Senior Retail Manager - Events, Inventory, and Analytics

Job Summary

The Senior Retail Manager – Events, Inventory, and Analytics is a key leadership role within the United Center’s Retail Operations team. This individual will oversee all aspects of event retail management, inventory control, data analytics, and post-event settlements. The ideal candidate is a self-sufficient, analytical, and detail-oriented leader with extensive experience in high-volume retail environments—preferably within the sports, live entertainment, or large-scale event industry.
This role requires flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and late-night events.

Key Responsibilities; Event Management & Operations
Oversee all retail operations during United Center events, ensuring optimal staffing, setup, execution, and post-event breakdown.
Lead a team of retail supervisors and team members to deliver excellent guest experiences and maximize event-day sales. Collaborate with merch managers to keep all parties satisfied. 
Manage financial settlements following events, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Serve as the on-site retail lead for select major events, concerts, and games.

Inventory & Analytics
Oversee inventory management across multiple locations within the arena, ensuring accurate stock levels and timely replenishment.
Use advanced Excel skills (including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and other data tools) to analyze sales trends, manage inventory metrics, and generate performance reports.
Ensure accuracy of inventory through cycle counts, audits, and reconciliation processes.
Collaborate with finance and warehouse teams to maintain precise product costing, margins, and shrink analysis.
Leverage RFID technology to track and enhance inventory accuracy and efficiency.

Leadership & Team Development
Lead, mentor, and develop retail managers and supervisors to achieve operational excellence.
Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Partner with HR and Retail leadership to recruit, train, and retain high-performing team members.

Communication & Collaboration
Serve as a primary liaison between retail operations and internal departments (Finance, Marketing, Events, etc.).
Work with external vendors, brand partners, and merchandise licensors to ensure consistent execution and product flow.
Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, maintaining professionalism under pressure.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Retail Management, or related field preferred.
5+ years of high-volume retail management experience required; sports or live event venue experience strongly preferred.
Proven leadership experience managing managers, supervisors, and large hourly teams.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and complex formulas).
Strong mathematical and analytical skills, particularly in financial balancing and settlements.
Experience with RFID technology and retail POS systems strongly preferred.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently and adapt quickly to changing priorities.
Flexible schedule required—must be available to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and late-night events.

About the United Center
The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, is the largest arena in the United States and one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment venues. The arena hosts over 200 events annually, ranging from NBA and NHL games to world-class concerts and special events. The United Center Retail team plays a critical role in delivering a best-in-class guest experience through innovative merchandise operations and service excellence.