Lead Bookseller

Barnes & Noble•Sterling, VA

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 environment, supporting colleagues, addressing concerns, and modeling reliable, positive, customer-focused behavior. The Lead Bookseller is expected to master bookseller operational competencies and coach the team in using BookMaster and other store tools, merchandising and visual presentation, register operations, deliveries, inventory, café support, and loss prevention. The role also draws on broad book and product knowledge to provide informed customer service, maintain store sections, recommend books, and support key sales initiatives. The work involves prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. The employee may also work at other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster. The position offers an hourly rate starting at $20.75, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Benefits vary according to scheduled hours and location, and are subject to the terms of the applicable plans.

Requirements

Demonstrate reliable and punctual attendance.
Be flexible and responsive to store scheduling needs, including work during early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays.
Demonstrate a positive, proactive, supportive, and considerate approach to work and colleagues.
Provide cheerful, helpful customer service.
Show willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge and apply them while supporting others.
Demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and ambition to develop a bookselling career.
Be able to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Be able to work in other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster.

Responsibilities

Maintain reliable and punctual attendance and provide a consistent leadership presence on the salesfloor.
Fill scheduling gaps when able and respond flexibly to store needs, including 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, resolve concerns, and raise 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 in receiving and unpacking deliveries, anticipating issues, and ensuring efficient, accurate shelving.
Maintain expert knowledge of store layout and inventory, locate products accurately, and coach others to do the same.
Coordinate cross-functional support for the café team during busy periods while ensuring café standards are maintained.
Coach the team in loss prevention procedures and help maintain a safe and secure bookstore, including spotting theft and de-escalating challenging situations.
Use broad book knowledge to serve customers, maintain sections, present books attractively, and encourage booksellers to expand their expertise.
Coach booksellers in making effective recommendations and model enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling to drive sales of key titles.
Lead and support store focus on sales objectives such as 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.
Comply with company policies and procedures.