Assistant Cafe Mgr

Assistant Department Manager

The Assistant Department Manager helps drive the success of an assigned department by supporting daily operations, developing team members, and delivering an exceptional retail experience. Together, our leaders create engaging campus store experiences that support students, faculty, and the broader campus community.

Education - It's in Our DNA

Barnes & Noble College is more than a campus bookstore-were an integral part of the college experience. Our campus stores serve as vibrant hubs of college life and learning, creating retail and learning experiences that engage students, support faculty, and build alumni loyalty. Together, our teams help elevate lives through education.

The Assistant Department Manager is a key member of the store leadership team, partnering with store leadership to support the daily operations and success of an assigned department. This role helps drive operational execution, merchandising, inventory management, customer service, and team development while ensuring an exceptional retail experience. The Assistant Department Manager leads by example, provides day-to-day guidance to store team members, and helps create a welcoming, customer-focused environment that supports the campus community.

This is a Full-Time role expected to work a varying schedule of 30 to 40 hours per week.

How Youll Make an Impact

• Support the daily operations and performance of an assigned department by executing operational priorities and delivering an exceptional customer experience.
• Partner with store leadership to maintain merchandising standards, inventory accuracy, visual presentation, and department readiness.
• Coach and support store team members by providing day-to-day direction, training, and feedback that promotes individual growth and operational success.
• Serve as Manager-on-Duty as assigned, maintaining a working knowledge of store operations to provide leadership and support across all departments.
• Maintain a visible presence on the sales floor by engaging customers, resolving concerns, and supporting sales opportunities.
• Assist with scheduling, workload planning, inventory activities, receiving, replenishment, and order fulfillment to support efficient store operations.
• Help identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and department performance through effective communication and problem-solving.
• Contribute to a clean, safe, and organized department that reflects the Barnes & Noble College brand and delivers an exceptional customer experience.

What Youll Need to Succeed

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Two or more years of retail leadership or buying experience preferred, or successful completion of the Barnes & Noble College Aspiring Leader Program.
• Passion for delivering exceptional customer service and creating a positive shopping experience.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, motivate, and support the development of team members.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Basic math, keyboarding, and data entry skills.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities, adapt to changing business needs, and thrive in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent movement throughout the store to access merchandise, assist customers, and support daily operations.
• Routine tasks may involve hanging and/or folding merchandise, stocking shelves, unpacking merchandise received, pulling and packing web orders for customers, pulling and packing merchandise to be returned to vendors, transporting merchandise within the store, assisting with the delivery of course materials to students within the store, completing data entry, or a variety of other physical tasks.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for periods of time.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of merchandise.
• Occasional reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.
• May be required to perform routine housekeeping duties, including dusting, mopping, vacuuming, window cleaning, and trash removal.

How We Elevate Our Employees

Just as were committed to supporting students, were equally committed to supporting our employees. We believe your success is our success, which is why we offer a competitive total rewards package for eligible full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k)-retirement savings plan, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, and more.

Eligible employees may also enjoy:

• DailyPay earned wage access.
• Generous employee discounts, including course materials and textbooks.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At Barnes & Noble College, we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty, and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated.

Barnes & Noble College is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Barnes & Noble College provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete an application or participate in the interview process, please contact fieldhr@bncollege.com