How to hire an assistant department manager

How to hire an assistant department manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant department manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant department manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant department manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an assistant department manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An assistant department manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, assistant department managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of assistant department managers.

   Type of Assistant Department Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant Department Manager	An Assistant Department Manager is responsible for the general day-to-day management of the department. Their duties include account analysis, forecasting, and profit protection.	$12-34
   Co-Manager	A co-manager's role is to supervise business operations and perform administrative tasks as support to a manager. One of the primary functions of a co-manager is to delegate tasks of team members and arrange schedules... Show more	$16-57
   Department Supervisor	A department supervisor's role is to oversee and ensure a business operation's efficiency in a particular area. Acting as a leader, it is their responsibility to develop strategies on meeting goals within a timeline and ensure that the workforce is functioning effectively in a harmonious environment... Show more	$15-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Standard Operating Procedure
   • Customer Service
   • Work Ethic
   • Sales Associates
   • Payroll
   • Cleanliness
   • Product Knowledge
   • Sales Floor
   • Retail Sales
   • Loss Prevention
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Cash Handling
   • Store Policies
   • Guest Service

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage daily operations, approve and monitor payroll management system for non-exempt staff and student assistants.
   • Implement inventory management system to effectively manage on-hands, assist with correct replenishment and maintain an acceptable level of over-stock.
   • Help and teach employees with using slicers, fryers, and serving customers.
   • Reconcile payments using POS software including credit, cash, exchanges, returns and gift card purchases.
   • Assist department manager with everyday conditioning to ensure the department is ran at the highest level of efficiency.
   • Handle POS balancing by counting cash at the end of each shift and ensuring that any discrepancies are immediately addressed.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant department manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An assistant department manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, assistant department managers' average salary in oklahoma is 57% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level assistant department managers earn 64% less than senior-level assistant department managers.
   • Certifications. An assistant department manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an assistant department manager's salary.

   Average assistant department manager salary

   $43,686yearly

   $21.00 hourly rate

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   Entry-level assistant department manager salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing an assistant department manager job description

   An assistant department manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an assistant department manager job description:

   Assistant department manager job description example

   SiteOne associates are customer obsessed, always safe, continuously improving, and having fun! Whether you are experienced in the green industry, a professional looking for a career change, or a new graduate or veteran transitioning into the workforce, we are confident you will find opportunity and reward with SiteOne.
   
   SiteOne Landscape Supply is the largest and only national wholesale distributor of landscaping products in the United States and Canada. With over 700 branches across the U.S. and Canada, we offer a comprehensive selection of products including: irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products, nursery goods, hardscapes, landscape lighting, drainage and erosion control products, tools, and other landscaping accessories and supplies.
   
   In partnership with the Store Manager, achieve world-class store performance while contributing to and supporting the overall Store strategy, performance and growth. Champion select best practices within the store and participate in store/area-wide initiatives.
   IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:
   Ensure store is running smoothly in the absence of the Store Manager Participate in store sales transactions, including counter and phone sales in order to meet the sales and operations goals Provide support to the manager with various administrative functions of the store including accounting, inventory management, sales transactions, purchase orders, product transfers and defective goods disposition
   
   Skills We Are Seeking
   
   High School or secondary diploma or equivalent required 1 to 3 years of experience in retail nursery, irrigation and/or landscape industry preferred Excellent communication, customer service and leadership skills Possess computer skills and ability to multi-task Knowledge of nursery, irrigation and landscape products preferred Knowledge of market preferences, competition, regulations and trends Skill in managing product inventory
   WORKING CONDITIONS:
   
   This position requires long periods of standing and candidate must be able to lift 50 lbs.
   
   PERKS:
   Medical, Dental and Vision plans Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays Competitive Compensation 401k with company match Company paid life insurance, Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability Insurance Product Discounts Tuition Reimbursement Opportunity for Advancement
   THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF INDIVIDUALS PERFORMING THE JOB. THE QUALIFICATIONS DETAILED IN THIS JOB DESCRIPTION ARE NOT CONSIDERED THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE JOB, BUT RATHER AS GUIDELINES. THEY MAY VARY FROM POSITION TO POSITION.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find assistant department managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant department manager job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant department manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with assistant department manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant department manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect assistant department manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assistant department manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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