Shift Supervisor job description template

A shift supervisor runs the store for a shift: assigning tasks, covering breaks, stepping in on tough customer issues and keeping registers and the sales floor in order. It’s a working leadership role, so they sell, stock and ring up too. A clear post explains how many people they’ll lead, which calls they can make on their own and how the role differs from keyholder or assistant manager at your store.

Post this job free

Shift Supervisor

Full-time
Your Company is hiring a shift supervisor to lead our team on the sales floor. You’ll plan each shift, hand out tasks and breaks, help coworkers with tricky questions and make sure customers get quick, friendly service. You’ll also handle register checks, returns that need approval and the occasional unhappy customer. If you have retail experience, stay calm when the store gets busy and like helping others do their best, we’d like to meet you.

What you’ll do

  • Run a quick huddle at the start of each shift to share goals, promotions and task assignments
  • Plan breaks and move people between the register, floor and stockroom as traffic changes
  • Pull excess cash from registers during the shift and follow our safe and drop procedures
  • Handle customer escalations, from pricing disputes to returns that need a supervisor’s approval
  • Coach associates in the moment on greeting customers, register accuracy and store standards
  • Walk the floor regularly to fix messy displays, empty shelves and safety hazards
  • Write a shift handoff note covering sales, problems and unfinished tasks for the next lead
  • Watch for shoplifting and follow our loss prevention steps without putting anyone at risk

What we’re looking for

  • At least one year of retail or customer service experience, ideally with some time leading others
  • Comfortable telling coworkers what needs doing, and doing it right alongside them
  • Calm and respectful with upset customers, and willing to make a call within store policy
  • Careful and consistent with cash and register procedures
  • Available for a mix of morning, evening and weekend shifts
  • Able to be on your feet for a full shift and lift boxes up to 30 lbs

Nice to have

  • Previous shift lead, keyholder or supervisor experience
  • Experience training new employees
  • Familiarity with retail POS systems such as Square, Clover or Shopify POS

Schedule

Full-time, with a rotating mix of morning, evening and weekend shifts. We post schedules at least a week ahead so you can plan.

What we offer

  • Paid time off
  • Discount on store merchandise
  • Leadership training and a path to assistant manager
  • Consistent full-time hours

Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.

Screening questions for a shift supervisor

Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.

  • Do you have at least one year of retail or customer service experience?Yes / No · required
  • Have you led a shift, trained coworkers or filled in for a manager? Tell us where.Short answer
  • Describe a time you had to redirect a coworker during a busy shift. What did you say?Paragraph

Shift Supervisor interview questions

  1. It’s Saturday afternoon, the line is long and one associate is folding shirts in the back. What do you do?
  2. How would you plan breaks for a shift with four people and a busy lunch hour?
  3. A customer is getting loud about a return we can’t accept. Walk me through what you’d say.
  4. A coworker you’re friendly with keeps showing up late to your shifts. How do you handle it?
  5. What would you do if you thought someone was shoplifting?
  6. What do you include when you hand off a shift to the next supervisor?
  7. When would you call the manager instead of making the decision yourself?
  8. What makes a shift go well, from your point of view?

Tips for hiring a shift supervisor

  • Decide how this role differs from keyholder and assistant manager at your store, especially around cash, keys and refunds, and say so in the post.
  • Give a quick scenario, like a register that won’t balance during a rush, and ask how they’d handle it while still running the floor.
  • Ask references how the candidate treated coworkers, not just customers. A supervisor who talks down to the team will cost you good people.
  • Look at your strongest senior associates first. Promoting one shows everyone else there’s room to grow.