Lead Bookseller - FT

Barnes & Noble•Fremont, CA

3d•$24

About The Position

A Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the bookstore team who helps guide booksellers, maintain compelling merchandise presentations, and oversee efficient salesfloor operations. The role provides hands-on leadership and subject-matter support while fostering a welcoming environment where colleagues feel supported and concerns are addressed promptly and effectively. The Lead Bookseller is expected to model reliable attendance, flexibility, positive and proactive work habits, consideration for colleagues, cheerful customer service, curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn and help others develop. The role serves as a resource for booksellers and baristas, helps resolve concerns, escalates issues to leadership, and prioritizes resources and team support to keep shifts on track. After training, the Lead Bookseller is expected to master bookstore operational competencies and coach others in their use. These include BookMaster and other store tools and processes; merchandising and visual presentation; registers, Membership conversations, and transaction speed and accuracy; receiving and shelving deliveries; store layout and inventory; cross-functional café support; and loss prevention, safety, and de-escalation. The role also develops extensive product and book knowledge, supports attractive section and backstock maintenance, provides informed customer service and recommendations, models hand-selling, and leads the team’s focus on key sales objectives such as Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders. The position involves physical activity, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. The employee may work at other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster. The Lead Bookseller must comply with company policies and procedures. The stated starting hourly rate is $24.00, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law.

Requirements

Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps when able and respond to store needs; stores are open from 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 attitude toward colleagues and willingness to help the team.
Cheerful, helpful customer-service 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 address and resolve colleague concerns and escalate issues to leadership.
Ability to prioritize resources and team support to keep shifts on track.
Ability to master bookstore operational competencies, including store systems, merchandising, register operations, delivery processing, inventory, café support, and loss prevention.
Extensive knowledge of books and varied subjects and categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and Children’s.
Knowledge and understanding of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Responsibilities

Guide the bookselling team in maintaining compelling merchandise presentations and oversee efficient salesfloor operations.
Model reliable attendance, flexibility, positive work habits, customer service, and support for colleagues.
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 tools and processes effectively, model best practices, and coach colleagues in their use.
Coach booksellers 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 and support receiving and unpacking deliveries, anticipate issues, and help ensure 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 on loss prevention procedures and maintaining a safe, secure bookstore; spot theft and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behavior.
Use knowledge of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and other categories to serve customers and help booksellers broaden their expertise.
Lead the team in maintaining sections and presenting books attractively, and coach booksellers in making recommendations.
Drive sales of key titles by modeling enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling.
Lead and support store focus on sales objectives including Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders.
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.
Work at other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster.