Director of Stores (West Coast)

At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”), we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond.

About the role

The Director of Stores is accountable for leading and developing Regional Managers across a multi-state territory to ensure profitable store operations, disciplined execution, and consistent operational standards. This role owns zone-level financial performance, including revenue growth, expense control, margin improvement, and EBITDA contribution, while protecting and strengthening institutional partnerships. The Director plays a critical leadership role in contract renewal strategy, partnering with senior leadership to shape financial models, value propositions, and negotiation positioning. This position also serves as a key change agent, driving operational excellence, strategic initiatives, and long-term contract sustainability across the territory.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate, lead, and develop a high-performing team of Regional Managers that delivers consistent financial results through strong execution, operational discipline, and accountability.
• Recruit, coach, and develop leadership talent, including succession planning and performance management, to ensure bench strength and continuity across the territory.
• Lead by example through professionalism, sound judgment, and a calm, respectful approach to issue resolution.
• Foster a fair, equitable, and customer-focused environment that inspires brand loyalty and a strong campus store experience.
• Own zone-level P&L performance, driving revenue growth, margin expansion, controllable expense management, and EBITDA contribution.
• Develop and execute territory business strategies that improve store performance, enhance customer satisfaction, and support institutional and company goals.
• Lead contract renewal strategy and execution in partnership with the Vice President, Stores, COO/Field VP, Marketing, and senior leadership, including pro formas, financial modeling, and negotiation support.
• Protect and renew institutional partnerships by maintaining executive-level relationships with university administration and proactively addressing service, performance, and strategic concerns.
• Drive execution of strategic initiatives, including First Day programs, Room Service, and other sales and partnership drivers that support long-term contract sustainability.
• Oversee the successful opening, relocation, transformation, and closing of stores within the territory, ensuring operational readiness and campus partnership alignment.
• Analyze sales and operating trends, forecast performance, and identify opportunities to improve results and reduce renewal risk.
• Communicate effectively in written, verbal, and presentation settings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to campus administration by sharing industry expertise, emerging trends, and innovative solutions that support institutional goals.
• Act as a change agent to elevate operational discipline, talent capability, and customer experience standards across the territory.
• Provide strong field-to-corporate alignment, ensuring campus-specific issues are escalated, resolved, and communicated effectively.
• Stabilize underperforming locations when needed, leading performance transformation efforts to protect brand reputation and contract outcomes.

Requirements

• 10+ years of retail leadership experience overseeing multi-unit, geographically dispersed store operations.
• Strong knowledge of merchandising, retail operations, and financial performance management in a multi-location environment.
• Proven P&L leadership, with the ability to drive revenue, margin improvement, expense control, and EBITDA performance.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining executive-level client relationships and supporting high-stakes contract renewals or strategic partnerships.
• Strong financial, analytical, and business planning skills, including forecasting and performance trend analysis.
• Proven track record of recruiting, hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing, collaborative teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment to navigate complex situations and foster strong partnerships.
• Technology proficiency and ability to learn and support adoption of new systems.
• Availability to travel regularly across multiple properties within the territory.

Benefits

We offer a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401k match
• Life insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Paid time off with paid holidays
• A broad range of other benefits

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $170,000-$175,000 per year. This range represents the base salary only, in good faith at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. This position is bonus-eligible, with bonus amounts determined at the company’s discretion based on individual qualifications and applicable program terms.