Senior Bookstore Operations Assistant

  • Title: Senior Bookstore Operations Assistant
  • Class: Classified
  • Exempt Status: Non-exempt
  • Grade: 16

Nature and Scope of Work

Under the general direction of bookstore management, ensures the smooth operations of campus bookstores through scheduling, training and/or guiding staff, keeping accurate records for planning and accountability purposes, ensuring a sufficient inventory of books and merchandise, and providing efficient and knowledgeable customer service. Depending upon job assignment, may be responsible for providing site supervision of a branch store or assisting with critical operations such as purchasing texts, trade books and general merchandise. Job requires patience in communication and well-developed verbal skills to exchange information with a variety of individuals which include college faculty, staff, students and vendors. Incumbent is a key contributor with work results impacting the accuracy, reliability and acceptability of further results beyond the immediate work section. Responds to work situations with minimum guidance or direction and is responsible for training and guiding others and/or reviewing their work.

The primary distinctions between this position and the Bookstore Operations Assistant is that the higher level job incumbents are accountable for the monies collected from business transactions and coordinate a campus bookstore operation; or perform limited buying for all college bookstores and provide assistance to the textbook buying operation.

Principal Accountabilities (includes some or all of the following)

  1. Provides efficient, knowledgeable customer service in a retail setting to students, faculty and staff in obtaining educational materials.
  2. Hires, schedules and trains part time and student help to cashier and/or assist with other tasks to ensure smooth operations following established policies.
  3. Accountable for the monies collected from business transactions including balancing receipts and preparing cash deposits.
  4. Acts as front line person for communicating and enforcing bookstore policy with students, faculty and staff. Works with individuals to resolve any disputes/problems; if needed, refers issue(s) to supervisor.
  5. Keeps detailed records of merchandise received and transferred to other bookstore sites; ensures through self or others the data entry of goods received and transferred.
  6. Orders and maintains an inventory of trade books, cards and magazines.
  7. Creates displays and promotions and maintains a clean and safe working environment for the public and staff.
  8. Supports the textbook buyer by assisting with the following functions: inventory control of books; placing orders; accessing Internet to retrieve mail order requests, vendor information and shipping status; purchasing used books; data entry; directly interacting with publishers and publisher representatives; and/or helping during book return periods including cashiering as needed.
  9. Hires and instructs part time and student help to conduct inventory for auditors once a year.
  10. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work is performed both in an office and retail environment.

Physical Requirements

Extended standing and moderate to heavy lifting is occasionally required. Learned physical skill is required to perform keyboarding and/or ten-key functions.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent and two years of retail sales experience with cashiering and recordkeeping responsibilities.

Ten-key skill, and strong communication skills for dealing with the public and departments and for directing temporary and/or student help. Working knowledge of personal computers and familiarity with Point-of-Sale systems required. Must be detail oriented.

Rev: 05/01

  • Replaces: 07/28/99