Assistant Store Manager

Barnes & Noble•Dothan, AL

About The Position

The Assistant Store Manager (ASM) helps ensure the smooth running of a Barnes & Noble bookstore by leading and deploying the store team. The role supports bookselling, café operations, and day-to-day store operations, with results reflecting the ASM’s ability to motivate and guide the team. The ASM upholds high standards for store presentation, operations, merchandising, customer service, sales, safety, and scheduling. They continue developing leadership skills and help the team deliver consistent performance. The ASM may run the store in the Store Manager’s absence and may support other stores in the Cluster when needed and able. The role requires prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. The ASM must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Ability to lead, motivate, and support a store team.
Ability to maintain and reinforce store standards and hold team members accountable fairly.
Ability to support bookstore, café, merchandising, customer-service, sales, safety, loss-prevention, and scheduling operations.
Ability to communicate company messages and feedback clearly and consistently.
Ability to remain resilient, equitable, and consistent under pressure.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Willingness and ability to work in other stores when needed to support the wider Cluster.

Responsibilities

Lead and support the store team and operations to ensure smooth day-to-day store operations.
Maintain consistent Bookstore Basics and store presentation standards.
Maintain operational standards, including an organized stockroom and backstock, and timely receipt and shelving of deliveries.
Guide commercial direction, presentation, and execution across the Front of Store and table displays, highlighting key titles and promotions.
Maintain section detail and appropriate stock levels while working effectively with the Inventory Cluster Support team.
Support a well-presented Children’s Department with clear ownership, balanced stock, a strong commercial offer, and a welcoming space.
Ensure specialty visual merchandising, replenishment, and related disciplines are executed correctly, including Gift and Front of Store presentation, Toys & Games, and other non-book sections.
Support café standards and foster a positive partnership between the store and café teams; promote Membership and book picks.
Ensure the Front of Store is adequately covered and that team members greet customers and offer help naturally and unobtrusively.
Support friendly, knowledgeable, and professional service at registers, including Membership, Our Monthly Picks, and other store services, while achieving sales objectives.
Promote Our Monthly Picks and evaluate how effectively bookseller behaviors are demonstrated by the team.
Prioritize health, safety, and loss prevention standards, including de-escalation, active-threat response, Code Adam, and emergency procedures.
Execute a roster aligned with the budget and collaborate with Rota Cluster Support and, when needed, Recruiter Cluster Support.
Support team development priorities with the Store Manager, People Cluster Support, and/or Recruiter Cluster Support.
Hold the store team accountable to role-appropriate standards, addressing opportunities promptly and fairly.
Support the team with kindness, fairness, and respect, helping create a positive working environment.
Communicate company messages clearly and consistently and share necessary feedback and questions with Cluster or Home Office resources.
Demonstrate integrity, personal credibility, resilience, and determination while working toward goals and objectives.
Run the store effectively in the Store Manager’s absence and support the team or other Cluster stores as needed.
Pursue personal development by listening, learning, applying feedback, and working toward career goals.
Comply with company policies and procedures.

Benefits

Employee discount
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Sick pay
Paid time off, including paid maternity and parental leave (for qualifying scheduled hours)
Company-paid holidays (for qualifying scheduled hours)
401(k) with company match (for qualifying scheduled hours)
Transit benefits (for qualifying scheduled hours)
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
Disability benefits (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
Life insurance (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
Tuition reimbursement (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)