Bookstore Manager

Overview

Bookstore Manager – USC Auxiliary Services, Los Angeles, California. USC Auxiliary Services is a large division focused on serving students, athletes, faculty, staff, and guests across USC campuses. The USC Bookstores operate with nine physical locations, a growing online presence, and substantial annual sales, dedicated to creating the Best USC Experience through outstanding customer service, products, and a great place to work.

We are seeking a Bookstore Manager to join our rapidly growing team.

The Opportunity

This role is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a campus or campus-affiliated bookstore. It provides excellent customer service, promotes sales, and resolves customer and staff problems. The role oversees inventory control, ensures the sales floor is attractive and properly stocked, and handles orders and receiving merchandise. The position directly supervises all assigned staff, initiates and coordinates special promotional activities, assists in budget preparation, and ensures adherence to store security procedures.

This position requires regular travel throughout Southern California and some overnight travel within the United States. The schedule may include working any day of the week (Monday-Sunday) aligned with retail hours and late evenings.

The Accountabilities

• Models and provides courteous, professional, and knowledgeable service to both internal and external customers. Provides sales coordination and problem resolution for floor customer service staff. Performs direct sales and customer service as required. Resolves visitor complaints and special needs situations.

• Establishes and maintains policies and procedures to address operational and long-term goals, including cash handling, pricing standards, loss prevention, and customer relations. Establishes and maintains controls for sales, accounts receivable, and payables.

• Assesses store needs for all resale and store supply products. Researches products and negotiates pricing, quality and delivery. Generates purchase orders, sets pricing for resale, and authorizes payment to vendors as needed. Monitors and coordinates ordering, receipt, and return of merchandise and/or equipment. Verifies invoices and billing and resolves errors and discrepancies. Coordinates shipping and/or delivery of merchandise to customers as appropriate.

• Oversees and participates in the physical inventory of merchandise and data entry into computer. Meets with auditors to provide information for accuracy of inventory on an annual basis. Provides supporting documentation necessary for year-end audit, as required.

• Ensures merchandise presentation standards are maintained. Develops and implements on-floor sales promotion campaigns. Performs basic cleaning, ensures appropriate stock levels on the sales floor, and maintains appropriate signage. Processes incoming merchandise to facilitate replenishment.

• Monitors sales, refunds and exchanges. Conducts returns, exchanges, voids and other ancillary cash handling functions. Makes bank deposits, obtains currency for change supply, and ensures cash and credit security, as necessary.

• Recruits, screens, hires, trains and directly supervises all assigned subordinate staff. Evaluates employee performance and provides guidance and feedback. Counsels, disciplines and/or terminates employees as required. Recommends departmental goals and objectives.

• Initiates, coordinates and supports special events, promotions and activities involving the bookstore (book signings, cross-promotional campaigns, etc.). Coordinates production and/or distribution of promotional materials with PR Manager as appropriate.

• Assists in budget preparation by gathering historical data in a limited area, such as inventory, materials, supplies and salaries. Tracks and monitors assigned budget expenditures and/or special actions and reports on variances. Provides projections, as requested.

• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Job Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Associate's Degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• Minimum Experience: 2 years. Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience.

• Minimum Field of Expertise: Supervisory or lead experience in a related field.

• Valid CA driver's license required. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information please visit the policy website.

• In addition, the successful candidate must demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC's Unifying Values.

What We Prefer

• Preferred Education: Bachelor’s Degree.

• Preferred Experience: 3 years.

• Preferred Field of Expertise: USC experience in a related field.

The Trojan Family Rewards

We pride ourselves in creating the BEST USC EXPERIENCE, and that begins with our employees. We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. For more information, please visit

This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. As members of the Trojan family, employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans!

The work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all of its members.

USC has great minds that transform the world with their talents and research. Will you be one? Join us!

FIGHT ON!

The pay range for this position is $64,211 - $69,000. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.