UNIQLO Management Candidate (UMC) - New Grad

Similar Industry Titles and Key Words: Store Manager in Training, Retail Store Management Trainee, Store Management Development Program, Retail Leadership Program 

Department: UNIQLO stores, On-Site  

Reporting to: Store Manager and Store Learning & Development Trainer 

Start: January 2027, July 2027 

Salary Range*: $80,000 - $82,000 

Duration: approximately 12 months 

Location: U.S. Store Location assigned based on business expansion plans. Relocation, housing costs, and all other benefits listed below are subject to company policy. 

Our UNIQLO Management Candidate (UMC) Program is shaped to prepare you to become an impactful store manager. As a UNIQLO Store Manager you will take on many roles, such as an innovator, talent developer, problem solver, and above all a global business leader. You will join a community of passionate and diverse peers in this training program, which is expected to last approximately twelve months. You will be assigned to work in one of our U.S. stores where you will take on the responsibility of a business owner, overseeing sales & inventory planning, layout and visual merchandising, profit and loss, people management, and customer satisfaction. 

As a member of the Store Management team, you embody Company’s philosophy of “Changing Clothes. Changing Conventional Wisdom. Change the World,” by driving sales and profit with your team and building customer loyalty through excellent customer service. Under the mentorship of your Store Manager/Trainer, you will oversee an engaged, productive store team by leading by example through demonstrating strong leadership and initiative.  

As a UMC, you will be learning from your trainer how to support the store and team in the following areas:  

Store Operations 

• Manage opening, mid-day, and closing store procedures 

• Oversee cleanliness, organization, and visual merchandising standards 

• Execute daily stock replenishment and manage backroom efficiency 

• Support point-of-sale and customer service operations 

Leadership & Management 

• Coach and develop associates through feedback and performance conversations 

• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives 

• Build a positive and inclusive team culture 

• Learn workforce planning and talent management practices 

Sales Planning & Review 

• Understand and manage store profitability 

• Analyze labor, sales, and productivity metrics 

• Develop action plans to achieve business goals 

• Learn strategic decision-making through retail business reviews

Training & Development 

• Engage in hands-on mentorship with Area Managers, Store Managers or Learning & Development Trainer 

• Participate in district and regional business reviews 

• Gain exposure to multi-store leadership and business planning 

Anticipated Career Path: 

After successful completion of the UMC Program, candidates are typically placed into an Assistant Store Manager position. From there, high-performing leaders may progress through the following career path: 

• Store Manager 

• General Manager/Area Manager 

To learn more about Careers at UNIQLO please visit: https://careers-us.uniqlo.com/  

Required Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s Degree (open to all majors) 

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship now and in the future. 

• Available to join in-person orientation at our New York City office and NYC Training store during the first two weeks of the program. 

• Flexibility to relocate to various locations over the course of your career  

• Flexible work schedule, which could include early mornings, late nights, or overnights as well as weekends and holidays 

• Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodations 

• Previous retail, food & beverage, hospitality, or sales leadership experience 

• Strong leadership experience and work ethic  

• Analytical and intuitive mindset to drive innovative processes and compliance with various laws that impact the business  

• Passion for customer service  

• Ability to adapt and multi-task in a fast-changing environment  

• Team player mentality  

• Ability to capture fundamental issues, out of box thinking, and challenging the status-quo 

General Benefits