Director of Stores (Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Alabama)

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

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) is seeking a Director of Stores to lead and develop Regional Managers across a multi-state territory (Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Alabama). This role is responsible for ensuring profitable store operations, disciplined execution, and consistent operational standards. The Director will own zone-level financial performance, including revenue growth, expense control, margin improvement, and EBITDA contribution, while strengthening institutional partnerships. Key responsibilities include leading contract renewal strategy, driving operational excellence, and implementing strategic initiatives. The Director will act as a change agent to elevate operational discipline, talent capability, and customer experience standards across the territory, ensuring strong field-to-corporate alignment and stabilizing underperforming locations.

Requirements

10+ years of retail leadership experience overseeing multi-unit, geographically dispersed store operations.
Strong knowledge of merchandising, retail operations, and financial performance management in a multi-location environment.
Proven P&L leadership, with the ability to drive revenue, margin improvement, expense control, and EBITDA performance.
Demonstrated success building and maintaining executive-level client relationships and supporting high-stakes contract renewals or strategic partnerships.
Strong financial, analytical, and business planning skills, including forecasting and performance trend analysis.
Proven track record of recruiting, hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing, collaborative teams.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment to navigate complex situations and foster strong partnerships.
Technology proficiency and ability to learn and support adoption of new systems.
Availability to travel regularly across multiple properties within the territory.

Responsibilities

Cultivate, lead, and develop a high-performing team of Regional Managers that delivers consistent financial results through strong execution, operational discipline, and accountability.
Recruit, coach, and develop leadership talent, including succession planning and performance management, to ensure bench strength and continuity across the territory.
Lead by example through professionalism, sound judgment, and a calm, respectful approach to issue resolution.
Foster a fair, equitable, and customer-focused environment that inspires brand loyalty and a strong campus store experience.
Own zone-level P&L performance, driving revenue growth, margin expansion, controllable expense management, and EBITDA contribution.
Develop and execute territory business strategies that improve store performance, enhance customer satisfaction, and support institutional and company goals.
Lead contract renewal strategy and execution in partnership with the Vice President, Stores, COO/Field VP, Marketing, and senior leadership, including pro formas, financial modeling, and negotiation support.
Protect and renew institutional partnerships by maintaining executive-level relationships with university administration and proactively addressing service, performance, and strategic concerns.
Drive execution of strategic initiatives, including First Day programs, Room Service, and other sales and partnership drivers that support long-term contract sustainability.
Oversee the successful opening, relocation, transformation, and closing of stores within the territory, ensuring operational readiness and campus partnership alignment.
Analyze sales and operating trends, forecast performance, and identify opportunities to improve results and reduce renewal risk.
Communicate effectively in written, verbal, and presentation settings with internal and external stakeholders.
Serve as a trusted strategic partner to campus administration by sharing industry expertise, emerging trends, and innovative solutions that support institutional goals.
Act as a change agent to elevate operational discipline, talent capability, and customer experience standards across the territory.
Provide strong field-to-corporate alignment, ensuring campus-specific issues are escalated, resolved, and communicated effectively.
Stabilize underperforming locations when needed, leading performance transformation efforts to protect brand reputation and contract outcomes.