A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As an Assistant Store Manager (ASM), you ensure the smooth running of your store through leadership and deployment of the store team. In this role, the effectiveness of your team is a direct reflection of your ability to lead and motivate that team to deliver expected results.
You’ll make a great ASM if you have what we term to be good “behaviors.” Expect your colleagues to demonstrate these behaviors and for you and the management team at the store to hold themselves along with the store team to high standards and to reinforce expectations.
These behaviors collectively demonstrate that the store and team understands and reflects the following:
- Consistency of all Bookstore Basics, maintaining the store’s presentation to expected standards.
- Strong operational standards, maintaining a well-organized stockroom and backstock, and receiving and shelving deliveries on a timely basis.
- Commercial direction, presentation and execution across the Front of Store (FOS) and table displays, that highlight key titles and promotions.
- Strong section detail and appropriate stock levels with the team working effectively with the Inventory Cluster Support (ICS) team to ensure appropriate offerings.
- A well-presented Children’s Department with clear ownership, balanced stock, a strong commercial offer, and a welcoming space.
- Proper execution and understanding around Specialty visual merchandising, replenishment and disciplines, delivering the Gift and FOS presentation, Toys & Games and other non-book sections correctly.
- Solid execution of café standards supported by the store team fostering a positive culture of partnership within the café team and actively promoting Membership and book picks.
- Delivery of good service by having the FOS well covered and the team being “heads up,” greeting and offering help to most customers in an unintrusive, natural way.
- Friendly, knowledgeable and professional service at the registers, working naturally with Membership, Our Monthly Picks and other store services, achieving sales objectives.
- Effective selling of Our Monthly Picks, evaluating how well the bookseller behaviors are embedded and demonstrated by the team in a natural and enjoyable way.
- Prioritized health, safety and loss prevention standards, demonstrating de-escalation techniques, confidence in handling active threats, Code Adam and emergency procedures.
- Solid execution of roster aligning with the budget, so store scheduling is balanced to effectively and smoothly run the store, collaborating well with Rota Cluster Support (RCS) and when needed, with Recruiter Cluster Support (RC).
As an ASM you will continue to develop your leadership skills to effectively guide the team in delivering strong, consistent performance. Each Barnes & Noble bookstore is the product of its leadership, who support the bookselling and café team. You will be expected to deliver results through your ability to inspire and support your team. You will:
- Demonstrate effective ownership of key responsibilities to support and lead the store team and operations, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
- Support developmental priorities within the team, ensuring well-rounded abilities to meet the demands of the store and the potential of individual booksellers is realized, working with the Store Manager, People Cluster Support and/or RC to do so.
- Hold the store team accountable for consistent standards appropriate for their position, addressing opportunities promptly and fairly.
- Support the store team, acting with kindness, fairness and respect and encouraging this with the team, creating a positive working environment.
- Communicate and deliver appropriate company messages to the store team in a clear, consistent way, sharing necessary feedback and questions with the Cluster or Home Office resources.
- Demonstrate integrity and personal credibility, inspiring engagement and performance within the team and Cluster.
- Be resilient and determined when under pressure, remaining equitable and consistent while focusing and achieving goals and objectives.
- Run the store effectively in the absence of the SM; enabling them to fulfill a Cluster role, stepping in to support the team or other Cluster stores.
- Drive your own development, showing enthusiasm to listen, learn and be open to feedback, reflecting on it and applying it to improve and fulfill career goals.
All this work requires physical activity which includes prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and a lot of walking. You may work in other stores if you are able, and this is needed, collaboratively supporting the wider Cluster.
As you gain experience, you should expect your knowledge and skills to develop to support others and the Cluster.
You will, of course, comply with all company policies and procedures.
Benefits for those who are scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week include Employee Discount, EAP and Sick Pay. For those scheduled to work between 20 and 29.99 benefits include Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, Transit and 401(k) with Company Match. For those scheduled to work 30 hours or more benefits include Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, 401(k) with Company Match, Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, and Tuition Reimbursement. All benefits provided are in accordance with the terms of the current plan and may be subject to future change. Benefit may vary depending on location/state regulations. More information can be received by the recruiter or Human Resources.
