Job Title: Associate, Retail
Department: Retail
Reports To: Director, Retail
Location: Chicago / United Center (In-Office)
Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm / Mon – Fri with event-based nights/weekends/holidays as required
Status: This is a seasonal position ideally beginning before or by January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Non-Exempt (over-time eligible)
# Direct Reports: 0
Compensation: The annual budgeted salary range for this position is $21.00 per hour.

The Chicago Blackhawks is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation and will not be discriminated against on these bases. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

The Top Shelf:
As Associate, Retail, you will help keep our retail engine running. In this role, you will be responsible for supporting the overall retail business through item/SKU setup, purchase orders, e-commerce, reporting and analytics, vendor coordination, retail buying, internal and VIP requests, retail operations, gameday needs, and more. Your job will be to help ensure fans get the right products, on time, everywhere we sell.

How You’ll Contribute:

Retail Operations

• Create and maintain item/SKU records and initiate/track purchase orders; ensure data accuracy across systems and assortments.
• Coordinate merch needs for marketing activations, broadcast hits, executives/guests, players, and special moments; support on-site execution with our in-arena retail operator.
• Create and maintain the seasonal merchandise distribution tool.
• Build in-store signage and assist with store planograms and visual updates.
• Manage Suite & Premium assortments and orders (coordination, billing forms/invoicing, and follow-ups).
• Coordinate internal merchandise requests and fulfillment workflows.
• Schedule vendor meetings; confirm product details (costs, specs, lead times); coordinate returns; request and organize imagery and product copy; track orders to receipt.
• Partner with Buying, Operations, Marketing/Creative, Content, Partnerships, Finance/Accounting, and vendors to deliver on plans and special projects.

E-Commerce

• Own day-to-day strategy and operations to maximize sales and margin (e.g., drops, hero placements, cross and upsells, markdowns aligned to promo calendars).
• Set up and maintain product and collection pages (copywriting, tagging, categorizing, pricing/promotions, and personalization/customization options) with a documented quality assurance checklist (imagery coverage, size guides, attributes, SEO title/description).
• Maintain site taxonomy, facets/filters, synonyms, and “no-results” remediation; create and refresh curated landing pages/collections.
• Traffic promo codes, bundles, and gift-with-purchase; coordinate launch timelines and site-wide messaging (banners, tiles) with Marketing/Creative.
• Own product photography workflow (sample requests, shot lists, basic prep/shoot when needed) and maintain digital assets hygiene.
• Ensure image standards (angles, background consistency, file naming), alt text, and structured data best practices to improve discovery and click-through.
• Coordinate with customer service/fulfillment partners on preorders, back-orders, SLAs, exceptions, returns reasons, and fraud-flag follow-ups.

Reporting & Analytics

• Build, maintain, and distribute inventory, sales, and on-order reports; flag risks and opportunities (stock-outs, aged inventory, preorder timelines, late POs).
• Track sessions, conversion rate, AOV, revenue, UPT, add-to-cart rate, checkout completion, top exit pages, and search “no-results” terms; recommend specific tests/fixes.
• Report sell-through by category/collection/launch, weeks-of-supply, price-band mix, and markdown effectiveness; propose rebuy/markdown moves.
• Produce concise post-mortems with baselines vs. target, lift by placement, code usage, and learnings to inform future strategies.
• Monitor product page completeness (images/copy/attributes), SKU/PO error rates, and asset compliance.

Player Stats and Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Retail Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field
• 1-2 years of retail experience, ideally within a professional sports team, entertainment or event-driven organization
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Knowledge in advanced analytics, machine learning, forecasting, scenario analysis, P&L management, Gen AI a plus
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Detailed-oriented with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
• Passion for sports and understanding of the business of professional athletics a plus
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, as dictated by game and event schedule
• Must demonstrate our organizational values of integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality

What It’s Like Working Here:
The Chicago Blackhawks experience isn’t just on the ice. Our office, located in the United Center, promotes a fun, engaging, fast-paced and collaborative atmosphere where we can celebrate both hockey and each other. Our commitment to curating an environment where all individuals feel empowered to bring their best self to work each day can be seen throughout our organization. Whether you are a job seeker looking to join the organization, a current member of our amazing team, or someone looking to help support our mission, our goal is the same – to reimagine the potential of hockey through memorable, inclusive experiences.

Perks and Benefits:
Competitive total rewards package, full benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, paid life insurance), employee assistance program (EAP), comprehensive PTO package, social events, volunteer opportunities, and learning and development. Employer-paid breakfast, lunch, parking, on-site gym and training classes, employee ticket program, and more.

The Team:
The Chicago Blackhawks started their journey as one of the NHL’s “Original Six” professional ice hockey teams in 1926. Members of the Central Division in the NHL’s Western Conference and six-time Stanley Cup Champions (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015), the team calls the United Center home.

Each day the Team works to uphold our mission to reimagine the potential of hockey. At its core, the team and greater organization uphold its mission through its core values centered around integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality. They are fiercely dedicated to evolving and delivering new and legendary fan experiences and captivating new and diverse audiences, both on and off the ice. As part of their unwavering commitment to drive impact and purpose in the Chicago community, the organization opened the Fifth Third Arena (the team’s official practice facility and community space for youth hockey development), continues to make expansions to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, and acquired the AHL team the Rockford IceHogs.

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to grow in its commitments to honor and celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering our platforms, making meaningful contributions, collaborating with Native American people, and reimagining ways to support the many Native American people and communities they live amongst and alongside. They engage in this work through their formal partnership with Black Hawk’s ancestral tribe, the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, which the tribe established with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021.