Description

Job Title: UNIQLO Management Candidate (UMC)
Location(s): Nationwide Deployment Across Canada (eg. Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, Alberta)
Reporting to: Store Manager
Key Contacts Internal: Store Operations Team, Store Management Team, Store Support Centre, Store Associates and Oversea Visitors
Key contacts External: Customers and Local Community
Start date: February 2026

UNIQLO Manager Candidate (UMC)

At UNIQLO, we don’t just offer jobs—we cultivate future leaders.

The UNIQLO Manager Candidate (UMC) Program is an accelerated leadership development track designed for ambitious young graduates who aspire to become key decision-makers in a global retail powerhouse. Through hands-on training, operational exposure, international connections, and a deep dive into our LifeWear philosophy, you will gain the skills and expertise to lead teams, manage operations, and shape the future of the company.

https://www.fastretailing.com/employment/umc/
https://www.fastretailing.com/employment/en/uniqlo/ca/graduate/

It all begins with managing a Store

We see the sales floor as our center for understanding what our customers really want, confronting challenges head-on, and deriving actions to achieve rapid success. A global leader needs to be able to consider and execute business decisions on their own initiative. That's why our UMC program places a strong emphasis on working in-store and offers rapid career progression opportunities.

At UNIQLO, the UMC (Uniqlo Manager Candidate) position is the gateway to becoming a Store Manager, and ultimately an Area Manager—roles that lead directly to top global leadership positions such as CEO and COO in our various markets. Unlike conventional companies where strategic power is concentrated at the head office and stores merely execute, UNIQLO operates the opposite way: we are proudly store-centered. Our Area Managers and Store Managers are the company’s most influential decision-makers. They set the direction, define priorities, and guide the head office—not the other way around. These field leaders are our most prestigious talents and are the ones who rise to the top. This is not an office job, nor an office-based career path. If your goal is to sit behind a desk for five to ten years, overseeing operations from a distance, this role is not for you. But if you want to lead from the front, make real impact, and build your future by mastering the core of the business, then this is where your journey begins.

Key Responsibilities:

• Join a store and learn every aspect of the local operations by rotating on every job station (

• Ensure high standards of Customer Service in the store to maintain and reflect UNIQLO’s values, mission and vision

• Lead and motivate staff: oversee team performance, provide training and foster a collaborative work environment.

• Manage Store Operations to handle inventory management, sales tracking and store presentation to optimize performance and efficiency.

• Develop and implement strategies to meet sales and improve store metrics

• Maintain Store Standards including overall safety and cleanliness to ensure compliance with company policies, uphold visual merchandising standards and manage day-to-day store activities

• Embrace and promote UNIQLO’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and LifeWear philosophy

As a UMC, you will learn how to :

• Master retail fundamentals through immersive store leadership experience.

• Drive business growth by analyzing sales data and market trends.

• Lead and develop diverse teams with a hands-on management approach.

• Implement Uniqlo’s core values of efficiency, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

• Contribute to global initiatives, with potential opportunities for international assignments.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Completed Bachelor’s degree in any discipline and any country (recent graduates welcome).

• Prior experience in retail is a strong asset

• Passion for retail, leadership, and business strategy.

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

• Commitment to embodying ourfounding principles of excellence, simplicity, quality, and sustainability.

• Capacity to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced retail environment, handling challenges with flexibility

• You embrace hands-on work and see frontline experience as critical to authentic leadership

• Thrive in changing environment – store transfers, role shifts, and new city assignments are core to your development

• Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the business/store, which includes evenings and weekends

• You must be ready and able to relocate anywhere across Canada for initial placement and future assignments. Relocation support provided. Ready to start full-time from February 2026 or July 2026

Recruitment Timeline:

• Now – October 2025: Application Period

• Step 1: First Screening (HR interview)

• Step 2: Round 1 Interview with Operational Leaders

• Step 3: Round 2 In-person Store Visit - Discovery Day

• Step 4: Final Round Interview with Executive Leaders

• Step 5: Offer Extension

• February 2026: Program Starts

ABOUT US

https://www.uniqlo.com/ca/en/spl

Welcome to Uniqlo, where our journey from a single store in Hiroshima to a global brand embodies the essence of Japanese simplicity and innovation. Our founder, Tadashi Yanai, envisioned a company that transcends traditional fashion, focusing instead on creating high-quality, functional clothing that serves the everyday needs of people worldwide. This vision gave birth to our LifeWear concept—apparel that is simple, yet essential; designed to make life better for all.
As you embark on your journey with UNIQLO, know that you are joining a company that never gives up. Every challenge we have faced has made us stronger, smarter, and more determined to push boundaries. We are more than just a fashion brand—we are a global movement driven by sustainability, purpose, discipline, and the belief that great clothing can change lives.
Vision and Culture
At UNIQLO, we embrace the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. This principle drives us to constantly refine our products and processes, ensuring that we deliver clothing that offers new and unique value. Our commitment to quality and innovation is evident in our fabric technologies, such as HEATTECH, which provides warmth without bulk, and AIRism, designed to keep you cool and comfortable. These advancements reflect our dedication to enhancing the everyday experiences of our customers.
Our name, UNIQLO, is a blend of 'unique' and 'clothing,' symbolizing our mission to provide distinctive apparel that meets universal needs. We believe in the power of simplicity and strive to create designs that are both timeless and accessible, allowing individuals to express their personal style effortlessly.
We invite you to embrace our core values of simplicity, quality, and continuous improvement. Together, we will continue to innovate and inspire, bringing the best of Japanese craftsmanship and philosophy to wardrobes around the world.
Welcome to the UNIQLO family, where we are united in our pursuit of making everyday life better through exceptional clothing.