Director of Bookstore + Resource Center

The King Center•Atlanta, GA

just now•Onsite

About The Position

The King Center seeks a results-driven, mission-aligned retail leader to serve as Director of Bookstore & Resource Center. This is a best-in-class retail and e-commerce leadership role responsible for transforming the on-site bookstore and gift shop and its digital storefront into a destination that rivals leading commercial booksellers in product curation, customer experience, and operational excellence - while remaining unmistakably grounded in The King Center’s mission and the dignity of Dr. King’s legacy. The Director owns the full retail profit-and-loss responsibility across in-store and online channels: merchandising, inventory, e-commerce, staffing, customer experience, and earned-revenue growth. The successful candidate will set a competitive standard for assortment, presentation, fulfillment, and service comparable to major national retailers, applied with the cultural sensitivity and educational purpose unique to The King Center.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, retail management, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive retail management experience, including full P&L responsibility.
Demonstrated success growing revenue across both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels.
Hands-on experience with point-of-sale and e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, Square, or comparable), inventory management systems, and retail analytics.
Proven team leadership, staff development, and scheduling experience.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and margin management.

Nice To Haves

Experience in bookselling, museum or cultural-institution retail, or a mission-driven nonprofit environment.
Familiarity with omnichannel retail strategy and digital marketing.
Genuine connection to, and respect for, the mission and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Responsibilities

Own the bookstore and resource center P&L across all channels, setting and achieving annual revenue, margin, and growth targets for both in-store and online sales.
Develop and execute a comprehensive earned-revenue strategy that grows top-line sales year over year while protecting brand integrity and mission alignment.
Establish pricing, promotion, and markdown strategies that maximize profitability and inventory turn.
Prepare and manage the annual retail budget; analyze sales data, KPIs, and customer trends to inform purchasing and forecasting decisions.
Identify and develop new revenue streams, including exclusive and licensed King Center merchandise, publications, commemorative product lines, and partnerships.
Oversee daily operations of the on-site Bookstore & Resource Center, ensuring a welcoming, professional, and engaging environment for nearly one million annual visitors.
Lead merchandising and visual presentation to a best-in-class standard - competitive with leading national booksellers - including window displays, featured titles, signage, and seasonal resets.
Manage point-of-sale systems, cash handling, daily reconciliation, and loss-prevention controls.
Curate a compelling, mission-relevant assortment of books, educational resources, gifts, and commemorative items that reflect the scholarship and values of The King Center.
Build, manage, and grow the online store as a primary revenue channel, ensuring an intuitive, accessible, and conversion-optimized customer experience.
Oversee online merchandising, product photography, descriptions, inventory synchronization, and order fulfillment and shipping operations.
Implement digital marketing, email campaigns, and search and social strategies - in coordination with the marketing team - to drive online traffic and sales.
Analyze e-commerce metrics (conversion rate, average order value, cart abandonment, fulfillment time) and continuously improve performance.
Integrate in-store and online inventory and customer data to deliver a seamless omnichannel experience.
Direct end-to-end inventory management across channels, including purchasing, receiving, stock levels, and shrinkage control.
Negotiate with publishers, distributors, and vendors to secure favorable terms, exclusive products, and reliable supply.
Maintain accurate inventory records and conduct regular physical counts and audits.
Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and develop retail associates, e-commerce staff, and volunteers, fostering a culture of service excellence and accountability.
Set and uphold customer-service standards that meet or exceed those of premier retail environments.
Model and reinforce The King Center’s values and Dr. King’s nonviolent principles in all interactions with staff, visitors, and customers.