Lead Bookseller - FT

Barnes & Noble•Rochester, NY

About The Position

A Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the bookstore bookselling team, providing hands-on leadership to maintain compelling merchandise presentations and oversee efficient salesfloor operations. The role involves supporting booksellers and baristas, responding to concerns, keeping shifts on track, modeling strong customer service, and contributing to a welcoming environment for customers and colleagues. The Lead Bookseller is expected to master bookstore operational competencies and coach others in using store tools and processes, merchandising, register operations, delivery receiving and shelving, inventory and store layout, café support, and loss prevention. The role also calls for extensive knowledge of books and other store categories to assist customers, make recommendations, support sales objectives, and maintain sections and backstock. The position involves prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. Work in other stores may be required when able and needed to support the wider Cluster. Employees are expected to comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Ability to maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps when able; the store operates early mornings through late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
Positive, proactive, supportive, and customer-focused work approach.
Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge and apply them while guiding and supporting others.
Curiosity, initiative, and ambition to develop a bookselling career.
Ability to master bookseller operational competencies and become proficient with BookMaster and other store tools and processes.
Strong merchandising skills and ability to maintain displays, fixtures, replenishment, cleanliness, and presentation standards.
Ability to coach register operations, Membership conversations, speed, and accuracy.
Ability to support delivery receiving, unpacking, and accurate shelving.
Knowledge of store layout and inventory, with ability to locate books and other products accurately.
Ability to support café operations during busy periods while maintaining standards.
Ability to follow and coach loss prevention procedures, identify theft, and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Extensive knowledge of varied book subjects and categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books.
Knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
May work in other stores when able and when needed to support the wider Cluster.

Responsibilities

Maintain reliable and punctual attendance and provide consistent leadership presence on the salesfloor.
Fill scheduling gaps when able and respond flexibly to store needs, including schedules spanning early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays.
Lead by example with a positive, proactive, supportive, and customer-focused approach.
Serve as a resource for booksellers and baristas by addressing and resolving concerns and raising issues to leadership.
Prioritize resources and bookseller support to keep shifts 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 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 and support booksellers receiving and unpacking deliveries, addressing potential issues and ensuring efficient, 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 of the café team during busy periods while maintaining café standards.
Coach the team in loss prevention procedures and maintaining a safe, secure bookstore; identify theft and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Use extensive knowledge of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books to provide informed customer service and encourage booksellers to broaden their expertise.
Lead the team in maintaining sections and presenting books attractively.
Coach booksellers in making effective recommendations across store sections and expanding their book knowledge.
Drive sales of key titles through enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling.
Lead and support focus on sales objectives, 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 store team.
Comply with company policies and procedures.