New York Community & Retail Leader

Hi. We're Left On Friday. We believe in a life where nothing holds you back, especially your swimsuit. So we designed a swim (surf, fun) suit that can keep up with you, is easy to care for, and feels amazing on.

We don't have a store in New York City yet. You're the reason we'll be ready when we do. As our Community and Retail Leader, you'll be Left On Friday's first person on the ground: building real relationships with the studios, clubs, creators, and local businesses that define the city, running pop-ups and activations, and turning a market that's heard of us into one that knows us by name.

When our store opens, you'll move onto the store leadership team. You'll help open the doors, coach the team, run the floor, and keep the community you built flowing straight into the store.

This role is for a self-starter who can work independently without a store around them, and who is just as energized by running a business as by building a following. Think: host a swim club at 7am, close out a pop-up P&L by noon, and coach a new hire by 5.

How the role works

• Phase 1 – Build the community (pre-opening): Independent, field-based, reporting to Director of Retail. Focus on relationships, pop-ups, and new customer acquisition.

• Phase 2 – Lead the store (post-opening): On-site, partnering with the Store Manager as a key store leader while continuing to own the store's community strategy.

Store timing isn't fixed. You should be genuinely excited about both phases, not just one.

Phase 1: Build the community (pre-opening)

Be known in the neighbourhood

• Become a trusted, consistent presence with local businesses and the fitness, wellness, and water community. Show up, bring fun, and add real value so the connection feels authentic, not transactional.

• Build personal, named relationships with the top studios, run clubs, swim and surf groups, and wellness spaces in the market. Sweat with them, and know their teams by name.

• Identify and build relationships with local creators and influencers shaping fitness and community in the city.

• Make sure value flows both ways: support partner events, co-host activations, and earn invitations into what's next.

Run pop-ups and activations

• Plan and execute pop-ups, trunk shows, try-on events, and community activations, from venue sourcing and partner agreements to setup, staffing, selling, and breakdown.

• Own pop-up operations: inventory counts, Shopify POS, cash handling, and post-event reconciliation.

• Recruit, train, and lead part-time or event staff for activations.

• Manage your activation budget and report on spend vs. results.

Drive awareness and new customers

• Own a full local activation calendar.

• Track how activations measurably drive awareness, email and SMS sign-ups, online sales in the market, and new customers.

• Execute product seeding through community partners and creators.

• Gather local market insight (neighborhoods, foot traffic, partner landscape, guest feedback) to inform store location and opening plans.

• Test new ideas, share what works and what doesn't, and report regularly to [Regional Manager / Head of Retail].

Prepare for opening

• Build a launch-ready community: partners, creators, and a local customer list ready to show up on opening day.

• Support store opening planning, including local hiring, team onboarding, and grand opening events.

Phase 2: Lead the store (post-opening)

Once the store opens, you step into the Assistant Store Manager–level leadership role and keep owning the store's community strategy.

Store performance and operations

• Partner with the Store Manager to drive daily, weekly, and monthly sales targets, including those tied to community efforts.

• Lead sales floor operations for efficiency, guest satisfaction, and team productivity.

• Support store P&L management and budget accountability.

• Execute opening and closing procedures, inventory management, and visual merchandising standards.

• Step up as leader-on-duty when the Store Manager is out.

Guest experience

• Deliver premium guest experiences and model brand standards for the team.

• Share fit and style expertise during try-on sessions and private parties.

• Resolve guest feedback with empathy and urgency.

Team leadership and development

• Coach, mentor, and develop Floor Leaders and Fit Experts to perform at their best, in the store and out in the community.

• Give direct, honest feedback and support ongoing learning and career growth.

• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and performance management.

• Build team schedules with the Store Manager, including time for community activations.

• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and fun team culture, and hold the team accountable to results.

Community, continued

• Keep the partner and creator relationships you built active and turn them into in-store events, private parties, and repeat guests.

• Get you and your team out in the community every week.

Values you bring

• Genuine Connection (Guest-First): Natural ability to build rapport and make every guest and partner feel seen and supported.

• Excellence-Driven (Make It Great): Consistently go above and beyond to create wow moments.

• Authentic Communication (Be Real): Deliver honest, thoughtful feedback that customers, partners, and teammates trust.

• Clarity & Ease (Keep It Simple): Simplify operations and the shopping experience without sacrificing quality.

• Positive Energy (Have Fun): Use humour and warmth to turn stressful moments into fun ones.

• Trustworthy (Integrity): Show honesty, reliability, and accountability in every interaction, especially when no one is watching.
  
  

Skills and experience

• 2+ years of retail management or leadership experience, including coaching and developing a team.

• Experience in community building, grassroots marketing, brand ambassadorship, events, or partnerships, ideally in fitness, wellness, swim, surf, or lifestyle retail.

• An existing network in the NYC fitness, wellness, or creative community is a strong plus.

• Proven ability to work independently and self-manage: set your own priorities, hit goals, and report progress without daily supervision.

• Experience planning and running pop-ups or events, including logistics, inventory, and budgets.

• Strong operational skills: scheduling, inventory management, and P&L awareness.

• Comfortable tracking results and turning activity into numbers (sign-ups, traffic, sales, new customers).

• Proficient in Google Workspace and Shopify POS (or able to learn quickly).

• Entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented, and resourceful.

• Loves being in, on, and around water and other sweaty pursuits.
  
  

Schedule and work context

• Full-time. Schedule varies with community and business needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Phase 1 is field-based: you'll work from partner studios, event venues, pop-up locations, and remotely. There's no store home base yet.

• Phase 2 is primarily on-site in the store, with regular time out in the community.

• Some lifting and carrying of inventory and event setups (up to 35 lbs).

• Ability to travel across borders Canada/USA and within the region the five boroughs to community events and partner locations by public transit.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
  
  

Position details

• Title: Community and Retail Leader

• Location: New York, NY 

• Reports to: Director of Retail

• Salary: $60 - 90K USD

• Availability: Full-time; must be available weekends and holidays
  
  

Interested?
Submit your application here. Posting closes November 30, 2026.