Preparing for an Operations Manager interview at REI requires a dual focus: mastering retail management fundamentals and deeply understanding the co-op's unique culture. Your interviewers will look for leaders who can drive profitability while authentically representing the brand's commitment to the outdoors and social equity.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate a strong grasp of retail operations, including labor optimization, P&L management, inventory flow, and visual merchandising standards. Be prepared to discuss how you manage day-to-day store logistics efficiently.

Problem-Solving & Adaptability – Retail environments are dynamic and unpredictable. Interviewers evaluate how you handle unexpected staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions, or sudden shifts in corporate strategy while keeping your team focused and calm.

Inclusive Leadership – REI looks for leaders who build highly collaborative, psychologically safe environments. You should be ready to talk about how you mentor staff, promote equity, and build strong personal relations across diverse teams.

Values Alignment – As a co-op, REI prioritizes stewardship, community, and inclusion. You must be able to articulate why you want to work for a cooperative and how you align with their mission to inspire and enable a life outdoors for everyone.

The interview process for an Operations Manager at REI is highly structured and values-driven. While the initial stages focus on your professional background and operational capabilities, the later stages dive deep into your leadership philosophy, team management style, and cultural alignment.

The journey typically begins with an online application followed by a recruiter screen. This initial conversation is used to verify your qualifications, discuss location preferences, and gauge your general interest in the co-op. Following a successful screen, you will move to an interview with the hiring manager, which focuses on your operational experience and leadership style.

The final stage is typically an in-depth panel interview. This stage involves teams of interviewers who take turns asking a structured, pre-determined set of questions. Because REI utilizes a highly standardized, script-based interviewing methodology, the process can feel formal. Interviewers are trained to read questions exactly as written to ensure equity and consistency across all candidates.

The timeline above outlines the typical progression from your initial application to the final hiring decision. Candidates should expect a highly structured evaluation flow, with a strong emphasis on behavioral consistency across both the individual and panel stages. Use this timeline to pace your preparation, ensuring you allocate sufficient time to practice structured behavioral responses before reaching the panel stage.

To succeed in the REI hiring process, you must understand the specific competencies your interviewers are trained to evaluate. Each stage of the interview is designed to test your capabilities in several critical areas.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) & Co-op Values

REI is deeply committed to building an inclusive co-op that reflects the communities it serves. Candidates are heavily evaluated on their ability to lead with empathy, promote equity, and foster an environment where everyone feels they belong.

Be ready to go over:

• Inclusive hiring practices – How you attract, recruit, and retain diverse talent pools.
• Cultural competence – Your understanding of systemic barriers to the outdoors and retail spaces.
• Mitigating bias – Techniques you use to identify and address unconscious bias in team management and customer service.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Implementing local community-specific equity initiatives and aligning store-level practices with national co-op advocacy efforts.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How do you define equity in a retail environment, and how do you ensure your leadership practices reflect that definition?"
• "Describe a time you had to address an microaggression or biased behavior within your team."

Retail Operations & Execution

This area evaluates your technical ability to manage a high-volume retail environment, optimize resources, and maintain the visual and operational standards of the brand.

Be ready to go over:

• P&L and budget management – Controlling operational costs, managing payroll, and driving revenue.
• Visual merchandising – Ensuring store layouts and product displays maximize engagement and sales.
• Inventory and logistics – Managing stock flow, shrink reduction, and supply chain efficiency.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through how you analyze a weekly labor report to make scheduling adjustments."
• "How do you ensure your team maintains high visual merchandising standards during peak shopping seasons?"

Team Leadership & Interpersonal Relations

Because REI interviews utilize panel formats with multiple team representatives, your ability to build rapport and demonstrate strong collaborative leadership is critical.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict resolution – Navigating disagreements between staff members or departments constructively.
• Performance development – Coaching team members to help them grow within the co-op.
• Change management – Leading teams through organizational transitions or new operational protocols.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to motivate a demotivated team to achieve a difficult operational goal."
• "How do you handle a situation where two of your department leads have conflicting operational priorities?"

As an Operations Manager at REI, your day-to-day work is dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative. You are responsible for the overall health of your store or department, balancing business metrics with team well-being.

Your primary responsibility is to lead and inspire your team. You will spend a significant portion of your day on the sales floor, coaching employees, observing customer interactions, and ensuring operational standards are met. You will conduct regular check-ins with department leads to align on daily priorities, visual merchandising updates, and promotional rollouts.

Behind the scenes, you will manage the administrative and financial health of the location. This includes:

• Analyzing sales data, labor hours, and operational expenses to optimize store profitability.
• Developing and executing strategic plans to meet seasonal sales targets and membership acquisition goals.
• Collaborating with regional leaders, visual merchandising specialists, and HR business partners to implement company-wide initiatives.
• Ensuring strict compliance with safety regulations, inventory controls, and loss prevention policies.
• Representing REI in the local community by supporting outdoor stewardship events and building relationships with local non-profits.

To be competitive for the Operations Manager position, you must demonstrate a strong track record of retail leadership and operational success, paired with a genuine passion for the co-op's values.

• Must-have skills – Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L, labor budgets, and inventory; proven ability to lead, coach, and develop large, diverse teams; excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience in specialty outdoor retail; background in visual merchandising or high-volume logistics; active involvement in outdoor recreation or environmental stewardship.
• Experience level – Typically requires 3–5 years of retail management experience, preferably in a high-volume or specialty retail environment, with direct responsibility for leading teams and driving operational outcomes.