Bookstore Assistant Director

Crowder College; Neosho (MO); On-site; USD 57,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Crowder College Bookstore is hiring an Assistant Director to lead daily operations, supervise staff, and manage inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships. This role reports to the Bookstore Director and ensures accurate cash handling, customer service excellence, and adherence to college policies.

Responsibilities include coordinating with the Graduation Committee, managing a 12-month, full-time schedule, and driving initiatives to improve sales and efficiency while maintaining strong

Qualifications

• . Associates degree and 3 years of relevant experience in retail operations, business operations, customer service, purchasing, inventory, supervision, or a related area; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• . Demonstrated ability to supervise, direct, support, and communicate expectations to employees while maintaining a professional and customer-focused work environment.
• . Experience handling cash, checks, transaction reconciliation, deposits, or other financial records with accuracy and controls.
• . Experience coordinating purchasing, inventory, receiving, vendor relationships, or comparable operational processes.
• . Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with independent judgment and escalation when needed.
• . Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple operational functions with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary operational leader under the Director and second-in-command for day-to-day operations.
• Provide direct supervision, guidance, and training to staff; communicate priorities and procedures.
• Resolve routine staff, customer service, POS, receiving, inventory, and operational issues.
• Manage daily bookstore operations including the convenience store, inventory, and merchandising.
• Coordinate with Graduation Committee for caps and gowns ordering and timelines.
• Prepare monthly reports for finance and track postage/bulk mail balances.
• Oversee Work-Study budget, hours, and scheduling; assist with payroll processes.
• Research vendors, compare pricing, and make fiscally responsible purchasing decisions.
• Develop and implement sales ideas, promotions, and merchandising opportunities.
• Oversee bookstore closing procedures and cash reconciliation each night.
• Safeguard college funds, maintain internal controls, and resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor operations and implement efficiency improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Customer service

Cash handling

Inventory management

Vendor relationships

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Associates degree

Tools

POS systems

Microsoft Office

Store systems

Job description

JOB TITLE: Bookstore Assistant Director

DEPARTMENT: Crowder College Bookstore

SALARY RANGE: Range 8, $57,000-$68,400

FLSA: Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Bookstore Director

SCHEDULE DETAILS: Full-time, 12-month position

Who we are:

Crowder College is a student‑centered, servant‑led community. We are committed to our vision of changing lives and strengthening communities, one person at a time. Our mission calls us to build a civil, serving, literate, learning community of responsible citizens, and we pursue that mission with heart. We believe higher education is not just about instruction; it’s about authentic hospitality, where every person feels seen and is welcomed with kindness, dignity, and genuine care.

At Crowder, this means slowing down long enough to truly connect with people. It means personalizing the student experience so each individual feels known, supported, and encouraged. It means meeting students where they are, honoring their stories, and celebrating their potential. We model this through everyday actions, listening fully, responding compassionately, and creating spaces where students feel safe to learn, grow, and belong.

Our ethos is rooted in servant leadership. We believe that when faculty and staff lead through service to one another, our, learners, and our communities, they create an environment of academic excellence and inspire students to lead by serving in their own communities. This culture is strengthened by values that define who we are: we are passionate about making a difference, we care about one another, we cultivate curiosity and innovation, we respect diverse perspectives, and we learn from our mistakes.

Crowder College is more than a place to work; it’s a place to make an impact. A place where kindness is practiced, potential is nurtured, and lives are transformed. A place where you can help shape the future, one student at a time. If this resonates with you, come join us!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Bookstore Director serves as the primary operational support to the Director and functions as the second-in-command for the Crowder College Bookstore. The position manages key day-to-day operational functions including convenience store operations, purchasing and vendor relationships, receiving goods and merchandise, maintaining inventory, college mail and shipping services, bookstore closing and cash reconciliation, and assigned special projects. This role supervises assigned staff, exercises independent judgment in resolving routine operational issues, and is expected to demonstrate sound fiscal judgment and responsible stewardship of college resources, and possess strong customer service skills. The position identifies problems, implements practical solutions within established authority, recommends process improvements, and communicates significant operational concerns to the Director.

Essential Job Duties

Some duties listed below will vary depending on the needs of the college. Priorities include:

• Serve as the primary operational leader under the Director and function as the bookstore’s second in-command for day-to-day operations.

