Overview Harvard Book Store is looking for Bookselling Supervisors to staff our newly announced second location due to open in Fall 2026 in historic downtown Boston. We are seeking Supervisors with a passion for literature to provide strong leadership and a consistently high level of customer service. Primarily, Supervisors manage a responsive, efficient, and productive sales floor. To do so, Supervisors act as booksellers, staff trainers, troubleshooters, and advisors to managers. Bookselling Supervisors will report to the Store Operations Manager. Responsibilities Supervisors should expect a variety of tasks every day, covering all store operations from receiving shipments of books as they come in the door, to ringing up sales of books for customers on the way out the door. This position requires active communication, flexibility, and coordination with other staff and supervisors. Supervisors will motivate booksellers to accomplish all the things necessary to the store's functioning, and will have an ability to respond to suddenly changing circumstances in staffing or emergencies. In conjunction with the Store Managers, Supervisors in this role will work with new booksellers in their first weeks on basic knowledge and grasp of procedures. They will also work with longer-term booksellers on procedures and customer relations. It is essential that Supervisors are active in the daily opening and closing of the store and are available to work a variety of shifts including morning, evening, and weekend shifts. Daily work consists of some combination of the following tasks. These responsibilities include but are not confined to: Operating iMrchnt, our point of sales and inventory system, to search for books, create and check up on the status of special orders, and ring in sales. Scheduling of daily tasks and shift schedules. Maintaining the organization of all products in a timely and accurate manner, including event stock, daily inventory, and customer orders, ensuring stock is accurately sorted and shelved within 24 hours of its receipt. Responding calmly and courteously to customer questions or complaints over the phone and at our Information Desk. Staff at our stores may answer hundreds of questions a day. Training and coaching staff on all procedures, systems, and practices. Consulting with Managers and other Supervisors on store improvements and staff performance in a fair-minded, impartial, and discreet manner. Attending to staffing needs and emergencies for all weekly shifts, including regular opening, closing, and weekend shifts, and directing staff in functions for preparing the store for the day or shutting down at night. Overseeing financial functions including daily reporting to the Controller's office and coordinating cash replenishment. Assembling, disassembling, and maintaining displays, in coordination with the Managers, Marketing, and Buyers. Unloading and organizing all delivered mail and packages. Accurately processing and routing paperwork and data management in iMrchnt inventory system. Boxing, shipping, and recording of returns and customer orders. Working with both the controller's office and our vendors to track and rectify errors in shipping, billing, or credit in receiving or returns. Maintaining the orderliness and cleanliness of all relevant work spaces and store bathrooms, including stocking essential supplies for the store's daily operations. Occasionally serving wine and beer at events (TIPS certification will be provided for all employees serving alcohol). Additional duties as requested. Experience An ideal candidate will have: A passion for books. Experience in retail or the book industry, especially in customer service roles. While not a strict requirement, this is strongly preferred. Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire and motivate teams. Reliability, honesty, diligence, and punctuality. A keen eye for detail with strong organizational skills. Comfort working with or learning Google Workspace, Slack, and iMrchnt-our inventory management software. The ability to cooperate and coordinate with other staff and departments. The capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment. The ability to stand for long periods of time and lift boxes up to 50 pounds. For the purposes of serving wine and beer at events, applicants must be 21 and older. We recognize that many women, members of historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, and those with untraditional backgrounds may be less likely to apply when they do not possess all ideal skills and experience. We encourage applicants to apply if they meet most, if not all, skills and experience.

Benefits and Schedule Pay:

Starting wages begin at $17.50 per hour. Weekend shifts will be earned at a premium 1.25 times the regular wage.

Schedule:

This full-time, 40 hours per week hourly position. Weekend and evening availability is required; booksellers will not work every weekend or evening, but all our staff work a variety of shifts each month.

Benefits:

medical, vision, and dental insurance; vacation, sick, and personal paid time off; a store discount; and a company-managed 401K. This is a union eligible position, represented by United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. How to Apply Harvard Book Store is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applicants regardless of ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. Fill our PDF application at harvard.com/about/employment and send it in to unionstreetmanager@harvard.com. Resumes and cover letters can be submitted as supplemental materials. About Harvard Book Store Harvard Book Store operates academic and general-interest bookstores in Cambridge and Boston, a warehouse in Needham, and an e-commerce platform at harvard.com. Harvard Book Store was founded in 1932 in Harvard Square and is known as an innovator in the field of bookselling, celebrated for its inventory of new, used, and remainder books. The store is renowned for its award-winning author event series, hosting hundreds of book talks, both on-site and off-site in Boston and Cambridge. Over the years the store has been recognized by local polls and publications, including Boston magazine's "Best Bookstore" (2014), "Best Literary Series" (2017, 2018), "Best Neighborhood Shop" (2019), and "Best Virtual Author Series" (2020, 2021), and "Best Old-School Bookstore" (2022). Harvard Book Store is excited to open a new location in downtown historic Boston in Fall 2026.

Pay:

From $17.50 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person