Department Manager - CAFE (167)

Department Manager

The Department Manager leads an assigned area of the business, creating engaging retail experiences that inspire customers and support the campus community. Through strong leadership, operational excellence, and customer focus, Department Managers help elevate the campus store experience every day.

Education – It’s in Our DNA

Barnes & Noble College is more than a campus bookstore—we're 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 Department Manager is a key member of the store leadership team, responsible for leading the daily operations and overall performance of an assigned department while supporting the success of the campus store. This role provides hands-on leadership across department operations, including sales performance, merchandising, inventory management, customer service, and team development. The Department Manager partners with store leadership, campus stakeholders, and corporate teams to deliver an exceptional customer experience and drive business results.

How You'll Make An Impact

• Lead the daily operations of an assigned department by delivering exceptional customer service, coaching team members, and fostering a customer-first culture.
• Own department performance by executing business strategies, driving sales, managing inventory, monitoring operational results, and identifying opportunities to improve performance.
• Recruit, hire, train, coach, schedule, and develop department team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous development.
• Partner with store leadership to support overall store operations, serve as Manager-on-Duty as needed, and ensure company initiatives and operational priorities are successfully executed.
• Build strong relationships with customers, campus partners, and team members while resolving customer concerns with professionalism, sound judgment, and a commitment to exceptional service.
• Lead merchandising, inventory management, visual presentation, and workload execution to ensure merchandise availability, operational excellence, and a customer-ready department.
• Analyze department performance, sales trends, and operational metrics to make informed decisions, forecast business needs, and achieve measurable results.
• Champion company initiatives, operational standards, safety, and loss prevention practices while ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized department while supporting overall store operations, performing physical tasks as needed, and working a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak business periods.
  
  

What You'll Need To Succeed

• 2+ years of retail experience, including leadership, supervisory, or buying experience preferred, or successful completion of the Barnes & Noble College Aspiring Leader Program.
• Demonstrated leadership experience recruiting, coaching, developing, and motivating team members.
• Experience with retail operations, including merchandising, inventory management, visual merchandising, customer service, and sales performance.
• Strong customer service, communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with retail technology, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and Microsoft Office applications preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak business periods.
  
  

Physical Demands

• Frequent movement throughout the store to access merchandise, assist customers, and support daily operations.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of merchandise.
• Occasional reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.
  
  

How We Elevate Our Employees

Just as we're committed to supporting students, we're 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 [email protected].