Bookstore Manager

USC Auxiliary Services, one of the largest divisions at The University of Southern California, is focused on making a difference for over 65,000 students, athletes, faculty, staff, and guests who visit our campuses each day.  Through our innovative services, our six central business units (USC Bookstores, USC Hospitality, USC Housing, USC Transportation, the USC Hotel and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) collectively create the best USC experience for future leaders, scientists, filmmakers, engineers, and doctors alike. Auxiliary Services works tirelessly to welcome all visitors into the Trojan family. We are driven to succeed by our commitment to uphold our unifying values.

Being part of the Trojan Family means belonging to an amazing international community that reaches beyond cities, industries, and time. Owned and operated by USC, the USC Bookstores embrace talent, nurture skills, and support ambition! A thriving retail organization with nine physical locations, a booming online presence, and over $35 million in annual sales, USC Bookstores are dedicated to creating the Best USC Experience. The Best USC Experience means outstanding customer service, excellent 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. Provides excellent customer service, promotes sales, and resolves customer and staff problems. Oversees inventory control, ensures that the sales floor is attractive and appropriately stocked, and handles making orders and receiving merchandise. Directly supervises all assigned staff, initiates and coordinates special promotional activities, assists in budget preparation, and is responsible for ensuring adherence to store security procedures.

This position requires regular travel throughout Southern California and some overnight travel within The United States. The position requires a flexible schedule that may include working any day of the week (Monday-Sunday shifts) 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 and when 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 receivables, 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 lime. 

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 also 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 including. For more information, please visit https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks.

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.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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