Inventory Manager

Pay: $23.08 per hour, or more depending on experience.

Schedule: The schedule will be a mixture of mid-shifts and closes, and will include both weekend days. (Closing shifts end at 9:30pm).

Closing Date: Sunday, March 31st, 2024

Additional Information: Please include a cover letter with a brief description of relevant skills and experience and the reason why you’re interested in the position.

Powell’s Books is known worldwide as a premier independent bookstore and an icon in the Portland community. We’re committed to fostering a culture and environment of inclusion, empowerment, and respect – a place where everyone can show up fully as themselves and do their best work every day.

Inventory Managers are critical to the store’s day-to-day operations. They work alongside managers with different responsibilities to support staff and facilitate daily tasks and projects. They supervise 15-20 employees and oversee the functions that support moving product into and out of the store; those functions include shelving, pulling internet orders, transfer receiving, returns, cycle counting, database maintenance, and other related projects. Each Inventory Manager also has a portfolio of tasks and projects they oversee on a storewide level, such as cycle counting, scheduling, transfers, and display work.

The successful candidate will join a management team that work together to provide supervision for all store functions, with an emphasis on customer service. Inventory Managers also spend a portion of their time as Managers on Duty, supporting operations and staff throughout the store. During those shifts they work with a team that is responsible for responding to customer service calls, supervising all staff on the sales floor, loss prevention, safety, and security.

Powell’s provides a number of benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Generous healthcare plan (medical, vision, and dental)
• 401(k) savings plan
• Education benefit
• Childcare subsidy
• Substantial employee discount that is also available to your significant other, children, parents, and siblings
• Book borrowing privileges

Position Title: Inventory Manager
Location: Burnside
Group: X5-B
Date: 3/2024

Position Summary:

This position is part of the management team at our flagship City of Books location on Burnside St. in downtown Portland. This is a high volume, fast paced environment with a store team of over 100 employees. The Inventory Manager coordinates all product moving into and out of the store and supervises a large team. Responsibilities include setting team goals, assigning work, providing ongoing performance feedback and coaching to staff, and meeting inventory management standards and expectations. This position requires a significant amount of time spent on the floor fulfilling department functions, or as a Manager on Duty supporting store operations and staff throughout the store. Contributes to the development of a culture that emphasizes exceptional customer service, continuous operational improvement and high performance of all staff and management team members. Challenges and inspires their team to fulfill the Company vision, mission, and values on a daily basis. Major decisions are reviewed/approved in advance by the Inventory and Logistics Manager and/or the Senior Inventory Manager. Reports to the Inventory and Logistics Manager or the Senior Inventory Manager.

Essential Functions

• Supervises, prioritizes, and assigns daily tasks and projects for generalists including shelving, pulling books, transfers, returns, markdowns, database maintenance and cycle counting. Works as a top performing member of the team in terms of skill set, pace setting and overall quality of work. Acts as a resource to staff regarding inventory procedures.
• Communicates regularly with purchasing managers, Burnside Leadership Team and location managers to address and resolve inventory issues as pertains to the store.
• Import, prepare, clean and maintain data for inventory analysis and scheduling using Key Performance Indicators to identify and respond to issues. Helps develop and maintain standards for database maintenance.
• Demonstrates understanding of inventory purchasing parameters, including all aspects of inventory, as well as understanding impact of the supply chain and life cycle of products. Makes recommendations for adjustments.
• Participates in the hiring of personnel, oversees training, and actively mentors the development of staff throughout their career cycle.
• Holds staff accountable to Powell’s Customer Service and Visual Presentation expectations.
• Coordinates work schedules to best meet the priorities of the store and ensures that operations are appropriately staffed. Monitors and addresses workflow and productivity issues.
• Challenges and inspires staff to achieve a high level of performance through feedback, mentoring and acknowledging accomplishments. Motivates staff and advocates for team. Conducts performance evaluations.
• Initiates and follows through with in-the-moment and problem-solving conversations, performance management and progressive discipline as needed.
• Promotes team environment that takes responsibility for good work, high standards and mutual respect for all Powell’s employees and customers. Works with team to meet goals and celebrate accomplishments.
• Takes initiative in advancing new projects and ideas that improve productivity and make for a superior working environment. Educates employees on efficiencies and ergonomics and reinforces those best practices.
• Shares responsibility for the efficient functioning of the store including prioritizing workflow, assigning tasks, and opening and closing the building. Takes responsibility in emergencies, responds to safety and security issues and facilities problems.
• Performs Manager on Duty functions including, but not limited to: supervision of all sales floor activity; resolution of the full spectrum of customer service calls; coordination of daily schedule coverage; representing the company to customers, vendors, and media; coordinating with the Operations team, Physical Plant, Computer Support and others as needed.
• Acts as a change agent in the store. Helps establish policies, procedures, standards and controls, and helps to convey changes to staff. Ensures company compliance goals are met at Burnside.
• Other duties as requested.

Requirements / Qualifications:

• Experience in supervising, leading, and training employees (retail management and/or bookstore management experience preferred) or demonstrated leadership skills at Powell’s.
• Demonstrated excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent computer skills, with a strong desire to learn more.
• Demonstrated ability to make important decisions independently.
• Excellent organizational skills with an ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Definite attention to detail.
• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated conflict management and resolution skills.
• Superior initiative, follow-through and accountability.
• Demonstrated teamwork and team building skills.
• Absolute ability to maintain confidential information.
• Love of books and reading.
• Physical requirements – U