COURSE MATERIAL / TEXTBOOK BUYER

Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI seeks a Course Materials / Textbook Buyer to manage procurement, inventory, and pricing for CMU Bookstore. You will coordinate with academic departments, supervise staff, and ensure affordable materials across on-campus and online courses.

The role requires leadership, budgeting awareness, and strong communication with campus partners. Join a team dedicated to student savings and seamless course material operations, with regular hours and the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Two years of professional experience in a retail setting.
• Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and project a positive attitude.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for CMU Bookstore Course Materials department.
• Supervises staff as well as students and temporary employees.
• Responsible for the complete course material inventory.
• Makes every quantity to buy decision and sources course materials each semester for on-campus and online courses.
• Manages Textbook Rental, Open Education Resources and All Inclusive Programs to ensure student savings.
• Maintains communication with academic departments and CMU Online.
• Coordinates processing of course material orders through the inventory system.
• Coordinates course pack production with CMU Printing Services.
• Assists with invoices and IA billing as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Weekend availability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

WinPrism Inventory Management System

Job description

Position Information

Posting Number S-4006

Position Number 68440

Type of Recruitment External

Position Title COURSE MATERIAL / TEXTBOOK BUYER

Position Summary Responsible for the timely procurement, sale, return and management of course materials for all of the stores operations. Responsible for direct communications with all academic departments in regard to course material needs. Responsible for maintaining financial goals as set by the Bookstore Director.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of professional experience in a retail setting.
• Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and project a positive attitude.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of experience in a college or university store’s textbook department.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Budgeting experience.
• Knowledge of the Nebraska Book Company/ Prism RBS WinPrism Inventory Management System.
• Ability to work weekends as needed.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for the CMU Bookstore Course Materials department.
• Supervises staff as well as students and temporary employees.
• Responsible for the complete course material inventory.
• Makes every quantity to buy decision and sources course materials for every course every semester for on campus and online courses on a timely basis; responsible for ensuring course materials are affordable.
• Manages Textbook Rental, Open Education Resources and All Inclusive Programs to ensure students save money; determines titles that will be rentable each semester; works with campus partners and course material publishers for digital content distribution.
• Responsible for continuous communication with all academic departments and administrators at CMU Online.
• Manages course material returns at the end of each term; selects liquidation vendor if necessary; follows-up on sales and returns of unsold course materials; collects and is re‑shipping agent for all returned course materials.
• Maintains a working system of acquiring new titles and re‑stocking current selections.
• Maintains the stores course material buyback list for the year round buyback program.
• Coordinates the processing of all course material mail/web orders through the inventory management system.
• Coordinates course pack production with CMU Printing Services.
• Processes special course material orders.
• Works with Office Manager to invoice and charge student accounts multiple times during the semester for IA billing.
• Assists with the opening and closing of the bookstore daily.
• Assists the Store Manager with various records, reports, correspondence and personnel matters.
• Assumes responsibility for store operations during absences.

Supervision Exercised

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others on our team. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve our leadership abilities and our demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU , we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence.

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

Employee Group Professional & Administrative -Salary

Pay Range $45,000 - $55,000 per year

Division Finance and Administrative Services

Department CMU Bookstore

Position Status Regular

Employment Status Full-Time

FTE 1.0

Position Type 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location Mount Pleasant, MI

About the Department

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.
Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.
We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.
Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

Supplemental Questions

• How did you first learn of this job opportunity? Please list the specific advertising source or indicate if it was word of mouth. (Open Ended Question)
• Are you currently an internal employee of CMU according to the university's definition?
  • Yes
  • No
• If yes, to which employee group do you belong? (If not applicable, select "Not Applicable").
  • Not Applicable
  • Administrative Office Assistant
  • Dispatcher
  • Lieutenant
  • Medical Faculty
  • P&A, SO or Faculty
  • Police
  • Public Broadcasting
  • Sergeant
  • Service Maintenance
  • Supervisory/Technical
• Do you have at least a bachelor's degree?
  • Yes
  • No
• Do you have at least two years of professional experience in a retail setting?
  • Yes
  • No
• Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position and click Yes if you understand and support the culture that is important to CMU.
  • Yes
  • No

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Staff postings - Human Resources | Contact HR | [phone]| 109 Rowe

Faculty postings - Faculty Personnel Services | Contact FPS | [phone] | 308 Warriner

Posting Ends 11/22/2026

Open Until Filled No