Director, Graduation Strategies

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.•Florham Park, NJ

1d•$140,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education. To support this mission, we are seeking a Director, Graduation Strategies to lead BNED's graduation business, driving profitable growth through innovative product and merchandising strategies, strong campus and vendor partnerships, operational excellence, and exceptional event execution. This highly visible role oversees the strategy and execution of the business, balancing financial performance, customer experience, and operational effectiveness to deliver successful outcomes for students, campus partners, and the company. The Director develops and executes long-term growth strategies that optimize assortments, strengthen partnerships, enhance operational performance, and identify new opportunities. Working cross-functionally with Planning, Marketing, Ecommerce, Operations, Technology, Finance, and Store Leadership teams, this role ensures consistent execution and continuous improvement across the business. The ideal candidate is a strategic, customer-focused leader with strong merchandising expertise, business acumen, and a proven ability to influence stakeholders, drive results, and develop high-performing teams in a complex environment while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent retail experience required.
10+ years of progressive experience in buying and fashion merchandising within a fast-paced, multi-unit retail environment.
Proven track record of driving business results, profitable growth, and operational excellence in a complex retail organization.
Strong strategic planning and execution skills with the ability to translate vision into measurable outcomes.
Demonstrated success negotiating complex vendor agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
Exceptional analytical skills with advanced knowledge of retail math, forecasting, inventory management, and financial performance metrics.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, influence stakeholders, and drive results in a dynamic environment.
Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to develop teams and build partnerships across all levels of the organization.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills, with the ability to learn and leverage company systems, reporting tools, and AI-enabled technologies.
Ability to travel to stores, campuses, vendor meetings, and industry trade shows as needed.

Responsibilities

Leads the graduation business, driving performance against sales, margin, inventory productivity, and profitability objectives.
Develop and execute business strategies that drive sustainable growth, enhance the customer and campus partner experience, and support company objectives.
Partner with Planning to develop seasonal financial, inventory, and assortment strategies, establishing KPI targets and merchandise plans tailored by channel, store format, campus profile, geographic region, and price tier.
Identify and pursue opportunities to expand the graduation business through product innovation, service enhancements, partnerships, and emerging market trends.
Build and manage strategic vendor partnerships, negotiating commercial terms and driving accountability for performance, compliance, service levels, and mutual business growth.
Lead operational excellence initiatives that improve efficiency, scalability, and execution across the graduation business while ensuring effective resolution of cross-functional issues and continuous process improvement.
Collaborate with cross-functional partners to develop and execute graduation event strategies, best practices, and initiatives that deliver exceptional campus experiences and support business objectives.
Analyze customer, campus, operational, and financial data to identify opportunities, solve business challenges, and support data-driven decision making.
Visit campuses, stores, vendor partners, and industry events as needed to assess business performance, identify opportunities, and strengthen relationships.
Lead and develop a high-performing team, including a Senior Buyer and Business Analyst, while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Additional responsibilities as required.