Lead Bookseller

Barnes & Noble•Fremont, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

A Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the Barnes & Noble bookselling team who guides booksellers, maintains compelling merchandise presentations, and helps oversee efficient salesfloor operations. The role combines hands-on bookselling with leadership: creating a welcoming and supportive environment, serving as a resource for booksellers and baristas, addressing concerns, and keeping shifts on track. The Lead Bookseller models reliable, positive, customer-focused behavior and supports colleagues’ learning and development. The position requires proficiency in bookseller operations and the ability to coach others in using BookMaster and other store tools, merchandising and visual presentation, register and Membership conversations, receiving and shelving deliveries, inventory and store layout, café support, and loss prevention. The role also draws on broad book and product knowledge to help customers, maintain sections and backstock, recommend books, support sales priorities, and inspire the team to expand its expertise. The work involves prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. The employee may also work in other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster. The position offers an hourly rate starting at $24.00, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Benefits vary by scheduled weekly hours and location.

Requirements

Demonstrated or developing proficiency in the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller.
Ability to use BookMaster and other store tools and processes.
Strong merchandising and visual presentation skills.
Ability to coach and support colleagues and provide effective customer service.
Broad knowledge of books across subjects and categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and Children’s.
Knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand products and sections.
Ability to maintain reliable and punctual attendance and respond flexibly to store scheduling needs.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Ability to work in other stores when able and when needed to support the wider Cluster.

Responsibilities

Maintain reliable, punctual attendance and provide a consistent leadership presence on the salesfloor.
Fill scheduling gaps when able and respond flexibly to store needs, including operating hours that may include weekends and most holidays.
Lead by example with a positive, proactive, supportive, and customer-focused approach.
Serve 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 BookMaster and other store tools and processes effectively, model best practices, and coach other team members.
Coach the team in creating and maintaining book and specialty merchandise presentations, setting fixtures, replenishing products, and meeting cleanliness and presentation standards.
Maintain a visible leadership presence at registers and coach booksellers on 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 in loss prevention procedures and help maintain a safe and secure bookstore, including identifying theft and de-escalating challenging situations.
Use broad book knowledge to serve customers, maintain sections, present books attractively, and provide recommendations.
Model enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling to drive sales of key titles.
Lead and support store priorities such as Our Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders.
Maintain ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand sections and backstock, and guide the team in doing so.
Comply with company policies and procedures.