Lead Bookseller

Barnes & Noble • Anchorage, AK

23d • Onsite

About The Position

A Lead Bookseller is an integral member of the bookstore team who guides booksellers, maintains compelling merchandise presentations, and supports efficient salesfloor operations. The role combines hands-on bookselling with shift leadership: creating a welcoming environment for colleagues, addressing their questions and concerns, prioritizing resources, and modeling positive, reliable, customer-focused behavior. Lead Booksellers support booksellers and baristas and raise concerns to store leadership.

The position requires proficiency in the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller, including merchandising, use of BookMaster and other store tools, register operations, receiving and shelving deliveries, inventory and store-layout knowledge, café support, and loss prevention. The Lead Bookseller coaches colleagues in these areas while helping maintain a safe, clean, and engaging bookstore.

The role also involves extensive book knowledge and customer service. Lead Booksellers provide informed recommendations, drive sales through customer-focused hand-selling, support key sales initiatives, and guide the team in maintaining book sections, backstock, specialty presentations, and other product areas. Bookselling knowledge and skills are expected to develop over time, with opportunities to take on new challenges and grow in the career path. The position may involve supporting other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed. Employees must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Demonstrated reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Flexibility to help fill scheduling gaps, including availability for a store open early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
• Positive, proactive, hardworking, and dependable approach, with the ability to lead by example.
• Supportive and considerate manner when working with colleagues and customers.
• Willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge and apply them while guiding others.
• Curiosity, initiative, and ambition to develop a bookselling career.
• Ability to address and resolve colleagues’ concerns and escalate issues to leadership.
• Proficiency in BookMaster and other store tools and processes, or willingness to master them through training.
• Strong merchandising skills and ability to coach others in visual presentation and replenishment.
• Ability to coach register operations, Membership conversations, speed, and accuracy.
• Ability to guide delivery receiving, unpacking, and shelving accurately and efficiently.
• Strong knowledge of store layout and inventory, and ability to locate books and other products accurately.
• Ability to support café operations and maintain café standards during busy periods.
• Ability to follow and coach loss prevention procedures, recognize theft, and de-escalate challenging situations.
• Extensive knowledge of books across varied subjects and categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and Children’s, and knowledge of ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand.
• Ability to provide informed customer service, make effective recommendations, and drive sales through hand-selling.
• Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Responsibilities

• Guide the bookselling team in maintaining compelling merchandise presentations and efficient salesfloor operations.
• Set a positive example through reliable attendance, punctuality, flexibility, initiative, and supportive behavior.
• Support booksellers and baristas, resolve or raise concerns, and prioritize resources to keep shifts on track.
• Use BookMaster and other tools and processes effectively, model best practices, and coach colleagues in their use.
• Coach the team in merchandising, book presentations, specialty displays, fixture setup, replenishment, 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 and ensure efficient, accurate shelving.
• Use knowledge of store layout and inventory to locate products and coach colleagues 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 and bookstore safety, including spotting theft and de-escalating challenging situations and problematic behavior.
• Use broad book knowledge to serve customers, inspire colleagues to expand their expertise, and maintain attractive, well-organized sections.
• Coach colleagues in making effective recommendations and model enthusiastic, customer-focused hand-selling.
• Support key sales objectives, including Our Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, and pre-orders.
• Maintain ETG, SHC, Media, and Newsstand sections and backstock, and assist customers and colleagues with those products.
• Work collaboratively at other stores in the Cluster when able and needed.
• Follow company policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Employee discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick pay
• Paid time off, including paid maternity and parental leave (for eligible scheduled hours)
• Company-paid holidays (for eligible scheduled hours)
• 401(k) with company match (for eligible scheduled hours)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision health benefits (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
• Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
• Disability benefits (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
• Life insurance (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)
• Transit benefits (for eligible scheduled hours)
• Tuition reimbursement (for employees scheduled 30 hours or more)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed