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Ikea member of staff helping customers use touch screen
Meeting & Understanding Customers

Retail Manager-Gurnee, IL

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  • Gurnee, Illinois
  • Sales & Commercial

Job Description

  • Job ID: 340593

  • Date posted: 12/05/2026

    • Why we will love you

    You are excited to be on the ground floor of IKEA's transformation strategy. You have been actively involved in the coaching, development and leadership of others (minimum 5 years). You have passion for planning and designing inspiring home furnishing solutions and services for our customers. You take tremendous pride in executing seamless and exceptional customer service. You get energy from leading through change initiatives while creating and sharing ideas to improve our business.

    What you'll be doing day to day

    This isn't your typical IKEA — it's part of our new small-format store concept designed to bring IKEA closer to more people. You'll work in a more intimate, community-focused space that still delivers the big IKEA experience in new ways. As a Retail Team Leader, you will:
    - Be responsible for day-to-day operations and for supervising a team of co-workers.
    - Respond to safety and security incidents, including after-hours alarms, ensuring reports, root cause analysis, and follow-up. Serve on the Crisis Management Team, coordinating with local emergency responders and leadership as needed.
    - Develop and retain a diverse, skilled team through effective hiring, onboarding, and talent development. Create growth plans, manage performance, and delegate responsibilities to ensure team readiness and succession.
    - Ensure the unit is always fully stocked, well-maintained, and merchandised to IKEA standards. Oversee equipment functionality and compliance with all audit and legal requirements.
    - Lead efficient logistics by balancing inbound and outbound volume, ensuring space, equipment, and staffing needs are met. Drive product quality, stock accuracy, and merchandising to support a seamless omni-channel customer experience.
    - Enhance the customer experience by building co-worker system competence, ensuring proper access levels, and maintaining fully equipped, well-covered work areas during operating hours.
    - Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and security regulations in coordination with Risk & Compliance and Field Safety partners. Train co-workers on the IKEA Code of Conduct and relevant internal and local requirements through regular audits.
    - Collaborate across the unit to minimize product damage and related costs. Act as gatekeeper for damaged items, determining repurposing solutions and supporting IOS quality claims.
    - Partner with Anchor Units to seize commercial opportunities, and drive sales and long-term profitability by understanding customers, the local market, and competition.
    -Food operations, ensuring compliance with food safety, health and hygiene standards while delivering a safe, high-quality, and welcoming food experience for customers and co-workers.
    -Manage food service performance, including staffing, training (Food Handlers compliance), routines and operations standards to support sales, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

    Together as a team

    We are the ones meeting our customers – in our stores, online, in our catalogue and beyond. We have knowledge of the IKEA product range, local markets and customer needs and we constantly find new ways of making real connections with our customers to maximize sales and profitability. Together with thousands of colleagues around the world we're a diverse team working for the continued global success of the IKEA Concept – a concept that helps millions of customers create a better everyday life!

    Apply now!

    JOB TYPE: Permanent, full-time
    BENEFITS ELIGIBLE: Yes
    HOURS: Requires full open availability seven days a week

    The pay range for this role is $63,219-$90,719

    At IKEA, taking care of our co-workers and their dependents is a top priority. That’s why we offer our eligible, regular co-workers (part-time and full-time) a full menu of benefits and perk options to ​help everyone maintain work and life balance, be well and plan for their future. Join our team and enjoy these benefits and so much more!

    • Generous paid time off, holiday and sick time
    • WiselyPay – get earned wages up to two days early
    • Paid parental leave (up to 16 weeks)
    • KinderCare tuition discount
    • Retirement and bonus plans
    • Co-worker discount, meal deal, and referral bonus
    • Pet insurance program
    • Education assistance and learning programs
    • Safety shoe reimbursement
    • 24/7 telehealth visits
    • Dental and vision plans
    • Medical and Rx plans (must work min. 20 hrs/wk)
    • A fun and inclusive work environment

    Thank you for your interest in applying for this role. The successful candidate may be required to complete a background check and a drug test as a condition of employment for this role.

    Qualifications

    • First Aid Certification required.
    - CPR certification required.
    - Forklift Driver Certification required.
    - Powered Mobile Handling Equipment Operator/Trainer License, varying depending on the location.
    - Food Handlers Card required.
    - 3-5 years of external retail management or 3 years of internal leadership experience.
    - Experience managing, leading and developing a team, preferably in a retail, commercial, hospitality, and/or food environment.
    - Experience meeting agreed budgets and goals and working on plans over several years.
    - Ability to plan and design solutions for customers (i.e. storage solutions, kitchens, bath, etc.).
    The starting rate/ salary for this position ranges from 63,219 USD to 90,719 USD and will be based on relevant work experience.
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