About Us
Since 1906, the University of West Georgia (UWG) has been home to those who seek a transformative college experience. UWG is a leading residential, doctoral comprehensive university that offers a broad undergraduate and graduate curriculum based on a liberal arts foundation. Nestled among the pines on a picturesque 645 acres is the University of West Georgia- a hidden gem approximately 40 miles west of Atlanta. Serving approximately 16,000+ students, and offering more than 100 programs, UWG is committed to advancing innovative academic programs and a student-centered business model. Perennially ranked by U.S. News & World Report, the Princeton Review, and Colleges of Distinction as a top national university, West Georgia offers 86 fields of study, including business, computing, nursing, education, STEM, communication and digital media, social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. UWG generates a regional economic impact of more than $650 million annually and provides a safe, quality, and affordable university experience that connects students to post-graduate career and leadership opportunities. UWG has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its institutional commitment to community engagement through teaching, research and creative activities, and public service. West Georgia is one of only 119 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the elective classification in 2020 and is among only 359 institutions nationally. Dedicated to creating a first-choice university for students, alumni, employees, and communities, UWG seeks employees who will advance and support the Universitys mission of fulfilling the talent needs of western Georgia and the Atlanta metropolitan area, while contributing to the social, cultural, and economic development of the region and state.
The University of West Georgia offers a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support faculty and staff across multiple dimensions; health, wellness, financial security, and professional growth. Employees working at least 30 hours per week gain access to a range of health plans, including medical, dental, and vision, wellness programs, and robust retirement options through Georgia Teachers Retirement System (TRS), Optional Retirement Program, and voluntary 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Employees are granted 13 paid holidays and paid time off accruals and are eligible to participate in the University System of Georgias Tuition Assistance Program. Fringe benefits include a variety of resources focused on employee physical, mental, financial, and social well-being through Acentra Employee Assistance Program in addition to personal financial advising with Captrust. UWG also offers exclusive discounts and special offers on entertainment, travel, and other products and services through the Perks at Work program, free access to the university recreation facility, discounted campus dining options, and more!
Living in Carrollton, "The City of Dreams," offers the advantages of city life with a small-town vibe. This progressive community with Southern flair offers plenty of shopping, restaurants, nightlife opportunities, and cultural events. Named a City of Excellence in Georgia and listed as one of the 50 Best Small Southern Towns, Carrollton is the cultural, educational, health care, and commercial center for the west Georgia region.
At the heart of Carrollton is its historic downtown and Adamson Square lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants. Each season offers unique local events and opportunities for year-round recreation. Outdoor activities abound through award-winning spaces, including an 18-mile paved walking and biking Greenbelt trail that encircles the city and passes through the UWG campus.
The city embraces the Universitys students, faculty, and staff, and welcomes the diversity UWG brings to the community.
Invested in education with highly rated city and county K-12 systems, both city and county public school graduation rates are 90% and above and rank among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Location
Our campus is located at 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118.
Faculty and staff members are expected to be physically present on campus as needed to support the in-person educational experience and on-campus vitality at the University of West Georgia. Depending upon teaching assignments and student demand, this could include the Carrollton or Newnan campuses.
Job Summary
The Bookstore Manager provides on-site leadership for UWG Outfitters, the Universitys self-operated campus store and primary provider of academic course materials, ensuring students receive timely, accurate, and affordable access to required materials while maintaining effective retail, logistics, e-commerce, inventory, customer-service, and administrative operations. The manager directly supervises approximately 4-5 full-time functional staff and indirectly oversees 12-25 student employees, establishing priorities, developing employees, maintaining accountability, and coordinating each operational area. The position requires a visible, engaged leader who exercises sound independent judgment, resolves complex operational and personnel matters, maintains continuity during high-volume academic periods, and provides frontline support without becoming the routine executor of work assigned to staff. Working within goals set by Campus Services leadership, the manager monitors performance, directs corrective action, and ensures UWG Outfitters supports student success and operates with strong service, financial, and operational standards. This position is subject to a pre-employment credit check due to the financial responsibilities associated with this role.
Responsibilities
1 -
Course Materials and Academic Service Oversight: Direct and maintain accountability for multimillion dollar course material operations to ensure students receive timely, accurate, and affordable access to required materials in print, digital, inclusive access, and other formats. Supervise the Course Materials Manager and establish expectations for faculty adoptions, vendor coordination, system setup, ordering, billing support, auditing, fulfillment, returns, and academic-term readiness. Monitor adoption progress, material availability, and compliance with timelines; exercise independent judgment in resolving escalated student, faculty, vendor, billing, or system issues; and direct corrective action to ensure course materials remain the bookstores highest operational priority.
2 -
Store Operations, Organizational Leadership and Staff Development: Serve as the bookstores on-site operational leader, accountable for coordinated performance across course materials, retail, logistics, and administrative functions. Directly supervise approximately 4-5 full-time staff with indirect oversight of 12-20 student employees. Establish priorities and performance expectations; assign and direct work; hire, evaluate, discipline, and develop employees; and hold each functional area accountable for established standards. Maintain a visible, engaged presence and sufficient working knowledge of each function to ensure continuity during vacancies, absences, and peak periods, providing frontline assistance, when necessary, without becoming the routine executor of staff work.
