Store Management Trainee

Job Description

Store Management Trainee – Irvine & Plano | Crawford Thomas Recruiting

The Tone:
This is a full-time, early-career opportunity for a Store Management Trainee at Crawford Thomas Recruiting’s client, with positions available in Irvine, CA, and Plano, TX. Our client is a well-established, employee-focused wholesale distribution company with a proud history of cultivating successful leaders from within its ranks. This critical role is integral to their structured 3-year Management Development Program, designed to transform ambitious individuals into future Profit Center Managers. The trainee will drive business success by gaining comprehensive, hands-on experience across all facets of the wholesale distribution industry, contributing directly to the company’s sustained growth and leadership pipeline.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Irvine, CA & Plano, TX
• Pay: $28.34/hour (approx. $70,000 annually with overtime)
• Team: Reports to an experienced Profit Center Manager within a structured development program.
• Mission: Develop into a future Profit Center Manager by mastering all aspects of wholesale distribution business operations.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Program Participation: Actively engage in a comprehensive 3-year Management Development Program, immersing yourself in all aspects of the business to prepare for future Profit Center leadership responsibilities.
• Operational Learning: Learn and master every critical role within the Profit Center, gaining practical experience in sales, operations, purchasing, inventory management, and customer service through daily mentorship and hands-on training.
• Market & Product Expertise: Develop a thorough understanding of product knowledge relevant to the wholesale distribution industry, applying this expertise to effectively support customer needs and contribute to overall business growth.
• Relationship Management: Build and nurture strong, professional relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal Profit Center team members, ensuring a collaborative and ethical approach in all interactions.
• Leadership Development: Take initiative in identifying process improvements, resolve operational challenges, make sound business decisions, and lead by example while taking on increasing levels of responsibility within the team.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Entry-Level. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred, indicating a strong foundation for leadership development in a wholesale distribution environment.
• Experience: Previous experience in customer service, sales, retail, management, or other leadership-focused roles is essential. Demonstrated leadership experience derived from work, education, athletics, military service, or extracurricular activities is highly valued.
• Skills: Possess strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills. Exhibit self-motivation with a genuine desire to learn, grow, and advance into leadership positions, coupled with the ability to solve problems, take initiative, and adapt effectively in a demanding business environment.