Assistant Cafe Mgr

Position Type Full Time

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.

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 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…