Team Lead-Retail - Part Time at Roots in Waterloo, ON, CAN

Established in 1973, Roots is a proudly Canadian lifestyle brand that celebrates authenticity, quality, and community. Inspired by the great outdoors, we create timeless, sustainable apparel and leather goods designed for comfort and everyday adventure. At Roots, we believe in fostering a culture of inclusivity, creativity, and teamwork – where every team member plays a role in shaping our brand’s legacy. If you bring passion to everything you do, lead with integrity, and believe in the power of collaboration to drive growth, we’d love to have you on our journey!

Team Lead

At Roots, our Team Leads are brand ambassadors who set the tone on the sales floor every shift. Reporting to the Store Manager, you’ll lead by example, coach teammates in the moment, and help the team deliver memorable customer experiences while achieving store goals. Working alongside store management, you'll be a key leader on the floor, guiding daily execution, motivating the team, and driving results through others. We are looking for individuals who act with integrity, take initiative, build trust, and are proud to support their team, community, and the Roots brand.

What You'll Do

• Lead by example in customer service, selling behaviours, and store standards to create an exceptional experience for every customer.
• Provide on-the-floor coaching, support, and positive feedback throughout the shift to help team members build confidence and skills.
• Support the onboarding and training of new and developing team members.
• Share goals, priorities, and important information with the team, and motivate them to achieve daily sales, customer experience, and operational goals.
• Assist in coordinating team efforts and delegating tasks to support daily priorities, store routines, and scheduled breaks.
• Step in to support customer interactions and resolve customer concerns with a calm, solutions-focused approach.
• Identify issues and opportunities on the sales floor, take action to address them, and share ideas with the leadership team to improve execution.
• Recognize and celebrate team successes and positive behaviours.
• Partner with store management to execute action plans and share feedback on individual and team performance.
• Support store operations in the absence of management, including opening and closing procedures, POS, daily banking, reporting, and inventory duties.
• Uphold all company policies, procedures, and guidelines.

What Makes You Successful

• Initiative
◦ Leads by example in delivering great customer experiences, supporting sales, and coaching team members on the floor.
◦ Anticipates business needs, identifies opportunities, and takes action without waiting for direction.
• Collaboration
◦ Coordinates team efforts to support daily priorities and store goals, knowing success is measured by the team, not the individual.
◦ Builds trust and creates an environment where everyone can succeed.
• Leading with Purpose
◦ Communicates expectations clearly, provides on-the-floor coaching, and helps motivate the team every shift.
◦ Connects daily execution to sales, customer service, and operational goals, and influences results through others.

What You Bring

• 1+ year of retail experience, ideally in apparel. Experience coaching, training, or leading peers is an asset.
• Fairness, accountability, and consistency in your daily actions.
• Passion for the customer experience and the Roots brand, and the ability to inspire that enthusiasm in others.
• A coaching mindset: you help others grow while continuing to develop yourself.
• Resilience and a competitive spirit, staying calm and solutions-focused during busy periods and customer concerns.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with POS, cash handling, and opening and closing procedures is an asset.

Role Requirements

• Availability to work a minimum of 3 shifts per week including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be available to work during the peak holiday business period, from mid-November through the first week of January.
• Ability to stand and move throughout the store for extended periods during a shift.
• Ability to frequently bend, reach, twist, and move merchandise.
• Ability to safely lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• 50% Employee Discount
• Brand Ambassador Program
• Collaborative team environment
• Opportunities to build leadership and coaching skills
• Opportunities for career growth within Roots

If you're passionate about people, love leading by example, and want to help a team create memorable customer experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

At Roots we appreciate that skills and expertise are cultivated through a range of experiences. We are committed to reflecting Canada's diverse landscape in our products, team, and workplace culture. We value your unique perspective and encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every listed requirement. Accommodations are available for applicants throughout the recruitment process.
Please note: Roots uses technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support parts of the recruitment process. These tools may be used to help review applications, assess qualifications, and support interview documentation. All hiring decisions are reviewed and made by our Talent team and key leaders involved in the recruitment process.
The posted salary range is intended to reflect the competitive market value of this role and is provided to support transparency in our hiring process. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to internal equity, relevant skills, demonstrated knowledge, experience, and overall fit for the position.