Retail Talent Development Manager
1 month ago
New York
Job Description At Baked by Melissa, our people are at the heart of our retail experience. We’re seeking a Retail Talent Development Manager to build, reinvent, and scale a best-in-class retail talent pipeline and training ecosystem from the ground up. This role will shape how our store teams are hired, trained, supported, and developed—ensuring they consistently deliver the premium, high-energy hospitality our brand is known for. This is a builder role for someone who thrives on ownership, creativity, and execution. You’ll bring a fresh perspective, challenge existing ways of working, and design modern training and development programs rooted in customer service, performance, and team engagement. Role Summary The Retail Talent Development Manager is responsible for attracting top-tier retail talent, designing and executing innovative training programs, and building the systems that support team growth and accountability across both permanent stores and seasonal pop-up locations. Working closely with the Head of Retail, Retail Operations, and HR, this role blends hiring, onboarding, training, and retention into one cohesive strategy. You’ll own the development of our retail intranet and learning tools, onboarding pathways, communication frameworks, and performance-building processes—approaching each with an entrepreneurial mindset, a willingness to learn, and the confidence to ask questions, test ideas, and continuously improve. This role is ideal for someone who is people-obsessed, resourceful, open to feedback, and energized by fast-paced retail environments, with the persistence and follow-through to turn ideas into execution. Key Responsibilities Talent Acquisition & Staffing Excellence * Source, recruit, and hire high-quality candidates for all retail roles (Sales Associates, Sales Leads, Supervisors, seasonal pop-up staff, etc.) * Build a consistent hiring funnel that ensures stores are staffed with reliable, enthusiastic, and premium talent throughout the year and across seasonal influxes * Partner with Retail Operations and HR to define staffing needs, interview processes, selection criteria, and role expectations * Establish and manage strategic partnerships with local colleges, universities, and campus organizations near store locations to create a steady pipeline of emerging talent through job fairs, campus activations, internships, and early-career programs Learning and Development Leadership * Own the end-to-end creation and reinvention of Baked by Melissa’s retail training and development strategy from the ground up — bringing a fresh point of view, entrepreneurial mindset, and clear vision for what “great” looks like, rather than relying on or lightly iterating existing materials * Design and build a modern, best-in-class training ecosystem that is deeply rooted in exceptional customer service, sales excellence, and brand storytelling, while also retaining, motivating, and rewarding high-performing team members * Develop training programs that evolve continuously — always testing what’s new, what’s next, and what more we can do — with a mindset that is inventive, proactive, and unafraid to challenge the status quo * Design, implement, and maintain scalable training programs for onboarding, product knowledge, customer experience, leadership development, and operational standards * Create and manage a Baked by Melissa Retail Intranet / Learning Hub, including SOP libraries, training modules, videos, sales playbooks, compliance materials, and quick-reference guides * Oversee content creation and training communications for new product launches, marketing initiatives, operational updates, and brand storytelling * Conduct in-store training sessions, certifications, refreshers, and hands-on skill-building workshops Retail Field Support & Accountability * Perform regular store visits to assess training execution, service quality, team engagement, operational accuracy, and leadership effectiveness * Identify performance gaps and partner with district and store leaders to coach teams, deliver tangible and ongoing feedback, and reinforce training expectations * Hold teams accountable to brand standards, cleanliness, service excellence, and visual consistency * Provide consistent, actionable reporting on store performance across people, process, and training, with regular readouts to the Retail Leadership team and a clear follow-up plan tied to execution and accountability People Operations & HR Partnership * Serve as the primary point of contact between Retail Operations and HR for all people-related matters, including hiring, retention, performance management, payroll onboarding accuracy, scheduling SOPs, and compliance training * Support accurate payroll onboarding through training, audits, and process checks * Monitor employee engagement, turnover trends, and training effectiveness, proactively proposing solutions that improve culture, retention, and performance * Partner with HR on disciplinary processes, documentation, coaching paths, and employee relations * Oversee weekly payroll entry, payroll accuracy, and communication related to time and attendance issues Communication & Launch Readiness * Lead communication channels to ensure stores receive timely, accurate, and well-structured information * Develop communication templates, weekly updates, training briefs, and launch kits for new products, promotions, and store openings * Enhance the flow of information between corporate teams, field leadership, and store teams to ensure clarity, alignment, and execution Qualifications * 5+ years of experience in retail people operations, learning & development, field training, or closely related roles within multi-unit environments * Proven builder mindset with demonstrated experience creating training programs, SOPs, onboarding systems, and communication frameworks from the ground up — not simply maintaining or inheriting existing processes * Highly entrepreneurial and execution-focused, with the ability to take ownership of ambiguous problems, move quickly, and build structure where little or none exists * Strong experience recruiting, training, and developing retail teams across multiple locations, with a deep understanding of what drives performance, retention, and engagement at the store level * Experience creating and scaling retail intranets, knowledge bases, or LMS content; comfortable experimenting with new tools, formats, and delivery methods to drive adoption and impact * Scrappy, resourceful, and persistent — willing to roll up sleeves, test ideas, iterate quickly, and do the work required to bring programs from concept to execution * Exceptional presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence, coach, and inspire team members at all levels of the organization * Strong coaching mindset with a track record of motivating and developing both new hires and existing leaders through clear expectations, accountability, and consistent feedback * Trusted partner to HR, Retail Operations, and cross-functional teams, able to balance collaboration with decisive ownership and follow-through * Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment * Solid understanding of retail operations, scheduling, payroll workflows, and store performance metrics, with the ability to translate insights into action * Willing and able to travel regularly for store visits, training rollouts, and field support, with an expectation of approximately 75% in-store presence Who You Are * A positive, people-first leader who builds trust quickly and shows up with integrity and consistency * Curious and open-minded, comfortable having ideas challenged, asking questions, and saying “I don’t know” when needed * A hands-on builder who can balance big-picture thinking with strong execution and follow-through * Passionate about customer service, retail culture, and developing teams * Confident and clear in communication, while remaining humble and collaborative * Energized by fast-paced, high-growth environments and motivated by continuous improvement * Resourceful, accountable, and eager to grow as part of an ambitious, evolving company Why Baked by Melissa * Influence the future of our growing retail network * Lead the training evolution of a beloved national brand * Opportunity to build a scalable retail learning ecosystem from the ground up * Sweet discounts on our bite-size treats * Collaborative, positive, and dynamic culture * Growth opportunities as we continue expanding our retail footprint Join Us Baked by Melissa is proud to be an inclusive, diverse workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds.
Cleaning
Driver & Delivery
Kitchen Porter
Chef & Cook
Waiters
Construction & Trades
Security
Fast Food
Salon & Beauty
Office & Admin
Retail
Sales & Marketing
Warehouse
Customer Service
Host & Hostess
Barista
Entertainment
Accounting & Finance
Animal Care
Art, Media, Design
Bar Staff
Child Care
Education
Engineering
Events & Promotion
Fashion
Healthcare
Information Technology
Legal
Management
Manufacturing
Online Jobs
Science
Sports & Wellness
Writing & Editing
Other
Page 13