BOOKSTORE MANAGER & BOOK BUYER
About Making Worlds Bookstore & Social Center
Making Worlds Bookstore & Social Center, located in the heart of West Philadelphia, is a nonprofit cooperative bookstore and social center that promotes collective knowledge, skills, and visions of liberation that emerge from our communities. By distributing literature and other resources, as well as fostering a vibrant cultural programming space, we aim to strengthen neighborhood and Philadelphia grassroots organizing for people to care and support each other and make worlds of liberation possible. Through diverse political and cultural education initiatives, we promote learning from each other and the intersecting histories and futures of community organizing and movement building of Indigenous, Black, and Brown people and others resisting oppression worldwide.
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and mission-oriented Bookstore Manager and Book Buyer to join our collaborative operations team. The successful candidate will be someone who can (a) bring their love of books to our weekly buying, preparing orders based on sales, trends, and inventory data, (b) manage and build our inventory with targeted backlist and new season / frontlist buying, (c) meet sales goals and reach our beloved book-reading communities in Philadelphia and beyond, and (d) assist the Cooperative with the overall mission and aims of Making Worlds as described above.
The position will require working well independently, as part of a small operations team, alongside the Making Worlds Cooperative Directors (also small!), as well as with volunteers and community partners.
The Bookstore Manager and Buyer will be a key part of the operations team, working in collaboration with the members of the Cooperative as well as our Community Communications and Events Coordinator.
Specific responsibilities include:
Buying and Inventory Management
Bring fine-tuned knowledge of the evolving book trade landscape—from independent publishers to the major distributors, university presses, and small presses—to expand our mission with stock that amplifies, inspires, and educates.
Manage and analyze sales, publishing trends, and inventory data; prepare weekly stock orders across a range of trade distributors and direct vendors; manage full inventory count
Maintain customer requests and special orders
Support Making Worlds Cooperative on new title buying (monthly and seasonal)
Manage event book orders and returns, coordinating and supporting events coordinator on events book stock
Administer Making Worlds sustainer book program (monthly)
Grow online sales (of in-store inventory) as well as our curated Bookshop.org page
In-store Book Displays & Promotions
Produce displays and signage to best represent inventory and enhance customer experience
Curate monthly theme displays (new titles and features) in consultation with Making Worlds Cooperative members, and events coordinator
Customer Service & Shifts
Provide excellent customer service guided by Making Worlds mission and values, including expanding the current customer base and further cultivating repeat customers and customer loyalty programs
Report to Cooperative Directors, manage operations team, take care of daily accounting duties, and ensure outstanding customer service for our community of supporters
Opening and close the bookstore and conduct onsite sales five days per week
Perform basic store upkeep
Support event setup and hosting, in collaboration with the Community Communications and Events Coordinator.
Meetings
Participating in weekly check-in and biweekly all-hands meetings with the Making Worlds Cooperative and operations team; being responsive, communicative, and accountable for offering regular updates and reports, soliciting feedback, and supporting others.
We are currently open to the public on the following days:
Wednesdays 1pm to 7pm
Thursdays 1pm to 7pm (sometimes 8p)
Fridays 1pm to 7pm (sometimes 8p)
Saturdays 12pm to 7pm (sometimes 8p)
Sundays 12pm to 7pm
This is a full-time position that will require onsite presence during bookstore operating hours. Some weekday evening hours based on event programming and offsite travel within Philadelphia may be required from time to time. Please only apply if you are able to fulfill this requirement.
Availability to start onboarding and shadow-shift work within a week of hiring is strongly preferred.
Compensation
This is a full-time salaried position at $58,240 annually, including two weeks paid vacation time, health benefits, and an exclusive store discount. This position is supported by the Making Worlds Cooperative, contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
Qualifications and Experience
Deep knowledge of the evolving book trade and independent bookstore landscape; 3+ years experience in bookstore store operations, as a buyer and/or manager
Familiarity and proficiency with retail software is a must, especially Basil or other trade bookstore point-of-sales systems; along with Excel, Airtable; and/or other spreadsheet programs
Detail and data-oriented, deadline-driven, and passionate about the bookstore's inventory and wider mission
Ability to perform physical work and space maintenance (e.g. lifting boxes of approx. 30 pounds)
Hands-on, outgoing, personable, and customer-service oriented
Passionate about mission-driven work and community engagement
Desire to work in a collaborative, community setting as part of a team
Experience leading teams on collective projects
How to Apply:
If you are interested in this position, we encourage you to apply! You will need to complete our application process via Google forms which asks you to do the following:
Upload a 3-5 minute video sharing your thoughts on the following prompts:
What inspires/motivates your sense of curiosity?
Tell us about an interesting learning experience or encounter you had recently.
What are your goals for the coming year?
Upload a single PDF, including:
a one-page cover letter that explains why you are the best fit for this position, what excites you about Making Worlds, and gives us a sense of your background experience that has prepared you to take on this role
your CV/resume, including name and contact information for three professional references
Making Worlds is a registered 501c3, and an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and does not tolerate discrimination and harassment of any type with regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We are committed to sustaining an inclusive, respectful, and dignified work environment for all of us.
Deadline for application materials: 5pm Eastern time, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8th, 2024