General Merchandise Team Lead Jobs
General Merchandise Team Lead jobs are open across big-box retail, discount stores, and grocery chains, at every level from first-time lead to senior department manager, with specializations in inventory control, floor operations, and team supervision. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 1,206+ General Merchandise Team Lead jobs
Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.
ALL ABOUT TARGET
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.
ALL ABOUT GENERAL MERCHANDISE
Experts of operations, process and efficiency who enable a consistent experience for all of our guests.
Teams in General Merchandise (GM) and Food & Beverage (F&B) prioritize guest experience while blending completion of tasks that ensure product is fresh, available and easy to shop – replenishment, pricing and signing, setting, and maintaining the sales floor and the backroom. The GM and F&B teams also execute inbound, outbound, and fulfillment responsibilities.
At Target, we believe in our leaders having meaningful experiences that help them build and develop skills for a career. The role of a General Merchandise & Food Sales Executive Team Leader can provide you with the skills and experience of:
Guest service fundamentals and experience building and managing a guest-first culture on your team
Retail business fundamentals, including: department sales trends, inventory management, freshness and quality, guest shopping patterns, pricing and promotions strategies
Leading a team, setting and planning department(s) monthly/quarterly workload to support business priorities and managing a team to deliver on sales goals
Knowledge of the competition; leveraging insights to drive business objectives
Managing team leaders and creating business specific strategies and goals, coaching and training to build a team of talented experts.
Recruiting, selecting and talent management of hourly team members and leaders
As a General Merchandise & Food Sales Executive Team Leader, no two days are ever the same, but a typical day most likely will include the following responsibilities:
Consistently delivers guest experience commitments
Holds TLs accountable to deliver exceptional guest experiences through consistent accountability, team development, training and recognition.
Celebrates outstanding guest experiences across teams and ensures recognition is consistent and meaningful.
Reviews area guest, financial, and team metrics to identify gaps and understand team behaviors.
Celebrates wins, sets clear priorities, and leads actions that drive results and enhance the guest experience.
Partners across teams to create an easy, inspiring and friendly guest experience.
Oversee all GM & Food backroom and sales floor areas, review all reporting to identify gaps and develop a plan to resolve including completion validation.
Build a team to lead the execution of daily/weekly workload to deliver on department and store sales goals and guest engagement, including: merchandising, signing, setting and updating merchandise salesfloor displays, sampling, receiving products, restocking shelves, organizing backrooms, and price change for GM & Food areas.
Drive total store sales, demonstrate how you, your team and your departments contribute to and impact total store profitability.
Model creating a welcoming experience by greeting guests, acknowledging when guests need assistance and thanking them for choosing Target
Assess, Plan, and validate best practices to determine operational opportunities educating your team on gaps to address via team onboarding, learning, and required trainings.
Manage Food & Beverage business, food services (if applicable), and alcohol sales.
Enable efficient delivery to our guests by leading pick, pack and ship fulfillment work (if applicable) and assess reporting in fulfillment to identify gaps and assist to develop a plan.
Develop a strategy and utilize your workload planning tools to complete all scheduled workload ensuring your areas are guest ready at all times.
Conduct regular check-ins with your team to guide appropriate completion of tasks and workload given resources and priorities.
Drive a culture centered in food safety; train, validate and coach team to deliver proper execution on all food safety standards and cleaning routines.
Lead the development of partnerships with vendors to ensure clear expectations are established and brand standards are met.
Lead the understanding of how operational procedures, like merchandise set-up, product capacities and salesfloor quantities impact shortage, profitability, instore replenishment, inventory and pricing accuracy including adherence to regulatory compliance.
Lead prioritization and conduct regular check-ins with your team to guide appropriate completion of tasks and workload given resources and priorities.
Know and assess the competition; leverage guest insights and feedback to drive the business and be the destination of choice for our guests.
Manage a consistent experience for our guests by ensuring product is in stock, fresh, available, food safe, and accurately priced and signed on the sales floor with minimal disruption to the guest.
Assess all GM and Food & Beverage backroom and sales floor areas, walk Food & Beverage Standards to assess priorities in food and review GM/Food reporting to identify gaps and develop a plan to resolve.
