Retail Merchandise Manager

Barnes & Noble College is a retail partner for nearly 800 colleges and universities nationwide.  We offer a retail environment like no other – uniquely focused on delivering essential educational content, tools, and merchandise within a dynamic retail environment on campuses of higher education.  Our teams interact directly with our customers including students, faculty, administration, alumni, and the general public to provide outstanding customer service to sell or rent books, general merchandise, and an array of products and services for an academic community.

We are seeking a Retail Merchandise Manager to join the team at our Barnes & Noble College retail store located at the Harvard Coop. This crucial role is central to implementing our retail strategy, serving as a vital link between our company and the university community. Responsibilities include developing merchandise strategies, creating assortment plans, and deploying tactical plans that align with our objectives. This position is key to surpassing financial targets through strategic product placement, impactful signage, and timely product deliveries. Within this role, you will also support projects essential to the success of our merchandising strategies, maintaining high standards that meet client and consumer expectations and shaping the shopping experience at a vibrant university campus store.

Note: While the internal title for this position is Assistant Store Manager, the role is functionally equivalent to that of a Merchandise Manager.

• Merchandising and Buying:
  • Responsible for the analysis of the Harvard emblematic business, ensuring optimized product flow, placement, and sell through
  • Develop an assortment plan in partnership with buying and planning teams. Optimize space allocation and merchandising of the Harvard Coop bookstore.
• Strategic Partner Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with strategic partners on Harvard event strategies, product lines, product flow, vendors and markdown strategies.
  • Coordinate with strategic partners to bring visions to life in stores and ensure success.
• Operational and Inventory Management:
  • Manage an “open to buy” budget, both singularly and in collaboration with strategic partners, tracking and planning the purchase of inventory within financial limits.
  • Partner with other functions to manage inventory effectively.
  • Support Vendor Installation Projects to ensure functionality and marketing collateral correctly supports the product to drive sales.
• Sales Analysis and Strategy:
  • Tracks and reviews sales to provide analysis for increased sales opportunities, improve margins, manage inventories, and decrease markdowns.
  • Work with the Planning team on product sales analysis to understand performance and suggest adjustments to positioning and marketing strategies.
• Project Coordination and Communication:
  • Assist in managing and setting up processes for Retail Initiatives specifically for the Harvard Coop bookstore.
  • Work closely under the supervision of senior staff with BNC’s Merchandise, Design & Construction, Store Operations, and Marketing teams.
  • Assist in coordinating timelines and resolving issues across various functional groups for each project, including Construction, Marketing, and Merchandising.
• Advertising and Merchandise Presentation:
  • May participate in plans for ad campaigns and merchandise presentations, ensuring alignment with overall marketing and retail strategies.
• Team Collaboration and Independence:
  • Works independently and handles complex issues while ensuring effective collaboration and communication across teams.
• Store Operations Excellence:
  • Support store operations and departments in partnership with the management team.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of all departments in the store to provide daily support, direction, and guidance to customers and team members to ensure compliance with all standards of operation.
  • Maintain a sales floor with visual excellence representing the Harvard Coop and the BNC standards provided.

Massachusetts Pay Transparency Information (Only applicable in Massachusetts stores):

Pay:  Pay range $24.00 – $30.00/hour.

• At least 4+ years of experience in buying and merchandising in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field is preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to drive results and maintain operational excellence in complex business settings.
• Strong critical thinking skills and a high level of initiative with a passion for process improvement.
• Comprehensive knowledge of retail math and strong analytical abilities.
• Proven negotiation skills with external vendors, including managing costs, markdowns, return to vendor (RTV), and rebate agreements.
• Excellent team player with clear communication skills, strong relationship-building capabilities, and leadership qualities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software, including intermediate to advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; capable of quickly learning and applying new company systems and tools.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Barnes & Noble College is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.