Retail Associate

Retail Associate

The Retail Associate plays a versatile and essential role in daily store operations. Responsibilities may vary depending on the needs of the day or week and include customer service, donation intake, merchandise production, and sales floor support. This position requires flexibility, a commitment to quality service, and the ability to perform all store functions as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide a warm, professional greeting to donors and customers. Assist donors with unloading items from vehicles, issue donation receipts, and maintain accurate donor logs. Deliver exceptional customer service by answering questions and helping. Evaluate the quality of donated merchandise and pre-sort items for salvage or sale. Load and unload materials from pallets, bins, or trucks. Open containers and sort materials into appropriate categories. Operate equipment properly and safely, including POS, pallet jacks, pallet stackers, and forklifts (if certified). Move merchandise throughout the store to support operational needs. Perform daily and nightly recovery of the sales floor and backroom areas. Sort, price, and tag donated hardline goods for sales floor placement, ensuring merchandise quality. Meet production expectations for textiles and hard goods in assigned roles. Accurately operate a cash register, provide excellent customer service, and promote mission-related fundraising (e.g., round-up campaigns). Maintain cleanliness and organization during stocking and downtime across all roles. Adhere to safety protocols and housekeeping standards. Demonstrate a professional, adaptable, and team-oriented attitude. Uphold and promote the mission and values of Goodwill. Perform other duties as assigned to support store operations.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Minimum of one year of experience in material handling or customer service preferred. Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations Forklift operator certification required for applicable locations (must be obtained within 30 days of hire if not already certified).

Qualification Requirements

Must be able to read clothing tags and other labels in English. To successfully perform this role, the individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Ability to manage tasks with frequent interruptions and minimal supervision. Clear and effective communication skills, both in person and over the phone. Ability to follow verbal instructions accurately. Strong commitment to teamwork and continuous improvement.

Physical Requirements

Medium Lifting up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and / or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands / arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk, hear, and see. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and / or buttons. Travel requirements : none. Work environment : moderate. Employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and / or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually moderate. EOE. Including disability / vets.