Retail Assistant

College of Lake County; Grayslake (IL); On-site; USD 21,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

The College of Lake County’s Grayslake Campus is seeking a part-time Retail Assistant for the campus bookstore. You will provide courteous service, process sales and financial aid transactions, and maintain well-stocked merchandise areas.

You will support closing operations, assist with online orders, manage inventory, and help staff across campus stores as needed while ensuring accurate cash handling and recordkeeping.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Cash handling and retail experience required.
• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Ability to work at multiple campus locations and one Saturday per semester.
• Introductory knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Ability to follow instructions, manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Oversee closing operations of the Grayslake LancerZone and support offsite stores in the evening.
• Deliver courteous and professional customer service to students, faculty and staff in person or by phone.
• Operate cash registers for cash, credit and financial aid transactions; process returns and buybacks.
• Assist with training of temporary and student staff; keep cashier stations neat and stocked.
• Assist with daily cash handling and closing cash office procedures.
• Price, stock and display general merchandise; manage inventory and cycle counts; process online orders.

Skills

Cash handling

Retail experience

Stand for extended periods

Multi-campus work

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Why choose the College of Lake County for your next opportunity?

The College of Lake County (CLC) offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits that includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health, Delta Dental and Superior Vision insurance plans, tuition support for employees and qualified family members, three retirement plans, disability, group and supplemental life insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending account plans, a compressed work week in the summer (Closed Fridays!), generous vacation, sick and personal time off and 14 paid holidays each year. Some benefits will not be available for Part-Time or Part Time Staff Under 20 Hours (ex: health insurance).

Position Title

Retail Assistant

Job Summary

The Retail Assistant supports daily bookstore operations by providing exceptional customer service, assisting with sales transactions, and maintaining organized and well-stocked merchandise areas. This position performs data entry and reporting tasks, processes financial aid transactions, and ensures compliance with cash-handling procedures. The Retail Assistant also helps manage inventory, fulfill online orders, and support offsite campus stores as needed.

Job Description

Student/Customer Services

• 50% Oversee closing operations of the Grayslake LancerZone and supports offsite stores in the evening.
• Deliver courteous and professional customer service to students, faculty, and staff through in-person and telephone interactions.
• Operate cash registers for cash, credit, and financial aid transactions; processes returns and buybacks.
• Assist with training of temporary and student staff; maintains neat, stocked cashier stations.
• Assist with daily cash handling and closing cash office procedures.

Department Operations and Processes

• 40% Price, stock, and display general merchandise; maintains clean, organized sales areas.
• Manage inventory through transfers, purchase orders, and cycle counts; assists with year-end inventory.
• Reorder merchandise and ensure accurate recordkeeping in the inventory system.
• Receive merchandise and fulfill online orders.
• Prepare training materials and maintain cashier procedure documentation.
• Process financial aid paperwork and maintain accurate records for sales and refunds.
• Track sales of gift cards, Dining Dollars, and Ventra passes; prepare daily sales reports and safe counts.

Other Duties

• 10% Participate in cross-departmental initiatives and campus events.
• Identify and recommend process enhancements to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission, vision, strategic priorities and goals of the College and the primary unit, division and department of this position.

Physical

Primary functions require ability to remain in a stationary position (sit and/or stand) greater than 50% of the time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, reach; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 10 pounds frequently and occasionally up to 20 pounds; to regularly operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including the use of a computer keyboard; the ability communicate to exchange information; and the ability to learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, and make timely decisions.

Environmental

Work will often occur in an office setting; where temperatures may fluctuate between high and low temperatures occasionally; may experience varying noise levels occasionally.

Vision

Ability to observe in a near visual range with or without correction or reasonable accommodation.

The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Cash handling and retail experience.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work at multiple campus locations and work one (1) Saturday per semester during busy seasons.
• Introductory working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and general office equipment.
• Ability to follow instructions, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines with guidance.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and maintain a respectful, inclusive environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with an inventory control system.
• Experience working with computer information systems used for student and employee data and reporting such as Workday.

Work Schedule

• 1:00pm - 7:15pm, Monday - Thursday

Pay

• $15.59/hour

Full-Time/Part-Time

• Part time

Total Hours Per Week

• 25

Position Type

• Staff

Job Family

• Classified

Posting Date

• 06/16/2026

Expected Start Date

• 07/01/2026

Compensation Grade

• A12

Location

• Grayslake Campus

Department

• Bookstore

EEO Statement

College of Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a policy of non-discrimination. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, ancestry, citizenship, parental status, pregnancy or any other status protected by law.

College of Lake County (CLC) is a comprehensive community college located in northeastern Illinois committed to being an innovative educational institution providing life-changing paths for our students by offering exceptional learning experiences. CLC aspires to be a place where every student succeeds, every employee thrives, so that every business achieves and every community grows. Our mission is to be innovative and value-driven in supporting student success through developing and encouraging employees of all backgrounds on their journey toward achieving personal and professional growth. CLC achieved a milestone in 2025 with its designation as a Leader College of Distinction. CLC is part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network, made up of 300+ colleges committed to supporting student success at their institutions and promoting economic vitality throughout their communities. CLC has been a member of the ATD Network since 2019 and has held Leader College status since 2023.