3 -
Retail Performance and Customer Experience Oversight: Direct and maintain accountability for the Retail Managers execution of merchandise purchasing product assortment, vendor relationships, sales-floor presentation, pricing, promotions, marketing, social media, sales performance, and customer service staffing. Review sales results, merchandise plans, inventory productivity, and customer feedback to ensure alignment with financial goals and university branding requirements. Approve purchasing, pricing, markdown, and promotional actions within delegated authority; direct corrective action when standards are not met; and ensure the physical and online retail experience remains welcoming and responsive.
4 -
Logistics, Administrative Controls and Campus Readiness: Direct and maintain accountability for the Logistics Managers execution of receiving, deliveries, web-order fulfillment, inventory control, student hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and event logistics, ensuring readiness for academic rush periods, graduation, and campus events. Oversee the accuracy of administrative functions including invoicing, cash handling, reconciliations, purchasing documentation, and operational reporting. Enforce policies and internal controls; review performance and exception reports; resolve escalated operational matters; and coordinate with university departments and vendors to maintain continuity and implement improvements.
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
Bachelors Degree
Required Experience
Minimum of three years of progressively responsible retail and/or management experience, including supervisory or management responsibility for staff. Required experience must demonstrate responsibility for directing daily operations through assigned staff; hiring, training, evaluating, and disciplining employees; establishing performance expectations; managing customer service, inventory, sales, merchandising, or related operational functions; exercising independent judgment; reviewing operational or financial information; and using point-of-sale, inventory-management, or comparable business systems. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills are required.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Educational Qualifications
Masters Degree
Preferred Experience
Ten or more years of progressively responsible management experience in a college bookstore, campus store, high-volume retail operation, or similarly complex service organization, including supervising professional or managerial staff and a combined full-time and part-time workforce. Preferred experience includes managing academic course materials, faculty adoptions, print and digital content, inclusive-access programs, e-commerce, inventory, receiving, and cash controls; interpreting sales, margin, inventory, shrinkage, and service-performance data; and applying purchasing, financial-control, audit, or regulatory requirements. Experience with retail point-of-sale, inventory-control, e commerce, and course-material management systems in a higher-education or public-sector environment is also preferred.
Proposed Salary
$57,056 to $68,000 annually. Paid on a monthly basis.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
ABILITIES
Ability to exercise independent judgment and make timely operational, personnel, and customer-service decisions within delegated authority. Ability to lead through subordinate managers and functional staff while maintaining visibility, engagement, and accountability throughout the operation. Ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate interdependent functions, and maintain continuity during academic rush periods, events, staffing shortages, and unexpected disruptions. Ability to interpret operational and financial information, recognize risks or deficiencies, and implement corrective action. Ability to establish effective working relationships across diverse constituencies, resolve escalated concerns, and communicate complex information clearly. Ability to learn and apply changing course material models, retail technologies, institutional requirements, and industry practices. Ability to work in retail, office, stockroom, and event environments; move throughout the store for extended periods; and occasionally bend, reach, stand, walk, and lift or move materials associated with bookstore operations. Ability to work adjusted schedules, including occasional evenings and weekends, during academic rush periods, inventories, graduation, and campus events.
KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of academic course-material operations, including adoption cycles, sourcing, print and digital formats, inclusive-access programs, pricing, fulfillment, returns, billing coordination, and academic-term readiness. Knowledge of retail management principles, including merchandising, purchasing, inventory control, e-commerce, sales performance, customer service, loss prevention, and cash-handling controls. Knowledge of supervisory and performance-management practices, including hiring, training, work assignment, employee development, performance evaluation, and disciplinary processes. Knowledge of financial and administrative controls applicable to a self-operated retail operation, including invoicing, reconciliations, purchasing documentation, audit requirements, and operational reporting. Knowledge of applicable university, University System of Georgia, and state policies and procedures related to personnel, procurement, financial accountability, accessibility, information security, and retail operations.
SKILLS
Skill in directing a multifaceted retail and academic-service operation through functional staff and maintaining accountability for established standards and results. Skill in supervising, coaching, evaluating, and developing full-time and student employees; establishing priorities; delegating responsibility; resolving performance concerns; and coordinating work across functional areas. Skill in analyzing course-material, sales, inventory, financial, and service performance information to identify trends, evaluate results, and direct corrective action. Skill in using retail point-of-sale, inventory-control, e-commerce, course-material, and reporting systems, as well as Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel. Skill in problem-solving, conflict resolution, customer service, and communicating clearly and professionally with students, faculty, employees, vendors, and university leadership.
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Conditions of Employment
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of West Georgia as determined by the University of West Georgia in its sole discretion; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials, reference checks; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individuals age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individuals protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individuals protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.