Lead Bookseller - FT

Barnes & Noble•Manassas, VA

11d

About The Position

A Barnes & Noble Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the bookselling team who provides leadership on the salesfloor, supports booksellers and baristas, maintains compelling merchandise presentations, and helps ensure efficient store operations. The role calls for a welcoming, supportive leader who addresses colleagues’ questions and concerns promptly, sets a positive example, and provides cheerful, helpful service to customers. Lead Booksellers are expected to maintain reliable attendance, respond flexibly to store scheduling needs, learn continuously, and support the team in meeting store standards and sales goals. The Lead Bookseller masters the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller and models effective use of BookMaster and other store tools and processes. The position includes coaching the team on merchandising, visual presentation, register operations, membership conversations, receiving and shelving deliveries, inventory and store layout, café support, and loss prevention. As knowledge and experience develop, the Lead Bookseller contributes further through informed customer recommendations, maintaining sections and backstock, promoting key titles and sales initiatives, and broadening the bookselling expertise of colleagues. The role requires physical activity, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. Employees may work at other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster. The employee must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Demonstrated positive, proactive, dependable, and supportive work behaviors, including reliable attendance and punctuality.
Willingness and ability to respond flexibly to store scheduling needs, including shifts during early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays.
Strong customer-service orientation and willingness to help customers and colleagues.
Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills, acquire knowledge, apply it appropriately, and guide and support others.
Initiative, curiosity, and interest in developing a bookselling career.
Ability to master operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller, including BookMaster and other store tools and processes.
Ability to perform physical work involving prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Ability to work in other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster.

Responsibilities

Provide visible leadership on the salesfloor and support booksellers and baristas, addressing concerns and escalating issues to store leadership as appropriate.
Maintain reliable and punctual attendance, fill scheduling gaps when able, and adapt to store needs, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays.
Model positive, proactive, supportive, and customer-focused behavior; help colleagues and provide cheerful service to customers.
Use BookMaster and other store tools and processes effectively, model best practices, and coach colleagues in their use.
Coach the store team in creating and maintaining book and Specialty merchandise presentations, fixtures, cleanliness, and presentation standards; monitor and adjust displays and replenish products.
Maintain a visible presence at registers and coach booksellers on Membership conversations, register speed, and accuracy.
Guide and support receiving and unpacking deliveries, anticipate issues, and help ensure efficient, accurate shelving.
Use expert knowledge of store layout and inventory to locate products and coach others to do so.
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 recognizing theft and de-escalating challenging situations and problematic behavior.
Use knowledge of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and other categories to provide informed customer service and inspire booksellers to expand their expertise.
Lead the team in maintaining sections and presenting books attractively; coach effective recommendations and model enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling.
Support sales objectives such as Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders by sharing relevant knowledge with customers and colleagues.
Use knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand to maintain sections and backstock, assist customers, and guide the team.
Comply with company policies and procedures.