The day-to-day life of an Operations Manager at Ross Stores is fast-paced, physical, and highly collaborative. You will work closely with your Store Manager to execute the store's business plan and meet operational targets.

Your primary responsibilities include:

• Overseeing Truck Deliveries: Leading the truck unloading team to ensure merchandise is received, sorted, and moved to the sales floor quickly and safely.
• Writing Associate Schedules: Developing weekly employee schedules that align with labor budgets and store traffic patterns.
• Managing Stockroom Logistics: Ensuring the backroom is organized, clean, and compliant with corporate safety and fire codes.
• Hiring and Training: Actively recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and training hourly associates to build a strong, flexible workforce.
• Serving as Manager on Duty (MOD): Running the sales floor, directing associate activities, executing opening/closing routines, and resolving customer service issues.
• Driving Loss Prevention: Partnering with Asset Protection to minimize shrinkage, secure high-value merchandise, and train associates on loss prevention protocols.

You will spend a significant portion of your day on your feet, moving between the stockroom and the sales floor. This role requires constant communication with your team, coaching them in real-time to maintain high productivity and exceptional customer service standards.

To be competitive for the Operations Manager position, you must demonstrate a strong background in retail operations and a hands-on leadership style.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Retail Leadership Experience: At least 2 years of experience as a supervisor, keyholder, or assistant manager in a high-volume retail or warehouse environment.
• Open Availability: Flexibility to work a rotating schedule of 45 hours per week, including opening, mid, and closing shifts, as well as weekends and major holidays.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 40 pounds regularly to assist with truck unloading and merchandising.
• Proven Accountability: Experience hiring, training, and managing the performance of hourly associates.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Off-Price Retail Experience: Prior experience working in a fast-turnover, off-price retail environment.
• Logistics Focus: Deep familiarity with truck unloading processes, backroom sorting, and inventory replenishment systems.
• Financial Acumen: Experience analyzing store metrics, labor reports, and P&L statements to drive operational improvements.

Q: Is the Operations Manager position salaried or hourly? A: The Operations Manager (Assistant Store Manager) position is typically an hourly role. However, it features a highly structured schedule of 45 hours per week, which includes 5 hours of built-in, guaranteed overtime paid at time-and-a-half.

Q: What is the typical weekly work schedule? A: You will work a rotating 45-hour schedule designed to cover all key business hours. This generally consists of three opening shifts, one mid shift, and two closing shifts per week, though this can vary based on store needs and truck delivery schedules.

Q: How does the background check process work? A: Ross Stores conducts a thorough background check before finalizing employment offers. Ensure your resume accurately reflects your employment history, as our background check system requires verification of past employers, including those that may have closed.

Q: Are there opportunities for career advancement? A: Yes. Ross Stores strongly believes in promoting from within. Successful Operations Managers are frequently placed on stretch assignments and evaluated through the Manager Assessment Program to prepare them for promotion to Store Manager or district-level roles.

• Dress to Impress: Even though this is an operations and stockroom-focused role, dress professionally for all of your interviews. First impressions matter greatly to our district and regional leadership teams.
• Emphasize Your Schedule Flexibility: Retail operations run 365 days a year. Explicitly state your willingness to work weekends, late nights, and major holidays (excluding Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, when our stores are closed).
• Highlight Your Logistics Background: If you have experience managing truck unloads, stockroom sorting, or warehouse logistics, make this a focal point of your resume and interview answers.

• Prepare Your References Early: Have the names and contact information of four professional references (including former supervisors) ready to go. Having these prepared can significantly speed up your offer timeline once the interviews are complete.

The Operations Manager position at Ross Stores is a high-impact, rewarding role that sits at the very center of our retail business. By managing our logistics, developing our associate teams, and maintaining our operational standards, you directly drive the profitability and success of your store location. It is a demanding role that requires grit, leadership, and a passion for operational excellence, but it also offers a clear and structured pathway to higher-level retail leadership.

To stand out in your interviews, focus your preparation on concrete operational examples. Be ready to discuss how you run a stockroom, how you motivate hourly associates, and how you make quick, strategic decisions under pressure.

The salary range above reflects the hourly base rate for this position. When evaluating your compensation, remember to factor in the guaranteed 5 hours of weekly overtime paid at time-and-a-half, as well as our standard benefits package.

If you are ready to take the next step in your retail leadership career, review your operational metrics, polish your behavioral examples, and prepare to show our hiring managers why you are the right leader for Ross Stores. For more company-specific interview insights, practice questions, and preparation tools, explore the resources available on Dataford. Good luck!