Lead Store Associate

Type of Work: Full-Time Shift Availability: The candidate must have open availability on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and holidays.Starting Hourly Pay Rate: $19.50/hr Location: 10011 Stedwick Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20886

About the Role:

As a Lead Store Associate, you'll be at the forefront of delivering exceptional experiences to our customers while guiding and inspiring your team. As a key player in our retail operations, you'll serve as a brand ambassador, drive performance, and help shape a welcoming, compliant, and high-performing retail store environment.

What You’ll Do:

Customer Experience & People

• Lead by example to create a warm, welcoming environment where every guest feels valued, and coach your team to deliver exceptional service with every interaction.

• Empower associates to build meaningful customer relationships through personalized product recommendations and expert guidance.

• Drive consultative selling on the floor by encouraging open-ended questions, active listening, and thoughtful product education.

• Foster a culture of loyalty by guiding the team to enroll guests in our rewards program and capture customer insights that enhance future experiences.

• Support your team in resolving customer concerns with empathy and professionalism, ensuring every challenge becomes an opportunity to build trust.

• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace—where positivity and teamwork fuel great customer experiences and smooth operations at checkout.

Operational Excellence & Processes

• Execute opening and closing duties, including daily huddles and cash reconciliation.

• Verify customer IDs and maintain accurate POS profiles.

• Ensure inventory integrity through precise transaction processing and order fulfillment.

• Lead inventory counts and participate in overnight audits.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and guest-ready store environment.

• Uphold compliance with SOPs, safety protocols, and state regulations.

Sales & Performance

• Achieve daily KPI goals through consultative selling and upselling strategies.

• Reinforce customer purchase decisions and highlight complementary products.

• Stay informed on promotions and product updates to deliver a seamless shopping experience.

Leadership & Team Development

• Guide and support store associates in daily operations.

• Lead by example in customer service and operational excellence.

• Train new hires and conduct ongoing training sessions.

• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to drive team performance.

• Delegate tasks effectively and act as the go-to leader in the absence of store management.

• Support conflict resolution and promote a positive workplace culture.

• Adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment and take on additional duties as needed.

What You’ll Bring:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.

• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

• A minimum of 1 year of experience in a customer-facing or sales environment.

• A minimum of 1 year of experience using point-of-sale (POS) systems and cash handling.

• A minimum of 6 months of leadership experience in a retail environment.

• Minimum of 6 months of hands-on experience in retail store operations, including but not limited to executing opening and closing procedures, and reconciling cash drawers.

• Curaleaf Team Members need a minimum of 6 months of experience as a Store Associate demonstrating consistent performance.

• Strong leadership and team-building skills with the ability to coach and motivate others.

• Familiarity with retail standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and loss prevention practices

• High level of attention to detail, especially in cash handling and inventory management.

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a high-volume, compliance-driven setting.

• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional overnights.

• Multi-tasking with the ability to quickly pivot to other tasks

• Comfortable using technology and learning new tools to support operations and customer interactions.

• Strong time management and organizational skills.

• Strong de-escalation skills and the ability to redirect upset customers to result in a positive guest experience.

• Basic proficiency in mathematics and computer applications.

• The ability to maintain a solution-driven mindset when dealing with upset customers.

• Strong conflict resolution skills and the ability to handle high-stress situations.

• Ability to support store leadership by taking initiative and a proactive approach

• Ability to work across all stations within the store, based on business needs.

Even Better If You Have:

• Previous knowledge of inventory management, systematic restocking of merchandise, fulfillment of online and in-store orders, and conducting daily inventory counts and comprehensive inventory audits to maintain stock accuracy and compliance.

• Background in a sales role with a focus on tracking KPIs and meeting sales targets.

• Previous experience within a regulated retail setting.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand for extended periods, regularly stand, walk, talk, or hear, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, use hands and fingers to feel, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 25 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, and lift up to 50 pounds. This position requires close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less).

Work Environment:

This position has allergen warnings, including potential exposure to dust, pollen, and plant pathogens, and requires the ability to work in confined spaces, possess high stress tolerance, adaptability, and flexibility to work in an ever-changing environment.