Store Associate

The Store Associate supports the overall operation of the Goodwill retail store by performing a variety of duties across donation receiving, production, merchandising, cashiering, and customer service. This position is cross trained to work in multiple areas of the store based on business needs and is responsible for helping ensure donations and merchandise move efficiently from the donation door through processing and onto the sales floor.

The Store Associate provides excellent customer and donor service, accurately sorts, processes, prices, tags, stocks, and sells merchandise, and maintains a clean, organized, productive, and safe work environment. This position is expected to work cooperatively as part of the store team while supporting Goodwill of the Finger Lakes’ mission, values, operational standards, and performance expectations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Customer and Donor Service

• Greet customers and donors in a friendly and enthusiastic manner within 10 seconds of arrival.
• Maintain a professional, friendly, helpful, and service-oriented attitude at all times.
• Assist customers in locating and selecting merchandise.
• Assist donors with bringing donations into the donation area as needed.
• Address customer and donor questions or concerns courteously and respectfully while following established policies.
• Seek assistance from a supervisor when necessary to resolve concerns.

1. Donation Receiving and Sorting

• Accept donations and ensure accurate donation log reporting.
• Sort incoming donations into the appropriate categories and equipment for processing or transportation.
• Properly label carts, totes, containers, and other equipment.
• Assist with loading and unloading merchandise, donations, and equipment from trucks as needed.
• Follow all safety procedures during the packing, lifting, loading, unloading, and movement of merchandise and equipment.

1. Softline Production

• Accurately assess and sort clothing, shoes, accessories, and other softline merchandise according to established quality standards.
• Hang, tag, label, and prepare softline merchandise according to standard operating procedures.
• Develop and demonstrate knowledge of apparel, accessory, shoe, and other softline brands and merchandise.
• Meet established productivity, quality, and performance expectations for the work area assigned.

1. Hardline/Wares Production

• Accurately assess and sort hardline merchandise according to established quality standards.
• Price, tag, and label merchandise using established pricing guides and procedures.
• Develop and demonstrate knowledge of hardline merchandise and appropriate pricing.
• Meet established productivity, quality, and performance expectations for the work area assigned.

1. Sales Floor and Merchandising

• Stock the sales floor with newly processed merchandise, fitting room returns, go-backs, and new goods as directed.
• Push completed carts and merchandise to the sales floor within established time expectations.
• Merchandise softline and hardline products according to standard operating procedures.
• Perform continuous quality checks of merchandise on the sales floor.
• Identify and report merchandise that does not meet quality standards.
• Pull merchandise from the sales floor as required for quality, rotation, or inventory purposes.
• Maintain merchandise displays and inventory in a clean, organized, safe, and shop-ready condition.
• Continuously look for opportunities to improve efficiency in stocking and displaying merchandise.

1. Cashier Responsibilities

• Accurately record sales using the point-of-sale/cash register system and properly package purchased merchandise.
• Ensure accurate payment collection and provide appropriate change.
• Maintain the proper cash balance in the assigned till in accordance with established over/under policies.
• Ask customers for a Round-Up donation during eligible transactions.
• Follow all cash-handling, loss-prevention, and point-of-sale procedures.

1. Production and Performance Expectations

• Meet established productivity, quality, and performance standards for the department or work area assigned.
• Maintain accuracy and quality while working efficiently to support overall store production and sales goals.
• Demonstrate continuous improvement in productivity, merchandise knowledge, and job performance.
• Remain flexible and work in different areas of the store based on operational and staffing needs.

1. Safety and Store Maintenance

• Maintain assigned work areas, production stations, donation areas, sales floor, and store equipment in a clean, organized, and safe condition.
• Keep workstations stocked and prepared and communicate supply needs to a supervisor.
• Assist with general store housekeeping duties, including but not limited to vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping, and mopping floors.
• Identify and report potential safety hazards to management.
• Follow all established safety procedures and safe work practices.

1. Teamwork and Communication

• Act as a positive and supportive member of the store team.

• Communicate ideas, concerns, and operational needs to coworkers and management in a timely and professional manner.
• Work cooperatively with team members across donation, production, sales floor, and cashier functions.
• Follow Goodwill of the Finger Lakes’ mission, values, policies, procedures, and standards at all times.

1. Other Responsibilities

• Participate in cross-training and perform duties in multiple store departments as assigned.
• Adapt to changing operational priorities and business needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or store management.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The Store Associate must be able to work effectively in multiple areas of the store, including customer service, cashiering, donation receiving, production, and the sales floor.

This position requires flexibility and may include working evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or GED preferred. Previous retail, customer service, production, warehouse, or related work experience preferred but not required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read and understand documents such as receipts, timecards, production reports, safety information, procedures, and policy manuals.
• Ability to complete routine reports, production documentation, and other required records accurately.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with customers, donors, team members, supervisors, and other employees.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

General math skills required, including the ability to accurately handle basic calculations related to cash transactions, pricing, and other assigned store responsibilities.

AVAILABILITY:

Must have open and flexible availability based on store needs and be willing to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee will work in a variety of store environments based on assigned responsibilities.

The employee will regularly work in retail sales areas and donation processing areas. The donation and production areas may have a warehouse-like environment with moderate noise levels and frequent movement of merchandise, carts, totes, and equipment.

At times, the employee may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions while receiving donations, assisting donors, loading or unloading merchandise, or performing other assigned duties.

The employee is expected to follow all established safety procedures and maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment throughout all areas of the store.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Physical Demands- Store associate 

Frequency

Never

Almost Never

Occasionally

Frequently

Always

Sitting

 X

Standing

X

Walking

X 

Bending over

           X

Crawling

X

Reaching Overhead

X

Crouching

X

Kneeling

X

Balancing

X

Lifting and Carrying

10 lbs. or less

 X

11 to 25 lbs.

X

26 to 50 lbs.

X 

51 to 75 lbs.

X

76 to 100 lbs.

X

over 100 lbs.

X

Push/ Pull Max Force

0 to 20 lbs.

        X

21 to 39 lbs.

X

40 to 59 lbs.

X

60 to 100 lbs.

X

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.