A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As a Lead Bookseller, you are an integral member of the bookselling team at the heart of our stores. You play a leadership role in guiding the bookselling team to maintain compelling merchandise presentations and overseeing the efficient running of the salesfloor. You are both a trusted expert and hands-on leader, creating a welcoming environment where booksellers feel supported, comfortable bringing forward questions or concerns, and they trust that you will address them promptly and effectively.
You’ll make a great Lead Bookseller if you have what we term to be good “behaviors.” Expect your colleagues to demonstrate these behaviors and to hold you, and themselves, to high standards, and for your Store Managers to reinforce our expectations.
These behaviors collectively demonstrate that you:
- Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts, setting the standard for the team and ensuring consistent leadership presence on the floor.
- Fill scheduling gaps when you are able, being flexible and responsive to the needs of the store — we are open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
- Are positive and proactive in your approach to work; you lead by example with purpose and energy, working hard and reliably while inspiring others to do the same.
- Are supportive and considerate of colleagues; consistently going out of your way to help others in the team and setting a positive example.
- Are always cheerful with customers, consistently going out of your way to help them.
- Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge and apply it appropriately in the store while guiding and supporting others.
- Are curious, want to continuously learn, and demonstrate ambition and initiative to develop a bookselling career.
- Act as a resource for booksellers and baristas, addressing and resolving concerns and raising these issues to leadership.
- Prioritize resources and bookseller support appropriately to keep the shift on track.
- Above all, show that you enjoy being a bookseller!
As a Lead Bookseller, you are part of a busy team and will be required to master the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble bookseller.
You will be trained and expected to be proficient in:
- Using mastered skills in BookMaster and all other tools and processes to model best practices for the store team and coach others in their effective use.
- Utilizing strong merchandising skills to coach the store team in creating and maintaining appropriate and various book presentations, actively monitoring, guiding and adjusting displays while ensuring cleanliness and presentation standards are met.
- Guiding booksellers in applying effective visual merchandising skills, while creating and maintaining Specialty presentations, setting fixtures (Horses/Donkeys, walls, gondolas, etc.), and reliably replenishing products as required.
- Maintaining visible leadership presence at the registers, and actively coaching booksellers in Membership conversations as well as improving register speed and accuracy.
- Guiding and supporting booksellers in receiving and unpacking of deliveries, anticipating issues, and adjusting approach to ensure that efficient and accurate shelving follows.
- Demonstrating expert knowledge of store layout and inventory, quickly locating books and other products with ease and accuracy, while coaching others to do the same.
- Coordinating and modeling cross-functional support of the café team during busy periods, ensuring booksellers assist effectively while maintaining café standards.
- Actively coaching the store team to follow loss prevention procedures, and maintain a safe, secure bookstore by the ability to spot theft and effectively de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
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 bookselling knowledge and skills to develop.
Each Barnes & Noble bookstore is the product of its bookselling team. You will increasingly contribute as you develop your expertise. You will:
- Use extensive book knowledge of varied subjects (fiction, nonfiction, Children’s) and categories to engage and provide informed service to customers, inspiring booksellers to broaden their expertise.
- Use this knowledge to lead the store team in maintaining the sections and presenting books in an interesting and attractive manner.
- Coach the team in delivering effective book recommendations to customers throughout varied sections while inspiring booksellers to expand their book knowledge.
- Drive sales of key titles by modeling enthusiastic, and customer-focused hand-selling appreciated by customers.
- Lead and support the store’s focus on key sales objectives such as Our Monthly Picks, Book of the Year, Membership, pre-orders, etc., actively sharing this knowledge genuinely with customers and colleagues.
- Use extensive knowledge, expertise and understanding of ETG, SHC, Media and Newsstand, to maintain all sections and backstock effectively, help customers with their shopping and lead the store team in doing the same.
As already said, above all we expect to enjoy being a bookseller at Barnes & Noble. As you develop and demonstrate mastery of the skills outlined in this role, you are expected to in the career path where you will take on new challenges and gain further opportunities for growth.
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.