Anticipate short-term and long-term staffing needs and manage talent planning and recruitment.
Establish and maintain a culture of accountability through clear expectations and performance management.
Demonstrate inclusivity by valuing diverse voices and approaches, being authentic and respectful, and creating equitable experiences.
Demonstrate a culture of ethical conduct, following all Target policies and safety procedures, adhere to role-specific guidelines (e.g., food safety, pricing), and help maintain a safe, compliant workplace by reporting and correcting hazards, lead and hold the team accountable to work in the same way.
Lead an instore security culture by focusing on deterrence, response and resolution in order to improve physical security processes.
Lead merchandise protection strategies across the total store, including ordering, storage and application as directed by best practices.
As a key carrier, implement all safe and secure training and processes.
Address all store emergency and compliance needs.
Regularly assume store-level leadership on duty (LOD) responsibilities to enable the guest experience for the store during assigned shifts
All other duties based on business needs.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
This may be the right job for you if:
You enjoy interacting and helping others - including guests that shop our store and fellow team members you work with.
You thrive in a fast-moving, highly active and physically demanding role, where teamwork, flexibility, and creative problem solving are key to success.
You are open to working a variable work schedule with varying hours, days or shifts (including nights, weekends, holidays, closing shifts and other peak shopping times).
The good news is that we have some amazing training that will help build upon the skills you already have to succeed as a General Merchandise & Food Sales Executive Team Leader. But, there are a few things you should have from the get-go:
4-year degree or equivalent experience
Strong interest and knowledge of the Food & Beverage business
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Strong business acumen
Comfortable dealing with ambiguity
Manage conflict, lead and hold others accountable
Strong cognitive skills, including problem analysis, decision making, financial and quantitative analysis
Relate well with and interact with all levels of the organization
Learn and adapt to current technology needs
Manage workload and prioritize tasks independently
We are an awesome place to work and care about our teams, so we want to make sure we are clear on a few more basics that we expect; specifically, the ability to
Access all areas of the building to respond to all guest or team member issues
Interpret instructions, reports and information
Scan, handle and move merchandise efficiently and safely, including occasionally lifting or moving merchandise up to 44 pounds without additional assistance from others.
Accurately handle cash register operations as needed
Climb up and down ladders using 3 points of contact always
Ability to work in an environment that could range from 34°F to -10°F as needed
Flexible work schedule (e.g., nights, weekends and holidays); reliable and prompt attendance necessary.
Benefits Eligibility
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please submit your request at target.com/targethr/hr-request. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.
Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.
ALL ABOUT TARGET
Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.
ALL ABOUT GENERAL MERCHANDISE
Experts of operations, process and efficiency who enable a consistent experience for all of our guests.
Teams in General Merchandise (GM) and Food & Beverage (F&B) prioritize guest experience while blending completion of tasks that ensure product is fresh, available and easy to shop – replenishment, pricing and signing, setting, and maintaining the sales floor and the backroom. The GM and F&B teams also execute inbound, outbound, and fulfillment responsibilities.
At Target, we believe in our leaders having meaningful experiences that help them build and develop skills for a career. The role of a General Merchandise & Food Sales Executive Team Leader can provide you with the skills and experience of:
Guest service fundamentals and experience building and managing a guest-first culture on your team
Retail business fundamentals, including: department sales trends, inventory management, freshness and quality, guest shopping patterns, pricing and promotions strategies
Leading a team, setting and planning department(s) monthly/quarterly workload to support business priorities and managing a team to deliver on sales goals
Knowledge of the competition; leveraging insights to drive business objectives
Managing team leaders and creating business specific strategies and goals, coaching and training to build a team of talented experts.
Recruiting, selecting and talent management of hourly team members and leaders
As a General Merchandise & Food Sales Executive Team Leader, no two days are ever the same, but a typical day most likely will include the following responsibilities:
Consistently delivers guest experience commitments
Holds TLs accountable to deliver exceptional guest experiences through consistent accountability, team development, training and recognition.
Celebrates outstanding guest experiences across teams and ensures recognition is consistent and meaningful.
