Director of Bookstore + Resource Center

Position Summary

The King Center seeks a results-driven, mission-aligned retail leader to serve as Director of Bookstore & Resource Center. This is a best-in-class retail and e-commerce leadership role responsible for transforming the on-site bookstore and gift shop and its digital storefront into a destination that rivals leading commercial booksellers in product curation, customer experience, and operational excellence – while remaining unmistakably grounded in The King Center’s mission and the dignity of Dr.

King’s legacy.

The Director owns the full retail profit-and-loss responsibility across in‑store and online channels: merchandising, inventory, e‑commerce, staffing, customer experience, and earned‑revenue growth. The successful candidate will set a competitive standard for assortment, presentation, fulfillment, and service comparable to major national retailers, applied with the cultural sensitivity and educational purpose unique to The King Center.

• Own the bookstore and resource center P&L across all channels, setting and achieving annual revenue, margin, and growth targets for both in‑store and online sales.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive earned‑revenue strategy that grows top‑line sales year over year while protecting brand integrity and mission alignment.
• Establish pricing, promotion, and markdown strategies that maximize profitability and inventory turn.
• Prepare and manage the annual retail budget; analyze sales data, KPIs, and customer trends to inform purchasing and forecasting decisions.
• Identify and develop new revenue streams, including exclusive and licensed King Center merchandise, publications, commemorative product lines, and partnerships.

• Oversee daily operations of the on‑site Bookstore & Resource Center, ensuring a welcoming, professional, and engaging environment for nearly one million annual visitors.
• Lead merchandising and visual presentation to a best-in‑class standard – competitive with leading national booksellers – including window displays, featured titles, signage, and seasonal resets.
• Manage point‑of‑sale systems, cash handling, daily reconciliation, and loss‑prevention controls.
• Curate a compelling, mission‑relevant assortment of books, educational resources, gifts, and commemorative items that reflect the scholarship and values of The King Center.

• Build, manage, and grow the online store as a primary revenue channel, ensuring an intuitive, accessible, and conversion‑optimized customer experience.
• Oversee online merchandising, product photography, descriptions, inventory synchronization, and order fulfillment and shipping operations.
• Implement digital marketing, email campaigns, and search and social strategies – in coordination with the marketing team – to drive online traffic and sales.
• Analyze e‑commerce metrics (conversion rate, average order value, cart abandonment, fulfillment time) and continuously improve performance.
• Integrate in‑store and online inventory and customer data to deliver a seamless omnichannel experience.

• Direct end‑to‑end inventory management across channels, including purchasing, receiving, stock levels, and shrinkage control.
• Negotiate with publishers, distributors, and vendors to secure favorable terms, exclusive products, and reliable supply.
• Maintain accurate inventory records and conduct regular physical counts and audits.

• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and develop retail associates, e‑commerce staff, and volunteers, fostering a culture of service excellence and accountability.
• Set and uphold customer‑service standards that meet or exceed those of premier retail environments.
• Model and reinforce The King Center’s values and Dr. King’s nonviolent principles in all interactions with staff, visitors, and customers.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, retail management, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive retail management experience, including full P&L responsibility.
• Demonstrated…