Associate District Manager

Located in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Multiple locations.

Position Purpose Section

The Associate District Manager supports district operations by leading a portfolio of approximately eight to fifteen stores while directly supervising Store Managers and retail and services team members. This role is responsible for driving sales, profitability, operational execution, and talent development within the assigned stores while partnering closely with the District Manager to ensure alignment with company strategy and brand standards.

The Associate District Manager takes a highly engaged, hands-on leadership approach and works closely with store teams to deliver exceptional customer experience, strengthen store performance, and foster a culture grounded in the (Chuck & Don’s/Kriser’s) brand values. Regular store visits and active coaching of store leaders are essential to success in this role.

Essential Job Functions Section

Responsibilities

The incumbent must be able to perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation.

Sales and Profitability

• Supports district sales and profitability goals across assigned stores through consumer education, exceptional customer experience, payroll and expense management, and inventory and loss prevention oversight
• Ensures (Chuck & Don’s/Kriser’s) culture, pet nutrition education, and brand messaging are consistently embedded in the day-to-day operations of each store.
• Maintains and improves store performance through regular coaching, development, and feedback with Store Managers and store teams.
• Conducts regular store visits to evaluate sales performance, merchandising execution, marketing events, and customer service opportunities, addressing gaps and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Partners with the Sr. District Manager and Store Support teams to share insights, feedback, and recommendations on products, initiatives, and field execution.
• Analyzes available financial reports and operational metrics to identify opportunities to grow sales, improve profitability, and manage controllable expenses.
• Leverages data and reporting to support decision-making that positively impacts sales, customer experience, payroll, staffing, and inventory management.
• Encourages an ownership mindset within store leadership teams by promoting accountability for business results and responsible expense management.

Operations and Services

• Champions the engagement journey and models customer service expectations. Help leaders understand how to teach and train a personalized approach with each Pet Parent. Actively assesses each of the three engagement steps including: Contact, Curiosity and Connect.
• Ensures the highest level of customer service across assigned stores and partners with Store Managers to resolve customer concerns effectively and promptly.
• Supports consistent execution of (Chuck & Don’s/Kriser’s) visual merchandising directives, brand standards, and service expectations.
• Assists in implementing initiatives from Store Operations, IT, Marketing, and HR to support operational effectiveness and enhance store performance.
• Maintains timely communication with store leaders and district leadership, sharing updates, trends, and insights that impact store operations or team engagement.
• Partners with Store Operations, Buying, and Supply Chain teams to ensure stores maintain appropriate inventory levels and meet merchandising and operational standards.

Talent Management

• Communicates clear expectations and reinforces accountability to (Chuck & Don’s/Kriser’s) performance and behavioral standards.
• Assists with recruiting, interviewing, and selecting Store Managers and store-level team members in partnership with the District Manager and HR.
• Recognizes and evaluates team member performance while providing coaching and development opportunities for store leaders.
• Supports retention and career development by helping store leaders create development plans and build strong internal talent pipelines.
• Provides coaching and mentorship to Store Managers to strengthen leadership capability, operational execution, and team engagement.
• Actively supports performance management efforts when standards and expectations are not being met.

Team and Culture

• Promotes a culture where team members feel valued, supported, and connected to one another.
• Reinforces the (Chuck & Don’s/Kriser’s) culture and values by modeling inclusive leadership and encouraging collaboration across teams.
• Regularly visits stores to recognize strong performance, share best practices, and provide coaching to leaders and teams.
• Communicates clearly, provides constructive feedback, and actively listens to build trust and strong working relationships with store leaders and team members.

Competencies

• To perform the job successfully, an individual must demonstrate the following competencies.
• Drives Vision and Purpose: Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
• Drives Engagement: Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Instill Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Builds Effective Teams: Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.