Reviews area guest, financial, and team metrics to identify gaps and understand team behaviors.
Celebrates wins, sets clear priorities, and leads actions that drive results and enhance the guest experience.
Partners across teams to create an easy, inspiring and friendly guest experience.
Oversee all GM & Food backroom and sales floor areas, review all reporting to identify gaps and develop a plan to resolve including completion validation.
Build a team to lead the execution of daily/weekly workload to deliver on department and store sales goals and guest engagement, including: merchandising, signing, setting and updating merchandise salesfloor displays, sampling, receiving products, restocking shelves, organizing backrooms, and price change for GM & Food areas.
Drive total store sales, demonstrate how you, your team and your departments contribute to and impact total store profitability.
Model creating a welcoming experience by greeting guests, acknowledging when guests need assistance and thanking them for choosing Target
Assess, Plan, and validate best practices to determine operational opportunities educating your team on gaps to address via team onboarding, learning, and required trainings.
Manage Food & Beverage business, food services (if applicable), and alcohol sales.
Enable efficient delivery to our guests by leading pick, pack and ship fulfillment work (if applicable) and assess reporting in fulfillment to identify gaps and assist to develop a plan.
Develop a strategy and utilize your workload planning tools to complete all scheduled workload ensuring your areas are guest ready at all times.
Conduct regular check-ins with your team to guide appropriate completion of tasks and workload given resources and priorities.
Drive a culture centered in food safety; train, validate and coach team to deliver proper execution on all food safety standards and cleaning routines.
Lead the development of partnerships with vendors to ensure clear expectations are established and brand standards are met.
Lead the understanding of how operational procedures, like merchandise set-up, product capacities and salesfloor quantities impact shortage, profitability, instore replenishment, inventory and pricing accuracy including adherence to regulatory compliance.
Lead prioritization and conduct regular check-ins with your team to guide appropriate completion of tasks and workload given resources and priorities.
Know and assess the competition; leverage guest insights and feedback to drive the business and be the destination of choice for our guests.
Manage a consistent experience for our guests by ensuring product is in stock, fresh, available, food safe, and accurately priced and signed on the sales floor with minimal disruption to the guest.
Assess all GM and Food & Beverage backroom and sales floor areas, walk Food & Beverage Standards to assess priorities in food and review GM/Food reporting to identify gaps and develop a plan to resolve.
Anticipate short-term and long-term staffing needs and manage talent planning and recruitment.
Establish and maintain a culture of accountability through clear expectations and performance management.
Demonstrate inclusivity by valuing diverse voices and approaches, being authentic and respectful, and creating equitable experiences.
Demonstrate a culture of ethical conduct, following all Target policies and safety procedures, adhere to role-specific guidelines (e.g., food safety, pricing), and help maintain a safe, compliant workplace by reporting and correcting hazards, lead and hold the team accountable to work in the same way.
Lead an instore security culture by focusing on deterrence, response and resolution in order to improve physical security processes.
Lead merchandise protection strategies across the total store, including ordering, storage and application as directed by best practices.
As a key carrier, implement all safe and secure training and processes.
Address all store emergency and compliance needs.
Regularly assume store-level leadership on duty (LOD) responsibilities to enable the guest experience for the store during assigned shifts
All other duties based on business needs.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
This may be the right job for you if:
You enjoy interacting and helping others - including guests that shop our store and fellow team members you work with.
You thrive in a fast-moving, highly active and physically demanding role, where teamwork, flexibility, and creative problem solving are key to success.
You are open to working a variable work schedule with varying hours, days or shifts (including nights, weekends, holidays, closing shifts and other peak shopping times).
The good news is that we have some amazing training that will help build upon the skills you already have to succeed as a General Merchandise & Food Sales Executive Team Leader. But, there are a few things you should have from the get-go:
4-year degree or equivalent experience
Strong interest and knowledge of the Food & Beverage business
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Strong business acumen
Comfortable dealing with ambiguity
Manage conflict, lead and hold others accountable
Strong cognitive skills, including problem analysis, decision making, financial and quantitative analysis
Relate well with and interact with all levels of the organization
Learn and adapt to current technology needs
Manage workload and prioritize tasks independently
We are an awesome place to work and care about our teams, so we want to make sure we are clear on a few more basics that we expect; specifically, the ability to
Access all areas of the building to respond to all guest or team member issues
Interpret instructions, reports and information
Scan, handle and move merchandise efficiently and safely, including occasionally lifting or moving merchandise up to 44 pounds without additional assistance from others.
