Lead Bookseller - FT

Job Summary

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As a Lead Bookseller, you are an integral member of the bookselling team at the heart of our stores. You play a leadership role in guiding the bookselling team to maintain compelling merchandise presentations and overseeing the efficient running of the salesfloor.

About the Role

You are both a trusted expert and hands-on leader, creating a welcoming environment where booksellers feel supported, comfortable bringing forward questions or concerns, and they trust that you will address them promptly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts, setting the standard for the team and ensuring consistent leadership presence on the floor.
• Fill scheduling gaps when you are able, being flexible and responsive to the needs of the store — we are open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
• Be positive and proactive in your approach to work; lead by example with purpose and energy, working hard and reliably while inspiring others to do the same.
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues; consistently going out of your way to help others in the team and setting a positive example.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge and apply it appropriately in the store while guiding and supporting others.
• Show curiosity, want to continuously learn, and demonstrate ambition and initiative to develop a bookselling career.
• Act as a resource for booksellers and baristas, addressing and resolving concerns and raising these issues to leadership.
• Prioritize resources and bookseller support appropriately to keep the shift on track.
• Master the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller, including using BookMaster and other tools and processes, and guiding the store team in their effective use.
• Utilize strong merchandising skills to coach the store team in creating and maintaining appropriate and various book presentations, actively monitoring, guiding and adjusting displays while ensuring cleanliness and presentation standards are met.
• Guide booksellers in applying effective visual merchandising skills, while creating and maintaining Specialty presentations, setting fixtures (Horses/Donkeys, walls, gondolas, etc.), and reliably replenishing products as required.
• Maintain visible leadership presence at the registers, and actively coach booksellers in Membership conversations as well as improving register speed and accuracy.
• Guide and support booksellers in receiving and unpacking of deliveries, anticipating issues, and adjusting approach to ensure that efficient and accurate shelving follows.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of store layout and inventory, quickly locating books and other products with ease and accuracy, while coaching others to do the same.
• Coordinate and model cross-functional support of the café team during busy periods, ensuring booksellers assist effectively while maintaining café standards.
• Actively coach the store team to follow loss prevention procedures, and maintain a safe, secure bookstore by the ability to spot theft and effectively de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
• Use extensive book knowledge of varied subjects (fiction, nonfiction, Children’s) and categories to engage and provide informed service to customers, inspiring booksellers to broaden their expertise.
• Lead and support the store’s focus on key sales objectives such as Our Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, pre-orders, etc., actively sharing this knowledge genuinely with customers and colleagues.
• Use extensive knowledge, expertise and understanding of ETG, SHC, Media and Newsstand, to maintain all sections and backstock effectively, help customers with their shopping and lead the store team in doing the same.

Qualifications

You may work in other stores if you are able, and this is needed, collaboratively supporting the wider Cluster.

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: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and 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.