Lead Bookseller - FT

Barnes & Noble•Albany, NY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

A Barnes & Noble Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the bookselling team and provides hands-on leadership on the salesfloor. The role guides the team in maintaining compelling merchandise presentations and supports the efficient operation of the store. The Lead Bookseller creates a welcoming environment, supports colleagues, addresses concerns, and raises issues to store leadership. They are expected to model reliable attendance, flexibility, positivity, customer service, initiative, continuous learning, and a strong enjoyment of bookselling. The Lead Bookseller masters operational competencies and coaches booksellers in using BookMaster and other store tools, merchandising and visual presentation, register operations and Membership conversations, delivery receiving and shelving, store layout and inventory, café support, and loss prevention. The role also uses broad knowledge of books and other merchandise to serve customers, maintain sections and backstock, support sales objectives, and help colleagues develop their product knowledge and recommendation skills. The position involves physical activity including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. Supporting other stores in the wider Cluster may be needed when the employee is able. The employee must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps when able; stores are open early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
Positive, proactive, hardworking, and reliable approach, with the ability to lead by example and inspire others.
Supportive and considerate manner with colleagues and consistently helpful customer service.
Willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge, apply them in the store, and support others.
Curiosity, initiative, and ambition to develop a bookselling career.
Ability to act as a resource for booksellers and baristas, address concerns, and escalate issues to leadership.
Ability to prioritize resources and bookseller support to keep a shift on track.
Ability to master operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller and become proficient with BookMaster and other store tools and processes.
Strong merchandising and visual presentation skills, including maintaining displays, fixtures, replenishment, cleanliness, and presentation standards.
Ability to coach register operations, Membership conversations, and transaction speed and accuracy.
Ability to support delivery receiving, unpacking, and accurate shelving.
Knowledge of store layout and inventory, with the ability to locate books and other products accurately.
Ability to support café operations while maintaining café standards.
Ability to follow and coach loss prevention procedures, identify theft, and de-escalate challenging situations.
Extensive knowledge of books across varied subjects and categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and children's books, and knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand.
Physical ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Responsibilities

Guide the bookselling team in maintaining compelling merchandise presentations and overseeing efficient salesfloor operations.
Provide a supportive and welcoming environment for booksellers, address and resolve concerns, and raise issues to leadership.
Maintain reliable and punctual attendance, fill scheduling gaps when able, and lead by example with a positive, proactive approach.
Prioritize store resources and bookseller support to keep the shift on track.
Use BookMaster and other tools and processes effectively, model best practices, and coach others in their use.
Coach the team in creating and maintaining book and Specialty displays, setting fixtures, replenishing products, and meeting cleanliness and presentation standards.
Maintain a visible leadership presence at registers and coach booksellers on Membership conversations, 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 to follow loss prevention procedures, maintain a safe and secure bookstore, spot theft, and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Use extensive knowledge of fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and other categories to engage customers and provide informed service.
Lead the team in maintaining sections and presenting books attractively; coach effective recommendations and encourage expanded book knowledge.
Drive sales of key titles through enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling.
Lead and support sales objectives such as Our Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders.
Maintain knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand sections and backstock, assist customers, and guide the team in doing the same.
Comply with company policies and procedures.
Support other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed.