Learn the Business. Lead the Team. Prepare to Run the Store.
Buddy’s Home Furnishings is looking for a motivated, competitive, and leadership-focused General Manager in Training to join our store leadership team. This position is designed as a fast-track opportunity for someone who is ready to learn every part of the business and prepare for future advancement into a General Manager role.
The GMIT is more than an entry-level training position. This role is intended for someone who can quickly develop into a true assistant manager and future store leader. The GMIT will work closely with the General Manager while learning sales, customer accounts, in-home delivery, customer service, inventory management, marketing, financial reporting, team leadership, and overall store operations.
At Buddy’s, we believe great leaders understand the business from the ground up. The GMIT will be trained in all major areas of store operations.This is a hands-on leadership development role for someone who is coachable, dependable, competitive, and ready to grow. Training will be provided, and you will be cross-trained in all aspects of the role.
This is an in-person position and is only available physically at the assigned store location.
Why Join Buddy’s?
Buddy’s Home Furnishings is one of the largest Rent-To-Own retail providers of furniture, appliances, electronics, computers, and home products in the United States. We are a growing company that believes in developing leaders, promoting from within, and creating advancement opportunities for team members who are dependable, coachable, and results-focused.
If you have leadership potential, a strong work ethic, a passion for customer service, and the desire to build a career, this could be the opportunity for you.
Give us your commitment, and we will give you the opportunity to build a career.
Benefits Include
- Competitive hourly pay
- Paid time off
- Closed on Sundays
- Employee purchase discounts
- Health and retirement benefits
- Bonus opportunities
- Training and advancement opportunities
- Career path toward future store leadership
Position Summary
The General Manager in Training is hired or promoted with the intent of being trained and prepared for a future management role within the company. This position works directly with store leadership to learn and support all areas of the business, including sales, customer accounts, customer service, in-home delivery, inventory control, marketing, financial reporting, associate development, and daily store operations.
The GMIT is expected to develop the skills, knowledge, and leadership ability needed to help manage store performance and prepare for advancement into a General Manager role.
Principal Responsibilities
As a General Manager in Training, you will be responsible for:
- Acquiring and maintaining customers
- Learning and supporting all areas of store operations
- Driving customer growth through sales, in-home delivery, customer service, account management, and marketing
- Supporting store sales, customer account, revenue, and profit goals
- Assisting with customer service and resolving customer concerns professionally
- Learning how to manage customer accounts and support timely agreement renewals
- Supporting internal and external marketing efforts to grow the customer base
- Assisting with showroom presentation, merchandising, pricing, and product availability
- Learning and supporting inventory management and product control
- Helping manage and secure company assets through proper store audit standards
- Learning how to analyze financial statements, store reports, and performance data
- Understanding and following the company Operations Manual
- Supporting daily work schedules, task assignments, delivery schedules, and follow-up plans
- Assisting with associate training, coaching, and development
- Learning how to evaluate employee performance, address performance concerns, and enforce company policy
- Supporting recruiting, hiring, and training efforts to ensure efficient store operations
- Participating in goal setting and weekly staff meetings
- Helping maintain a safe, clean, and professional store environment for customers and associates
- Ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements
- Meeting company standards for quality, customer service, and safety
- Performing all other duties necessary for effective store management
Areas of Training
The GMIT will train to become competent in all major areas of the business, including:
- Store sales
- Customer accounts
- Customer service
- In-home delivery
- Inventory management
- Marketing
- Store vehicle management
- Store audits and asset protection
- Daily scheduling and task management
- Financial statements and store reports
- Operations Manual standards
- Recruiting, hiring, and training
- Associate coaching and development
- Goal setting and weekly staff meetings
- Performance management and policy enforcement
What We Are Looking For
The right candidate will be a future leader who is ready to learn quickly, take ownership, and help drive store results. This role requires someone who can balance customer service, sales, operations, accountability, and team support in a fast-paced environment.
Qualified candidates should have:
- Strong leadership potential
- Effective organizational and follow-up skills
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- Established selling skills or the desire to develop strong selling skills
- Ability to learn customer account management and store operations
- Ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously
- Desire and passion for learning
- Competitive spirit and results-focused mindset
- Ability to negotiate and resolve conflict professionally
- Ability to recognize problems and take action to solve them
- Ability to plan, organize, delegate, coordinate, and follow up on tasks and assignments
- Ability to learn and become proficient in the company POS system
- Professional appearance and behavior
- Dependability and regular, consistent attendance
- Willingness to work nights, weekends, and overtime as business needs require
- Desire to grow into future store leadership
Minimum Requirements
To be considered for this position, candidates must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a clean driving record for the past 5 years
- Meet company insurability requirements
- Have a clean background for the past 7 years
- Be able to pass a drug screen
- Be able to pass an acceptable reference check from previous employers
- Be able to drive during the day and night while meeting all company safety standards
- Be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in person and over the phone with employees and customers
- Be able to work in-person at the assigned store location
- Be able to work Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM, as business needs require
Education and Experience
Preferred qualifications include:
- High school diploma or GED required
- Prior experience in Rent-To-Own, retail, sales, customer service, account management, merchandising, delivery, logistics, or a related business is preferred
- Prior leadership, supervisor, or assistant manager experience is a plus
- A combination of education and experience that provides the necessary skills and knowledge for the role
Physical Requirements
This is an active, hands-on leadership development position. Candidates must be able to:
- Routinely lift, load, move, and handle merchandise ranging from 50 to 300 pounds with the use of a dolly or team lift
- Assist with deliveries, pickups, service calls, and merchandise handling when business needs require
- Bend, stoop, pull, push, climb, reach, grab, and carry merchandise as needed
- Traverse multiple flights of stairs while assisting with furniture, appliances, electronics, and home products
- Stand, walk, drive, and move for extended periods of time
- Work indoors and outdoors in various climates and weather conditions
Additional Information
Buddy’s Home Furnishings is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace.
A detailed background check, including driving history and drug screening, is required.
Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour
Expected hours: No more than 45.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you at least 21 years of age?
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Managerial: 1 year (Preferred)
- Collections: 1 year (Preferred)
- Sales: 1 year (Preferred)
- Marketing: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Drivers License (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Cocoa, FL 32922 (Required)
Work Location: In person
