Lead Bookseller

Barnes & Noble•Dothan, AL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

A Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the Barnes & Noble bookselling team, providing hands-on leadership and helping maintain compelling merchandise presentations and efficient salesfloor operations. The role supports a welcoming environment where booksellers feel comfortable raising questions or concerns, and acts as a resource for booksellers and baristas by addressing issues and escalating them to leadership as needed. The Lead Bookseller models and coaches operational best practices, including use of BookMaster and other store tools, merchandising and visual presentation, register operations, Membership conversations, receiving and shelving deliveries, inventory knowledge, café support, and loss prevention. The position also uses broad book and product knowledge to serve customers, develop the team’s expertise, promote key sales objectives, and maintain sections and backstock. The role may involve supporting other stores in the wider Cluster when needed and able. The employee is expected to comply with company policies and procedures and develop their bookselling knowledge and skills over time.

Requirements

Demonstrated or developing operational proficiency in Barnes & Noble bookseller competencies, including BookMaster and other store tools and processes.
Strong merchandising and visual presentation skills, including maintaining displays and fixtures and replenishing products.
Ability to coach colleagues in register operations, Membership conversations, receiving and shelving deliveries, customer service, and store procedures.
Extensive knowledge of books across varied subjects and categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and Children’s, and knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand.
Ability to quickly and accurately locate books and other products using knowledge of store layout and inventory.
Ability to help customers with recommendations and provide informed, customer-focused service.
Ability to support café operations and maintain café standards during busy periods.
Ability to follow and coach loss prevention procedures, identify theft, and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Reliable and punctual attendance, a positive and proactive approach, and willingness to support colleagues and customers.
Willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge, take initiative, and develop a bookselling career.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Availability may be needed to fill scheduling gaps; stores are open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.

Responsibilities

Provide visible, hands-on leadership and help oversee efficient salesfloor operations.
Model best practices using BookMaster and other store tools and processes; coach booksellers in their effective use.
Coach and guide the team in creating and maintaining book, Specialty, and other merchandise presentations, fixtures, replenishment, cleanliness, and presentation standards.
Maintain a visible leadership presence at registers and coach booksellers in Membership conversations, register speed, and accuracy.
Guide booksellers in receiving and unpacking deliveries, anticipating issues, and ensuring efficient and accurate shelving.
Use expert knowledge of store layout and inventory to locate products and coach others to do the same.
Coordinate and model cross-functional support for the café team during busy periods while maintaining café standards.
Coach the team on loss prevention procedures and help maintain a safe and secure bookstore, including spotting theft and de-escalating challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Act as a resource for booksellers and baristas, address and resolve concerns, and raise issues to leadership.
Prioritize resources and bookseller support to keep shifts on track.
Use broad book knowledge to serve customers, support maintenance and presentation of store sections, and encourage colleagues to broaden their expertise.
Coach booksellers in making effective recommendations throughout varied sections and model customer-focused hand-selling to drive sales of key titles.
Lead and support store sales priorities, including Our Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders.
Use knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand to maintain sections and backstock, help customers, and guide the team.
Maintain reliable, punctual attendance and demonstrate a positive, supportive, proactive approach to work.
Fill scheduling gaps when able and support other stores in the wider Cluster when needed and able.
Comply with company policies and procedures.