Assistant Store Manager

Job Summary

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As an Assistant Store Manager (ASM), you ensure the smooth running of your store through leadership and deployment of the store team. In this role, the effectiveness of your team is a direct reflection of your ability to lead and motivate that team to deliver expected results.

Responsibilities

• Ensure consistency of all Bookstore Basics, maintaining the store’s presentation to expected standards.
• Maintain strong operational standards, including a well-organized stockroom and backstock, and receiving and shelving deliveries on a timely basis.
• Execute commercial direction, presenting and executing Front of Store (FOS) and table displays that highlight key titles and promotions.
• Manage section detail and stock levels, working effectively with the Inventory Cluster Support (ICS) team to ensure appropriate offerings.
• Promote a well-presented Children’s Department with clear ownership, balanced stock, and a welcoming space.
• Deliver proper execution and understanding around Specialty visual merchandising, replenishment, and disciplines, ensuring correct delivery of Gift, FOS, Toys & Games, and other non-book sections.
• Foster a positive culture of partnership within the café team, actively promoting Membership and book picks, and delivering good service by having the FOS well covered and the team being “heads up,” greeting and offering help to most customers in an unintrusive, natural way.
• Provide friendly, knowledgeable, and professional service at the registers, working naturally with Membership, Our Monthly Picks, and other store services, achieving sales objectives.
• Evaluate how well the bookseller behaviors are embedded and demonstrated by the team in a natural and enjoyable way.
• Ensure proper execution of café standards, fostering a positive culture of partnership within the café team and actively promoting Membership and book picks.
• Drive the store effectively in the absence of the SM, enabling them to fulfill a Cluster role, stepping in to support the team or other Cluster stores.
• Support the store team, acting with kindness, fairness, and respect, and encouraging this behavior with the team, creating a positive working environment.
• Communicate and deliver appropriate company messages to the store team in a clear, consistent way, sharing necessary feedback and questions with the Cluster or Home Office resources.
• Show enthusiasm to listen, learn, and be open to feedback, reflecting on it and applying it to improve and fulfill career goals.

Qualifications

• Physical activity required, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and a lot of walking.
• Ability to work in other stores if needed, supporting the wider Cluster.

Skills

• Demonstrate effective ownership of key responsibilities to support and lead the store team and operations, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
• Support developmental priorities within the team, ensuring well-rounded abilities to meet the demands of the store and the potential of individual booksellers is realized, working with the Store Manager, People Cluster Support, and/or RC to do so.
• Hold the store team accountable for consistent standards appropriate for their position, addressing opportunities promptly and fairly.
• Communicate and deliver appropriate company messages to the store team in a clear, consistent way, sharing necessary feedback and questions with the Cluster or Home Office resources.
• Show integrity and personal credibility, inspiring engagement and performance within the team and Cluster.
• Be resilient and determined when under pressure, remaining equitable and consistent while focusing and achieving goals and objectives.
• Run the store effectively in the absence of the SM; enabling them to fulfill a Cluster role, stepping in to support the team or other Cluster stores.
• Drive your own development, showing enthusiasm to listen, learn, and be open to feedback, reflecting on it and applying it to improve and fulfill career goals.

Benefits

• For those scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, and Sick Pay.
• For those scheduled to work between 20 and 29.99 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay, and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, Transit, and 401(k) with Company Match.
• For those scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay, Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, 401(k) with Company Match, Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, and Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, and Tuition Reimbursement.