Assistant Store Manager

Barnes & Noble•Lancaster, PA

13d

About The Position

The Assistant Store Manager (ASM) helps ensure the smooth running of a Barnes & Noble bookstore through leadership and deployment of the store team. The ASM leads and motivates bookselling and café teams to deliver expected results, maintain high standards, and provide a welcoming bookstore experience for readers and the community. The role supports store presentation, operations, commercial execution, customer service, safety, scheduling, team development, and consistent performance. The ASM runs the store effectively in the Store Manager’s absence and may support other stores in the wider Cluster when needed and able. The position involves physical activity, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. The ASM is expected to comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Ability to lead and motivate a store team to deliver expected results and consistent performance.
Ability to maintain high standards for store presentation, operations, commercial execution, and customer service.
Ability to support team development, provide feedback, and hold employees accountable fairly.
Ability to communicate company messages clearly and work collaboratively with store, Cluster, and Home Office resources.
Ability to remain resilient, equitable, and consistent under pressure while focusing on goals and objectives.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Must comply with company policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Lead and support the store team and operations to ensure smooth day-to-day store operations.
Maintain expected Bookstore Basics and store presentation standards.
Support strong operational standards, including an organized stockroom and backstock and timely receipt and shelving of deliveries.
Guide commercial presentation and execution across the Front of Store and table displays, highlighting key titles and promotions.
Maintain section detail and appropriate stock levels in collaboration 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 proper execution of specialty visual merchandising, replenishment, and disciplines, including Gift and Front of Store presentation, Toys & Games, and other non-book sections.
Support café standards and a positive partnership culture with the café team, and promote Membership and book picks.
Ensure customer service coverage at the Front of Store and encourage natural, unintrusive greetings and offers of assistance.
Support friendly, knowledgeable, professional service at registers and promote Membership, Our Monthly Picks, and other store services while achieving sales objectives.
Evaluate and encourage effective, natural, and enjoyable bookseller behaviors in the selling of Our Monthly Picks.
Prioritize health, safety, and loss prevention standards, including de-escalation, active-threat response, Code Adam, and emergency procedures.
Execute the store roster within budget, balancing scheduling to run the store effectively and collaborating 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 team members accountable for standards appropriate to their roles, addressing opportunities promptly and fairly.
Foster a positive working environment by treating the team with kindness, fairness, and respect.
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 encouraging team engagement and performance.
Run the store 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.