The Assets Protection team is primarily responsible for safety, security, and shortage. The size of your AP team will depend on your store's level of "risk" for theft.
AP is essentially divided into four categories at the store level:
ETL-AP (Executive Team Leader-AP) - salaried and supervises all other AP team members. Not all stores have an ETL-AP. "Low-risk" stores will usually only have an APTL. Wears red and khaki.
APTL (AP Team Leader) - hourly supervisor. Fulfills duties of ETL-AP when necessary. Not all stores have an APTL. Wears red and khaki.
APS (Assets Protection Specialist) - hourly and specializes in apprehensions. Typically only high-risk stores have an APS. They wear plainclothes and work undercover in an effort to catch shoplifters.
TPS (Target Protection Specialist) - hourly and performs day-to-day AP tasks (i.e. inventory). Assists with apprehensions when needed. They wear navy blue SECURITY polos and are meant be provide a visible presence in the store, in order to deter theft. Most stores have at least one TPS (although I've seen some that don't have any).
Outside of AP, the other possible ETL roles you could land are:
ETL-Human Resources - responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, and compliance with local/state/federal labor regulations
ETL-Logistics - responsible for running the overall logistics process, including the Flow, Backroom, and Instocks team. Depending on store volume, this position is primarily either early mornings (anywhere from 2-6am) or overnights (starting at 10pm).
ETL-Hardlines - responsible for all sales floor departments located on the "tile" areas of the store (basically everything excluding apparel, accessories, and food)
ETL-Softlines - responsible for all apparel departments located on the "carpeted" areas of the store (Womens, Mens, Boys, Girls, Infants, Accessories, Jewelry, etc.)
*In most low- to mid-volume stores, the ETL-Hardlines and ETL-Softlines positions have been combined into one ETL-Salesfloor position*
ETL-Guest Experience - primarily responsible for all front end areas (check lanes, service desk, Food Ave), guest survey scores, and driving RED Card applications
*In most low-volume stores, the ETL-GE position has been combined with the ETL-Salesfloor position*
ETL-Food - primarily responsible for all food areas of the store (dry grocery, dairy, frozen, meat, bakery, deli, Starbucks, etc.) Only exists in Super Targets. In general merchandise stores, the grocery department falls under the domain of the ETL-Salesfloor
Higher volume stores may also have an ETL-Operations and/or an ETL-Replenishment. I've never worked in a store that has either and cannot speak to their roles, although I believe they take on some of the processes that are otherwise overseen by the ETL-Logistics.
