General Manager - Chicago in Chicago, Illinois at BuyWander

ABOUT THE JOB

General Manager – BuyWander (Chicago, IL)

Help Us Build the Future of Retail Returns (BuyWander.com)

Location: Chicago, IL

Type: Full-Time | Salaried

Salary Range: $100,000 – $175,000 DOE including Equity + Performance Bonuses

WHY BUYWANDER

BuyWander is a fast-growing startup reimagining the $850B retail returns industry. We launched in 2024 to help Americans GET AHEAD!! by offering returned items through online auctions with local pick-up. Think: Black Friday meets a treasure hunt—powered by AI and built for everyday people.

We’re backed by top investors and are expanding to our Sixth location in the Chicago area. Our mission is simple: Help people win—shoppers, resellers, and retailers alike. Oh, and the Planet.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE SPECIAL

We’re hiring a General Manager to launch and lead our Chicago Operation. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of logistics, people, retail, and chaos. You’ll oversee daily operations, hire and lead the team, drive performance, and build culture from the ground up.

YOU WILL:

• Launch and lead day-to-day operations for our Chicago warehouse store
• Build, coach, and inspire a team of 15-25+ across warehouse, front desk, and retail
• Own store KPIs across revenue, inventory throughput, fulfillment, customer experience, and staffing
• Create and execute SOPs for receiving, processing, picking, customer pickup, bin replenishment, and daily close
• Work cross-functionally with our tech, support, and executive teams to launch new tools and scale operations
• Be the face of BuyWander to customers, creating a fun, respectful, and mission-driven shopping experience
• Hold the team accountable to high standards and lead with integrity

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Competitive Salary and Performance-based Bonuses
• Meaningful equity in a company attacking a massive market, for a brand that can become nationally recognized
• Health, Vision & Dental Insurance
• Unlimited PTO
• Annual Company Offsites
• Ownership and Opportunity for Advancement
• 401K

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

• 4+ years of experience in warehouse, logistics, or retail operations leadership
• Energized by building from scratch—you thrive in startup chaos
• Detail-obsessed but know how to prioritize what matters
• Clear communicator and confident decision-maker
• Comfortable with software, tech, computers (Shopify like software, barcoding tools, Google, internal dashboards)
• Mission-driven—you believe in building something bigger than yourself
• Bonus: Experience in resale, auctions, liquidation, or high-volume retail

BuyWander is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, skills, merit, and business needs. We believe a range of skills, perspectives, and experiences strengthens our team and supports better outcomes for our employees and customers.