Job Description

Location: Des Plaines, IL Category: Staff Posted On: Thu Nov 14 2024 Job Description:

Basic Function and Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Senior Manager of Auxiliary Services, manages and directs the strategic planning and daily operations of the two campus Bookstores. Provide customer service excellence to all external and internal customers, resolve customer complaints, and respond to feedback.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advance the Bookstores' goals and objectives through strategic planning, engaging and collaborating with students, faculty, and staff while positively representing the department internally and externally.
• Develop, revise, and implement efficient work policies, methods, and procedures for all operations of both stores and associated operations and adjust when appropriate. Ensure that all policies and procedures are consistent on both campuses.
• Direct and coordinate bookstore information services and systems. Serve as liaison to IT for management and interface of POS & operations, enhancements, modifications, implementation, planning, and evaluation. Act as principal contact for third-party applications software.
• Coordinate and implement operations by overseeing, planning, reviewing, delegating, and managing vendor relationships. Ensure proper documentation is submitted to procurement for Banner and invoice processing.
• Buyer for apparel, gifts, supplies, and snack categories. Create and track related purchase orders to ensure all items are accounted for and received in the inventory management system.
• Approve all bookstore invoices and credit memos and work with vendors, receiving clerk, and AP department to ensure all credit memos and invoices have been processed in a timely manner.
• Cultivate relationships with stakeholders such as faculty, students, staff, administration, vendors, other educational institutions, professional associations and special interest groups. 
• Provide leadership in faculty interaction and partner with academic or administrative Deans, and department chairpersons. Encourage and maintain ongoing communications with academic departments to ensure all course materials adoptions are provided to the bookstores on time.
• Market, promote, and expand campus store offerings via social media, supporting campus speaker events, and partnering with other departments in purchasing promotional items.
• Assist staff in resolving problems, answering campus questions or concerns, navigating industry changes, and textbook issues.
• Use data such as sales reports, student and faculty surveys, purchasing history, etc. to make informed decisions for increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure inventory integrity through proper receiving methods, organization, stock on hand audits, and loss prevention. Plan and lead physical inventory twice a year.
• Conduct opening and closing procedures depending on shift including cash register openings and reconciliation. Provide back-up cashiering support as needed.
• Elevate store presentation through merchandising, visual displays, and frequent layout refresh. Create and advertise promotional sales events, clearance sales, and seasonal sales events using sales data to identify items and timing.
• Support the College's equity mission by consistently reviewing policies and procedures from an equity lens, updating policies accordingly.
• Select, train, evaluate, and supervise the work of assigned College staff and student employees. Create and implement effective work schedules based on business needs. Ensure accurate timekeeping and approve timesheets for student employees
• Available to work at Oakton's evening commencement ceremony and other occasional evening events. All events are scheduled far in advance.
• Perform other job-related duties for the Auxiliary Services department as assigned by Supervisor.

Job Requirements:

Qualifications and Working Conditions:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Retail Management, or related field is required. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Three years progressively responsible, professional experience in retail, customer service, student services or related field, including minimum two years of supervisory experience.
• Position is primarily based at Des Plaines campus. Must be flexible and be able to work closing shifts (6pm) and able to work at the Skokie campus at least once a week.
• Project management experience via operations, retail, or other applicable area. Educational institution experiences desirable but not required.
• Experience in developing and monitoring budgets preferred.
• Ability to network and engage with the college community.
• Able to work productively with the diverse academic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college staff and students.

Physical Demands:

Light lifting up to 30 lbs. and light carrying up to 30 lbs. Ability to reach above shoulder. Periods of time spent sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, bending and stooping. Mobility to move from building to building on-Campus and to visit off-Campus entities. Work is performed in a general office environment and sedentary in nature. Little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.

Additional Information:

Supervision Received:

Functional supervision is received from the Senior Manager of Auxiliary Services. Administrative supervision is received from the Vice President of Administrative Affairs.

Supervision Exercised:

Functional supervision is exercised over Bookstore staff at both the Des Plaines and Skokie campuses

SALARY: $65,317 (Please note as of January 1, 2025 the salary will be $67,440)

HOURS:  Monday-Friday 8:15 am - 5:00 pm; must also be flexible and available to work at 7:30 am for opening shifts, and until 6:30 pm for closing shifts.  Must be able to work at the Skokie campus at least once a week. 

About Oakton College

For 50 years, Oakton College has been the setting where thousands begin or continue their college or career studies. Educating people of all ages, from all walks of life and from more than 40 nations, Oakton focuses on improving the quality of life for everyone who enters its doors.

Connections working at Oakton College

Job Tags

Seasonal work, Flexible hours, Shift work, Afternoon shift, Monday to Friday,

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