• Provide direct supervision, guidance, training support, and daily work direction to the Customer Service Associate, Textbook Coordinator and assigned Work-Study employees; communicate priorities, expectations, procedures, and assist as needed with other bookstore personnel job duties.
• Resolve routine staff, customer service, point-of-sale, receiving, inventory, and operational issues within established authority; determine when matters should be escalated to the Director
• Manage the day-to-day operation of the bookstore convenience store, including product selection, inventory levels, ordering, merchandising, product rotation, cleanliness standards, and equipment service needs.
• Coordinate with the Graduation Committee to oversee the ordering, receipt, and distribution of student caps and gowns, and assist with establishing graduation planning timelines, dates, and related activities. Work with other bookstore staff members to obtain graduation goals.
• Determine routine reorder needs using sales activity, inventory levels, product movement, customer demand, seasonal needs, and operational requirements.
• Provide monthly reports to AAVP of Finance for retail postage at the end of each month, including tracking credit balances for Bulk Mail and Business Reply mail for college use at the Post. Maintain adequate credit balance in the bookstore postage meter funds.
• Review sales each month to confirm GPM is correct, discuss monthly reports, profits and trends with the bookstore director, and make approved adjustments.
• Oversee the Work Study budget, monitors hours used, schedules and
• Research products and vendors; compare pricing, quality, availability, service, and delivery options; identify new vendors and product opportunities; and make fiscally responsible purchasing decisions within established guidelines.
• Develop, recommend, and implement sales ideas, promotions, product placement strategies, and merchandising opportunities to increase sales and improve the customer experience.
• Oversee convenience store cleaning plans and coordinate routine maintenance and service for convenience store equipment, communicating significant equipment needs to the Director.
• Manage purchasing of bookstore operating supplies and other assigned items, maintaining effective vendor relationships and identifying opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Coordinate and complete receiving for convenience store merchandise, bookstore supplies, and assigned purchases; verify shipments and resolve routine shortages, overages, damage, incorrect items, pricing discrepancies, and other vendor issues.
• Ensure received merchandise and supplies are accurately recorded, distributed, stored, or placed into inventory, and maintain organized receiving and storage areas.
• Create necessary vendor returns for out of date, defective or damaged items following the return through to completion of refunds.
• Conduct spot inventories of grocery merchandise, bookstore supplies, and other assigned inventory categories; monitor stock levels and unusual inventory activity; assist with fiscal-year and other scheduled inventories and discrepancy resolution.
• Manage the bookstore's role as the college's central mail, shipping, and receiving location, overseeing incoming and outgoing mail and packages for employees and students distributing and notifying customers as needed regarding deliveries. Maintain daily, monthly and annual records of packages and distribution.
• Ensure mail and packages are accurately received, processed, documented, routed, stored, and distributed; maintain appropriate procedures for tracked or accountable shipments and resolve routine carrier or delivery issues.
• Manage the scrub-order program for participating college departments and academic programs from order collection through purchasing, receiving, fulfillment, and student account billing. Create and maintain Microsoft Forms for student scrub orders; compile and verify order data; place vendor orders; monitor status; resolve product, sizing, backorder, return, or delivery issues; sort and assemble individual student orders; and maintain organized program records.
• Perform and oversee nightly bookstore closing procedures, including daily cash, check, and transaction reconciliation in accordance with established college procedures.
• Schedule change orders for petty cash as
• Review register activity, closeout reports, deposit information, and supporting documentation; identify and research discrepancies; and exercise independent judgment in determining appropriate steps to resolve routine balancing issues. Work directly with the Bursar's Office when deposits, cash totals, checks, transaction records, or supporting documentation do not reconcile, and assist in researching discrepancies to resolution.
• Safeguard college funds and assets, maintain accurate closeout and reconciliation documentation, follow established internal controls and cash-handling requirements, and communicate unresolved or significant discrepancies to the Director.
• Monitor daily bookstore operations and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, customer service, cost control, accountability, and workflow; assist with implementation of new procedures, systems, or operational initiatives.
• Assist the Director with operational projects, bookstore programs, events, promotions, inventories, and special initiatives as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator.
  

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Associates degree and 3 years of relevant experience in retail operations, business operations, customer service, purchasing, inventory, supervision, or a related area; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, direct, support, and communicate expectations to employees while maintaining a professional and customer-focused work environment.
• Experience handling cash, checks, transaction reconciliation, deposits, or other financial records with accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to established controls.
• Experience coordinating purchasing, inventory, receiving, vendor relationships, or comparable operational processes.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, including the ability to identify discrepancies, determine practical solutions, exercise independent judgment, and recognize when an issue requires escalation.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple operational functions and competing priorities with minimal supervision while meeting deadlines and maintaining accurate records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, employees, vendors, college departments, shipping providers, and the public.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn and effectively use bookstore systems, point-of-sale systems, Microsoft Forms, and other operational systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle financial, student, employee, and institutional information.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor degree in business, management, retail operations, or a related field preferred but an Associates with relevant work experience will be considered.
• Previous supervisory, lead, or management
• Previous retail, bookstore, convenience store, higher‑education, mail/shipping, or similar operational experience.
• Experience with purchasing, vendor management, inventory control, receiving, cash reconciliation, deposit procedures, or student account processes.
• Experience working in a college or educational

Positions Supervised

• Customer Service Associate, Textbook Coordinator, Work-Study

Working Environment

• Work is performed primarily indoors in a bookstore, convenience store, receiving, mail/shipping, and office environment with frequent interaction with students, employees, vendors, delivery personnel, and the public.
• Normal college working hours with schedule responsibilities that include regular bookstore closing duties and occasional adjustments for evening, weekend, inventory, event, or operational needs.
• Work involves frequent use of computers, point-of-sale systems, office equipment, and other retail or operational technology to input, access, reconcile, and distribute information.
• The position may encounter periods of high customer volume, frequent interruptions, deliveries, competing priorities, and time-sensitive operational issues.
• The work environment and physical characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical

• Frequent standing, walking, reaching, bending, and movement throughout the bookstore, convenience store, receiving, storage, and mail/shipping areas.
• Occasional lifting and moving of merchandise, supplies, mail, packages, and other materials associated with bookstore operations.
• Regular use of computers, point-of-sale systems, scanners, office equipment, and other operational equipment.

CROWDER COLLEGE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, INTERPRET, OR APPLY THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN ANY WAY THE INSTITUTION DESIRES. THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES, INCLUDING ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES, TO BE PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE OCCUPYING THIS POSITION. THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IS NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE. THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPREMAINS “AT-WILL.” THE AFOREMENTIONED POSITION REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY.