019151 - Retail Manager
 The University of North Carolina System | |
 United States, North Carolina, Asheville | |
| 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way (Show on map) | |
 Oct 23, 2026 | |
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About the Opportunity The North Carolina Arboretum is seeking a Retail Manager to lead The Connections Gallery, the Arboretum's gift shop and a signature part of every guest's visit. This is specialty retail: a curated store set within a public garden, serving a distinct audience of Arboretum visitors and members, and carrying unique, high-quality gifts that reflect and extend our mission of cultivating connections between people, plants and places. This position is on-site at the Arboretum. The Connections Gallery is typically open seven days a week; this role works a weekend rotation along with some evenings and holidays, including during seasonal events such as Winter Lights. The hiring salary for this role will be $53,000 to $59,000 and will include benefits offered by the State of North Carolina and University of North Carolina System. The position closes at 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The Retail Manager is part of the larger Guest Experience and Services team and shares in that team's central purpose: delivering exceptional, memorable service to every visitor. We are looking for someone who understands that retail here is different. The Gallery supports local, state, and national makers, enhances the guest experience, and gives a gift shop the rare chance to tell a story. That story grows each year during Winter Lights, when nearly 100,000 visitors come to experience the winter season and a second, seasonally focused shop opens on the property. This position is responsible for all retail operations including merchandising, daily operations, and staff management, in support of and in alignment with the Arboretum's mission. The Retail Manager ensures the highest quality in every aspect of operations, works as a dynamic team member who strengthens interdepartmental productivity and relationships, and serves as an ambassador for the Arboretum in communicating and furthering the agency's mission and goals. This position reports directly to the Guest Experience and Services Manager. Knowledge-Program and Organization: Knowledge of policies, procedures and precedents affecting program area. Ability to analyze and explain how policies or procedures apply to programmatic and client needs. Operational knowledge of the purpose of the program's organization including its mission, services, clients and measures of business effectiveness. Ability to assess needs and assure assistance is appropriate to the situation. Ability to identify and understand non-specific issues and problems without standard resolutions and resolve them independently. Ability to modify processes using applicable technology, web-based data systems and programs. This position deals primarily with the public and this position must have the ability to recognize problems and provide the required solutions. This position must have knowledge of state laws concerning retail practices and also federal regulations relating to the use of federal land currently leased to the state. This position must arrive at solutions to problems dealing with visitors by arriving at unique resolutions for special requests or concerns that meet the expectations of customers while protecting the integrity of the institution. This position will be considered the supervisor and will be expected to provide expertise on a management scale and will report directly to the Guest Experience and Services Manager. This position will be allowed to revise and create new policies to effectively manage the Retail department based on their experience and knowledge of past events. This position will be expected to manage all aspects of retail including physical shops and seasonal sales through events such as Winter Lights, special events and flower shows. This role will be expected to make recommendations for program expectations, plan budgets, departmental objectives, establish deadlines and assign work to others, and will have the authority to make decisions related to the interpretation of polices and regulations. This position will determine the personnel needs and insure that appropriate staff is assigned to retail areas. This position must be knowledgeable with various policies including the alcohol policy, Arboretum programming and retail best practices. Ability to explain the application of policies and procedures in terms of client needs and business results and goals. Ability to identify options and make recommendations within established guidelines to meet competing needs. Ability to develop and maintain productive and collaborative work relationships in order to facilitate effective service in the Retail and Guest Services area and problem resolution. Ability to research, compile, explain, and present data. Ability to clarify the rationale for the information/records management policy and practices. This position must be able to resolve any and all visitor disputes in support of Guest Experience policies and practices. Builds customer relationships, interprets customer needs and assesses their business requirements. Written and Verbal: Ability to compose communication describing the work, resolving an issue, or initiating or terminating a procedure. Ability to draft internal policy and work processes. The ability to prepare budgets, track results and communicate to senior management is required as well. This position will be the main liaison between TNCA and vendors, visitors, members and others and will require both written and verbal communication skills of the highest caliber. This position must serve as the resource for other employees in Retail and guest experience area when questions concerning retail operations occur. The ability to create an effective communication strategy will be required. This staff person serves as the main liaison between Retail operation, Guest Experience and Services and senior management as far as providing correct documentation and record keeping. The person will ensure that all required retail systems and documents are well maintained and updated. This person must have the ability to train other staff members in the use of software used by the department. This position must be able to communicate with other retail establishments to determine if methods used there would be appropriate for implementation here. This position must have the ability to develop and recommend new approaches to improve records and information management. The ability to identify trends in retail and inventory information management and analysis and discuss these with higher level staff if required. The ability to maintain awareness of current and emerging technologies which could prove beneficial to our organization is required. The ability to stand for long periods of time. Must be able to lift and/or carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally to move product. This position must have the ability to supervise, train and assign tasks to others and to review that work for competency. About the TeamThe North Carolina Arboretum is a 434 acre public garden affiliated with the University of North Carolina featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits, educational activities, and plant-centered research and economic development programs. Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills Management Preference: Experience or training in non-profit operations or working within a museum or garden shop environment. Experience with Point-of-Sale software is desirable. Strongly prefer experience in product or services retail sales, the management of inventories, point-of-sale operations, the setting of prices, the management of cash flow, and the setting of public/client relations policy. Prior experience in gallery or gift shop management in a public garden, historic attraction or museum setting preferred
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