Primary Purpose

The Bookstore Food Buyer & Retail Specialist oversees bookstore daily operations, ensuring a positive customer experience. The position is responsible for the efficient operation of food purchasing, food inventory and bookstore cashiering. This position also covers the Mail and Receiving Clerk position, when needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Purchase food and beverage from multiple vendors, including fresh food options from local businesses, when possible.
• Stock and maintain adequate inventory levels for food and beverages at the campus bookstore.
• Check in freight, including receiving purchase orders and verifying invoice paperwork against purchase orders. Contact distributors/vendors if discrepancies or shortages occur.
• Return products to distributors. Process markdowns and returns on older inventory in a timely manner to reduce spoilage. Perform inventory adjustments for spoilage. Process chargebacks, following distributor protocols, and generate chargeback paperwork to match publisher credit invoices.
• Rotate and Restock merchandise for all areas of the bookstore, as necessary.

• Open and prepare bookstore for retail and customer activity in a timely and punctual fashion.
• Prepare registers and cash drawers for morning shift staff. Prepare coffee bar.
• Assist in hiring and also onboard, train, and provide on-site guidance to staff.
• Create work schedules for multiple cashiers and staff ensuring full and adequate coverage.
• Provide training and ongoing monitoring, feedback, and support to new and existing staff on the point-of-sale system, cashiering, and customer service.
• Collaborate with bookstore manager for any hiring and/or disciplinary decisions/issues.
• Handle customer inquiries regarding all goods and services in the bookstore. Follow bookstore sales and return policies and be able promptly communicate these to customers, both in-person and via phone.
• Operate, balance, and handle transactions on point-of-sale system. Balance cash, check, credit card, and invoiced transactions in the register. Be able to cover cashiering shifts, when needed.
• Order and receive graduation inventory, and place special orders for graduation sets for college employees.
• Assist with preparation and processing of year-end inventory. Perform periodic spot checks of food and beverage inventory.
• Assist with in-store promotions, including signage. Cross-train to cover other areas of the bookstore operation, if needed.
• Clean store and displays.

• Process and meter all outgoing mail, excluding bulk and non-profit; drive mail van or to pick up and deliver mail / merchandise to local Post Office, on campus, and other College campuses in Bend and Redmond.
• Receive and verify all deliveries from UPS, FedEx, and other carriers. Notify departments when freight shipments arrive.
• Track inquiries for missing or delayed incoming and outgoing packages.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to provide outstanding customer service to students and employees.
• Knowledge and skills in retail, cashiering and point-of-sale systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including outstanding listening skills.
• Ability to be punctual and manage time effectively.
• Visual ability to read price tag information. Ability to read the English language sufficient to read customer checks, customer identification, the computer screen, and other similar written materials.
• Ability to complete payment processing, customer checks, and paperwork involved in balancing the cash register.
• Basic mathematical skills, including addition and subtraction, necessary to verify cash register functions, balance cash register, make change, and assist with inventory counts.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times and exercise a high level of professionalism, tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work cooperatively with and contribute to a diverse workplace through ideas or experience.
• Sufficient manual dexterity in at least one hand to be able to operate all cash registers and electronic equipment and manually complete paperwork; and to unload, price, and stack merchandise.
• Skills or experience with, email, internet, word processing, and spreadsheets (preferably experience with MS Office Suite Products).

Ergonomic Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Preferred Qualifications