Warehouse Assistant, Future Manager/Assistant Manager $16-25/hour

Veterans are encouraged to apply. We are a platinum HIREVets Medallion award winner for hiring and retaining veterans among our staff. This position is in person at our Tempe, Arizona location.

About the role

We are a family-run, woman-owned and operated used bookstore specializing in kindergarten through 12th grade textbooks. We operate out of an air-conditioned warehouse at Southern and Hardy in Tempe. Our team is looking for individuals who will grow into long-term leadership positions, including managers and assistant managers.

Successful team members perform with a high degree of excellence and accuracy, adapting to the changing operational, logistical, and staffing needs of the business throughout the day and year. We hire 30 college students each summer, and effective training of these employees is key. Core employees are responsible for maintaining quality control procedures, checking the accuracy of employee work, and evaluating training effectiveness to prevent mistakes before they become problems.

We seek individuals who can create and maintain a positive, upbeat, and cohesive culture of hard work, high accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail among both long-term and seasonal staff. Roles involve various aspects of the book process, including finding, purchasing, processing, sorting, listing, picking, and shipping books nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Perform tasks with a high degree of excellence and accuracy.
• Adapt to changing operational, logistical, and staffing needs.
• Train and manage seasonal (college student) staff effectively.
• Maintain quality control procedures to ensure accuracy of work.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs.
• Prevent and address mistakes before they escalate.
• Foster a positive, motivating, and cohesive work culture.
• Work in various roles within the book processing workflow (purchasing, sorting, listing, picking, shipping).
• Lead and manage teams, including potential travel for leadership roles.
• Lift 20–50 pound boxes 10-30 times per 8-hour shift (help is often available).
• Stoop, stand, and climb ladders/stairs regularly.
• Type at least 40 words per minute.
• Maintain accountability for materials and equipment.
• Operate a forklift or drive a 26’ box truck (training/certification provided if needed).

Requirements

• Prior management experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree is a plus.
• Ability to work hard without supervision.
• Quick and effective learner of new skills and procedures.
• Willingness and ability to work 50–70 hours per week with limited or no vacation time from May 1 to September 30 (80% of our business occurs during this period).
• Core work hours are 7:00 AM–3:30 PM, Monday–Friday, year-round.
• Strong deductive reasoning, self-learning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Solid basic mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Flexibility to handle varying tasks and change work direction mid-task.
• Highly logical, loyal, and dependable (follows through on commitments).
• Detail-oriented, thorough, and precise.
• Comfortable working independently while adhering to policies and procedures.
• Willingness to ask questions and seek guidance when needed.
• Ability to demonstrate tasks by working alongside staff.
• Genuine interest in the welfare of the organization, employees, and company profitability.
• Experience operating a forklift or driving a box truck is a bonus (training provided).

Schedule

• Core hours: 7:00 AM–3:30 PM, Monday–Friday, year-round.
• Summer (June–September): Up to 60 hours per week, with mandatory 10–20 hours of overtime.
• Winter (October–April): More flexible schedule and extra time off to compensate for longer summer hours.
• Guaranteed 40 hours per week if desired.

Pay

• Starting wage: $16–$25/hour, with potential to grow to over $40/hour based on experience and longevity.
• $500 retention bonus after a designated period agreed upon at hiring.

Benefits

• Health insurance available after 60 days of employment; employer covers 50% of employee and dependents' premiums.

Background check and drug test required pre-employment.