Store Manager

Application Closes: September 1, 2026
Likely Start Date: October 1, 2026

Overview

Wolf Den Games, a small retailer of tabletop games and accessories based in Abingdon, VA, will open a new location in Christiansburg, VA in November 2026.  The new store will operate under its own branding as “Otter Creek Games”.  We seek an experienced tabletop hobbyist to be our local store manager. The successful candidate will partner with us using an “owner owned, franchisee operated” model of operations.  Most HR, Payroll, IT, Product Ordering, and Logistics functions will be managed by the Abingdon team.

This opportunity should interest people who would like the thrill of “opening their own local game store” without the financial risk or starting-from-scratch growing pains.  The position will call for a great deal of creativity and autonomy to use and refine the operating rhythms we recommend. The skillset required will be more diverse and challenging than a typical retail management position.  The new manager will follow our successful formula and put their own personal stamp on it. 

Initial team size anticipated to be one full-time retail associate and two or three part-time associates, in addition to the manager.

Be sure to read the description of our store culture on the careers page.

What We're Looking For

Required

• A significant amount of professional experience in roles which require leadership, communication, flexibility, and creativity.  Typically we expect a minimum of five cumulative years work experience for this crucial manager role.

• Demonstrated familiarity with tabletop gaming culture, both nationally and locally.

• Product familiarity:  Our four “product pillars” are Board Games, Roleplaying Games, Trading Card Games, and Miniatures Games. The successful candidate will have deep product knowledge in at least one of these pillars and competent knowledge of two or more others.

• Availability: Some evening and weekend hours required every week in addition to at least one or two morning shifts for product receiving. You will set your schedule, but expect it to be atypical and often irregular.

• Reliable personal transportation to the downtown Christiansburg location and occasional visits to Abingdon (a drive of approx. 1.5 hours one-way).

• Commitment to inclusive practices for underrepresented groups in our customer and player populations.  This includes women, neurodivergent people, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people of color, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.

• Basic competence with office software: email, word processing, spreadsheets, and similar

Preferred, not required

• Existing ties to the New River Valley gaming community and the larger community of potential customers and collaborators.

• Basic business skill familiarity: inventory, scheduling, cash handling

• Physical requirements: be able to lift and move inventory boxes

• Prior management or supervisory experience

• Experience running organized play (GM/judge background, event hosting)

• Social media / content creation

Soft Skills 

• Be comfortable routinely working independently with light oversight, while expecting and supporting strong communication throughout the organization.

• Subscriber, volunteer, and contractor relationship management may call for conflict resolution and ability to balance the needs of strong artistic personalities.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base pay: Annual Salary: $42,000 to $50,000

• Schedule: 40 hours per week expected, exempt from overtime.

• Time Off: We insist you take 10 days of PTO per year.  Healthcare, illness, injury, or immediate family emergency will never draw from this pool. Does not expire. As a small team, our preference is to not surprise teammates without warning when taking PTO.

• Mandatory Fun: three hours per month of paid time doing professional development by playing games in our event spaces.

• Health Benefits: not currently offered

• Profit Sharing: not currently offered

• Employee Discount: All full-time employees get the “owners discount” of 40% off all products. Exceptions: local artisan and other specified low-margin goods are 20% off.

Detailed Job Responsibilities: Local Store Manager

Community Building

• Foster Play: Stay in good contact with all play communities and communicate recommendations to the Abingdon team for additions, modifications, and deletions from routine weekly play events and product lines. Enforce high-demand product policies which discourage resellers and prioritize regular local players.

• Distribute Goodies: be familiar with all manufacturer-dictated “organized play” policies and scheduling. Ensure all promotional materials are distributed in keeping with the rules and in as fair and ethical a manner as is reasonable.

• Calendar Upkeep: Schedule and maintain all organized play events designated as “local-run”, making use of volunteers and contractors to assist in planning when needed. 

• Be Visible: Make some time each week to be in touch with the Discord Server, make genuine and personal posts on local social media, and socialize at major events.

• Sponsor Local Events: Get creative and make events happen that fit your style and the local community.

Product Logistics - Daily

• Communicate local ordering needs with corporate logistics, including product line recommendations.

• Establish and maintain Local Artisan Vendor relationships. Place orders for high-quality local products.  

• Create purchase orders for location-specific orders as needed.

• Receive Inventory via Purchase Orders

Operations - Daily

• People: Monitor customer contacts in all channels, ensure timely responses

• Places: Maintain retail and event space to remain clean and in good repair

• Things: Oversee proper price labeling, floor stocking, and product storage

Operations - Weekly

• People Time Management 

  • Schedule routine working shifts

  • Review and account for PTO 

  • Ensure cashier role (aka “Shopkeep”) has sufficient coverage

• Contractor / Volunteer Management

  • Manage relationships with GM/Judge/other contractors, working with the Abingdon team on hiring and firing decisions.

  • Confirm with volunteers and contractors when their non-weekly events are upcoming that they are prepared and ready to appear.

  • Facilitate paid contractors reporting their work for payment.

  • Ensure volunteers are awarded thank-you Rewards XP points as appropriate.

  • Be first point of contact for employment inquiries.

• Financial

  • Reconcile cash balance, make cash deposits.

  • Manage invoices for subscription customers.

Operations - As Needed

• Keep Office, Bathroom, and Game Prop supplies well stocked.

• Define product storage locations and floor restocking routines. 

• Communicate physical plant needs with the landlord, cleaning team, and other non-inventory vendors

• Apply Rewards XP monthly to members of the Heroes VIP program.

Other Duties as Assigned