels, the pay information represents the minimum and maximum range for all levels in that job family. Actual pay is determined by several job-related factors permitted by law and relevant to the position, including, but not limited to, experience relative to the job, tenure, market level, pay at the location for this job, performance, schedule, and work assignment.
Benefits
Full-time employees are eligible for:
- Medical, dental, vision, term life, and short-term disability insurance
- Employer-paid basic life insurance
- Profit sharing / 401(k)
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Employee merchandise discount
Schedule and work location
This is an on-site position. Typical retail hours include weekday store hours plus Saturday coverage. Evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required based on business needs.
Pre-employment requirements
Offers are contingent on pre-employment screening, including pre-employment drug testing, a background check, and a driving-record review, as applicable and in accordance with federal, state, and local law.
How to apply
If you take pride in a well-run showroom, a well-coached team, and customers who get the right product at the right time, we want to hear from you! Apply online or visit our store in person! Candidates who meet our selection criteria will be contacted by phone or email for the next step in our hiring process. Thank you for your interest in working for R.P. Lumber.
R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. (“R.P. Lumber Co.") is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, ancestry, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability (physical or mental), genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Salary : $20 - $25