Retail Store Positions

Here is a complete list of the in-store job positions that I know of. The "key" positions are indicated, those being the ones that are staffed at every store.

  • Store Manager - a full-time position that manages the team, evaluates performance, hires and fire employees, and, "Manage profitability through sales, scheduling, payroll, and shrink goals." The managers have authority to adapt Apple's policies for their store's particular situation, possibly leading to differences in returning merchandise, customer care, inventory and other issues. Genius BarI understand that Apple has taken to promoting employees into General Manager positions, which oversee the operations of two or more stores, and which is a way to cut costs.
  • Sr. Assistant Store Manager - created in early Nov. 2005, as part of elimination of Keyholder position. Filled initially with promotions from Asst. Manager positions.
  • Assistant Store Manager - a full-time position that assists the manager. Many long-time Asst. Managers were promoted to the newly-created Sr. Asst. position in Nov. 2005.
  • Assistant Store Manager/Sales - This position appeared in April 2006 for the Regent Street (London) store [view]
  • General Manager - a full-time position that provides manager job duties for two or more stores. [job description]
  • Associate Manager - a full-time position who handles one or more job duties of the manager, and assists in other tasks, including HR. Staffed only at select, larger stores. [job description]
  • Mac Specialist I/II - both full and part-time positions; the basic sales persons within the store. At larger stores there are both iPod and Mac variants of this position. There is a variant of this position, with the title "Visual Coordinator," responsible for the proper placement of brochures, graphics and other elements within the store.
  • Back of House Specialist - Originally known as Inventory Control Specialist, renamed in Nov. 2005. Handles inventory, warehousing, ordering, keeping the displays in order, and loss prevention (shoplifting)
  • Keyholder - acts as a liaison between management and Mac Specialists, opens and closes the store when designated, reaches out to the small business community by networking with clients, connects with local area teachers, parents and students through "School Nights at the Apple Store," and gives solutions-based presentations in the in-store theater. The position was eliminated in early Nov. 2005, after the creation of the Sr. Asst. Manager position. This position was deemed too "ambiguous," frequently having duties that were both management and staff. Also, duties overlapped with the Asst. Manager position. Many Keyholders were promoted to Sr. Asst. Manager after the elimination, while other were demoted to Mac Specialists.
  • Mac Genius - fields inquiries at the Genius Bar, performs service, handles repair orders. This job requires some prior customer service or tech experience. Technically, the position is called a Tech Support Specialist I/II. Those accepted for the program receive two weeks of Cuptertino training.
  • Genius Bar Administrator - Position created in Nov. 2005 to help streamline and improve repair and assistance operations.
  • Seasonal Worker - This position appears to be a full-time Mac Specialist position, but is considered temporary. No doubt these employees work during the Christmas season.
  • Theater Coordinator - Posted first for the One Stockton (SF) store, it appears to be the manager of a full-size training facility, and not the smaller in-store theaters that all stores have. Later posted for the Regent Street (London) store.
  • Creative - In August 2004 a new job position appeared on Apple's Web page, defined by the "Studio" section that first appeared in the Shadyside (Penn.) store. About 20 other stores were staffed over the next year. In Oct. 2005 Apple posted this position for all the remaining stores. The person is trained in high-end applications, and helps visitors with creative projects. Apple states, "The Creative is an expert who uses their high level of expertise to provide advice, inspiration, and education to our retail consumers."
  • [Lead] Cashier - In Oct. 2004 Apple posted a new job position, for a part-time cashier at the SoHo (NYC) store. [description]
  • Business Consultant - In Dec. 2004 this new position appeared, to support individual store efforts to capture small and medium-sized business revenue. There is also a "lead" version of this position. [description]
  • [Phone] Operator - In Jan. 2005 Apple posted this position for the SoHo and North Michigan Avenue stores, and in April 2005 for San Francisco. It's apparently intended to off-load some of the telephone call-answering tasks from the Mac Specialists.
  • Administrative Assistant - In April 2005 this position appeared for the North Michigan Avenue (Chicago) store, described as, "Generally answers simple questions regarding departmental services and functions. Gathers information from a few easily identifiable sources. May have specific responsibility for the following: Answering manager’s or department phones; updating organizational charts and/or phone lists; ensuring forms are complete with appropriate approval(s); coordinating data flow into SAP; tracking department budget; ordering office supplies; tracking inventory; making travel arrangements; coordination of small off-site events; coordinating dept. software upgrades; and maintenance of area servers."
  • Technical Administrator - In August 2005 Apple posted a part-time position at the Corte Madera (N. Calif.) store to, "manage the day-to-day administrative activities of the service business." A handful of other stores have the positions. [description]
  • Tech Support Lead - In Sept. 2005 Apple posted a position at the Bluewater (UK) store, alternatiely titled as "Lead Mac Genius," and describing the person as, "Guru of all Gurus." [description]
  • Loss Prevention Manager - A position created in Dec. 2005 at the Regent Street store, apparently to coordinate loss prevention for all the UK stores.
  • Visual Coordinator - Appeared in April 2006 for the San Francisco store.
  • Merchandising Assistant - Fixed-Term / Greater London - Appeared in April 2006 [description]
  • Merchandising Communications Manager - Appeared in April 2006 for Greater London [description]