Senior Sales Supervisor - ISU Book Store

Position Title:

Senior Sales Supervisor - ISU Book Store

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience supervising full-time, student, or temporary staff
Merchandising and retail product knowledge experience
Retail inventory or cycle count experience
Experience with POS (point of sale), sales metrics, and reporting
Experience developing and implementing sales strategy and goal setting

Job Description:

Do you have strong retail experience and are looking for an opportunity that offers excellent work-life balance? Are you looking for a role that offers a wide variety of tasks and challenges every day?

If so, The University Book Store at Iowa State University is currently seeking applicants for a Senior Sales Supervisor, which will be classified as a Bookstore Specialist III!

What You'll Do:

• Oversee the retail sales floor and primary accountability for the technology, books, art, supply, and departmental workwear categories.

• Supervise a team of full-time Sales Supervisors, student employees, and seasonal staff, including responsibility for hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance evaluation, corrective action, and separation.

• Serve as the Supervisor on Duty on a rotating schedule, including some weekends, weeknight closings, and special events.

• Provide in-depth onboarding and ongoing training to ensure employees understand bookstore operations, customer service standards, and retail best practices.

• Serve as a key liaison between the retail sales team and other departments (e.g., Marketing, Buying, Warehouse) to coordinate merchandising efforts, signage needs, promotional campaigns, and manage and report team payroll.

• Monitor and analyze inventory levels in assigned categories (technology, books, art, supplies, course materials, cards, and convenience items); investigate and resolve discrepancies.

• Coordinate and manage retail support for in-store and on-site events, including staffing, product merchandising, and teardown/recovery.

• Recommend and implement strategies to improve retail sales, product placement, and employee efficiency.

The position requires the ability to make informed decisions in a dynamic environment, manage staffing levels across multiple retail areas, and collaborate cross-functionally with buyers, marketing, and store leadership. The Senior Sales Supervisor functions as a key member reporting to the Marketing and Sales Manager, frequently serving as Supervisor on Duty and stepping in to make time-sensitive operational decisions affecting store function, employee supervision, and customer satisfaction.

This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings, weekends, and extended hours during rush periods and special events.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

About ISU Book Store:

The University Book Store at Iowa State University is a vital campus institution committed to academic excellence and student success. As a university-owned and operated entity, we take pride in serving as a trusted partner in the educational journey of every Cyclone. Our role extends far beyond providing textbooks and technology—we are an essential part of the Iowa State experience. All revenues generated by the Book Store are reinvested directly into the university. These funds help advance critical campus initiatives, support academic programs, enhance learning environments, and contribute to the overall vibrancy of the Iowa State community. By aligning our operations with the university’s mission, we ensure that every purchase made at the University Book Store has a meaningful and lasting impact on students, faculty, and the broader campus.

Level Guidelines
• Senior-level position possessing high-level professional and/or technical skills working independently under minimal supervision to support ISU’s mission and department or work unit goals
• Applies senior-level professional knowledge and expertise to work requiring greater latitude
• Solves moderately complex problems and regularly exercises judgment to determine appropriate action
• Regularly exercises judgment to resolve problems and determine appropriate action on a broad set of issue and problems. May provide recommendations regarding problems/issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices
• Responds to complicated inquiries, provides training, and provides direction to lower-l