Accurately handle cash register operations as needed
Climb up and down ladders using 3 points of contact always
Ability to work in an environment that could range from 34°F to -10°F as needed
Flexible work schedule (e.g., nights, weekends and holidays); reliable and prompt attendance necessary.
Benefits Eligibility
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please submit your request at target.com/targethr/hr-request. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.
General Merchandise Team Lead Jobs by Experience Level
See All 1,206+ General Merchandise Team Lead Jobs
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Find JobsGeneral Merchandise Team Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Target1,155
- Meijer27
- Follett Corporation4
- Harps Food Stores2
- Tri-County Powersports2T
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Distribution & Wholesale
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in general merchandise team lead jobs.
- One to three years of retail supervisory or team lead experience in a general merchandise environment
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and schedule a team of hourly associates
- Experience executing planograms, seasonal resets, and merchandise floor sets
- Proficiency with inventory management systems and handheld scanning devices
- High school diploma or GED required, with associate or bachelor's degree preferred by some employers
- Familiarity with loss prevention practices and shrink reduction techniques
Tips for Your General Merchandise Team Lead Job Search
Quantify your team and floor results
Hiring managers want to see the size of the team you led, shrink percentages you reduced, or in-stock rates you improved. Replace vague phrases like 'managed a team' with specific headcounts and measurable outcomes tied to general merchandise operations.
Highlight planogram and reset experience
Many general merchandise team lead postings screen for hands-on planogram execution and seasonal reset work. Call out the specific product categories you reset, how frequently, and whether you trained associates on the process.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists general merchandise team lead openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that match your shift experience
Retail team lead roles often specify overnight, early morning, or closing shifts. Matching your posted availability to the schedule in the job description signals readiness and reduces screening friction with hiring coordinators.
Prepare scenario answers about shrink and loss prevention
Expect interview questions about how you caught inventory discrepancies or handled suspected theft with associates present. Walk through a real situation, your decision, and the outcome rather than describing policy in the abstract.
Negotiate start date around seasonal peaks
Retailers filling general merchandise roles before peak seasons, such as back-to-school or holiday, move fast and expect quick start dates. If you need two weeks, say so early in the offer conversation rather than after signing.
General Merchandise Team Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most general merchandise team leads?
Target, Meijer, and Follett Corporation are hiring the most general merchandise team leads right now, with openings concentrated in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Volume tends to increase ahead of major retail seasons, so openings shift throughout the year.
How many general merchandise team lead jobs are remote?
About 13% of general merchandise team lead openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most retail floor roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include inventory planning, wholesale operations coordination, and regional training roles that do not require daily floor presence.
How do you become a general merchandise team lead?
Start as a sales associate or stock associate in a general merchandise retail environment and take on floor coverage responsibilities whenever possible. Demonstrate reliability on resets, planogram execution, and opening or closing duties. Ask your store manager for a formal team lead development plan, complete any required internal certifications, and apply internally when a lead position opens.
Can you get a general merchandise team lead job with little experience?
Some employers will hire candidates with no prior lead title if you can show strong associate-level performance and any informal leadership, such as training new hires or running a department in a lead's absence. Emphasize attendance, familiarity with inventory systems, and willingness to work varied shifts. Smaller format stores and new store openings often hire first-time leads more readily than established high-volume locations.
What does the general merchandise team lead interview process look like?
Most hiring processes start with a phone screen focused on your availability and retail background, followed by an in-person or video interview with the store manager or assistant manager. Expect scenario-based questions about handling associate conflicts, managing truck unload timelines, and responding to shrink. Some employers add a brief store walk-through where they ask how you would address a specific floor or inventory situation.
Where can I find and apply to general merchandise team lead jobs?
You can find and apply to general merchandise team lead jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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