Demo

Bookstore Supervisor

Busboys and Poets
Columbia, MD Full Time
POSTED ON 10/17/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/15/2026
Bookstore Supervisor | Job Description

Busboys and Poets is a restaurant/bar/bookstore/event space/community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted and a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body and soul. It is also a space for art, culture and politics to intentionally collide. We believe that by creating such a space we can inspire social change and begin to transform our community and the world.

Position Summary

Direct management of the bookstore. This ensures the smooth and successful running of the store. Supervisors will maintain their individual location bookstores while being overseen, and supported, by the Director of Operations. Supervisors will restock and handle inventory management on site for their location while being supported by Book Buyer with frontlists and sidelines acquisitions.

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt, Salaried/40 hours work week

Pay: $38,000.00 to $45,000

Travel Percentage: 10%

COMPANY BENEFITS: Busboys and Poets offers competitive pay and benefits including a wide choice of health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match of 5%, 2 weeks vacation time which increases to a maximum of 4 weeks with tenure, 1 week sick leave per year, $25 per day food credit, designated company paid parking, paid parental leave, early wage access, short term and long term disability, a free life insurance policy up to 1.5x your annual salary, pet insurance, professional development reimbursement, yearly technology stipend and a smart casual dress code. WHY WORK FOR US

Join a diverse space: 81% of our total workforce identifies as a person of color, 45% of our total workforce identifies as female and 5% of our workforce identifies as a person with disabilities. Our executive team also represents gender diversity, ethnic diversity, sexual orientation, and more. Men and women equally represented as well as various cultural and religious backgrounds. We strive to provide an inclusive workplace where you can bring your authentic self to work.Grow with us:

Over 60% of our managers were promoted from within to their existing role from line staff or from Front-of-House manager to Assistant or General Manager. Our entire Executive Team consists of existing employees who showed promise and were promoted into leadership positions.

Work With Latest Technologies

Striving to be a leader in our industry, we utilize a broad spectrum of technologies including our tech forward training program, employee payroll system, a self-managed tip distribution system, an events and catering platform, inventory management system, our POS Toast and much more! Happy staff:

Busboys and Poets is always looking for the next best way to engage with our staff. This includes raffles, anniversary boxes, an employee dedicated web-based forum and information site, blog and podcast.

Job Duties

  • Weekly (min.) stock replenishment orders (via electronic ordering in Ibid)
  • Processes book returns for their location
  • Oversees book receiving for their location
  • Orders supplies for their individual location
  • Makes weekly cash deposit and change run to reset the float (aka change bank)
  • Coordinates and communicates with all staff at their location and acts as liaison between Director of Operations, Book Buyer, and restaurant management.
  • Serves as the first point of contact for bookstore questions at their location.
  • Assists their location’s GM with ensuring smooth processes for sales across restaurant and bookstore, offering support with restaurant tasks when needed and feasible.
  • Works with the Director of Operations for all operational aspects of their location, including supplies needed, issues, and ideas for improvement
  • Attends seasonal meetings with Buyer regarding frontlist buying and sidelines acquisitions, and is in regular communication with the Buyer regarding replenishment and returns
  • Supports bookstore operations across multiple locations as needed, including providing staffing and onsite support for literary events, author talks, and special programming, as required
  • Coordinates with the Director of Operations to ensure the proper running of the store in the event of their vacation or absence

Requirements

  • Strong customer service and communication skills
  • Past retail, management, and/or bookstore experience required
  • Compassionate and respectful management/conflict resolution skills
  • Enjoys working within a team but is self-motivated and able to work independently
  • Willingness to assist other departments when needed (i.e., marketing, restaurant, events)
  • Provides on-site support for off-site events, including pop-up bookstore activations, literary programming, and community engagements, representing the Busboys and Poets brand beyond the physical location
  • Ability to establish and maintain an organized workspace
  • Bibliophile, or at least able to speak about literature and popular titles (both classic and contemporary)
  • High School diploma or equivalent - higher education beyond this is preferred but not required
  • Ability to stand and be mobile during an 8-hour shift
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
  • Night and full weekend availability is required for this position

PHYSICAL DEMANDS This position requires standing and walking for extended periods throughout the shift. Bookstore supervisor must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Bookstore Supervisor typically work 40 hours per week; however, due to the nature of the business, schedules may include extended and/or irregular hours, including holidays. Bookstore supervisors may also be required to work at different locations based on business needs.

Busboys and Poets is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Salary : $38,000 - $45,000

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Bookstore Supervisor?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Bookstore Supervisor career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$54,377 - $81,336
Income Estimation: 
$59,534 - $94,250
Income Estimation: 
$90,932 - $119,676
Income Estimation: 
$115,103 - $147,076
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Busboys and Poets

  • Busboys and Poets Arlington, VA
  • Busboys and Poets is a restaurant/bar/bookstore/event space/community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted and a place to take a ... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Busboys and Poets Columbia, MD
  • Busboys and Poets is a restaurant/bar/bookstore/event space/community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted and a place to take a ... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Busboys and Poets Washington, DC
  • Busboys and Poets is a restaurant/bar/bookstore/event space/community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted and a place to take a ... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • Busboys and Poets Washington, DC
  • FOH Restaurant Manager/Assistant Restaurant Manager | Job Description Busboys and Poets is a restaurant/bar/bookstore/event space/community where racial an... more
  • 8 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Bookstore Supervisor jobs in the Columbia, MD area that may be a better fit.

  • Columbia - Busboys and Poets Columbia, MD
  • Bookstore Supervisor | Job Description Busboys and Poets is a restaurant/bar/bookstore/event space/community where racial and cultural connections are cons... more
  • 8 Days Ago

  • Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. Baltimore, MD
  • Introduction Our campus stores serve as a vibrant hub of college life and learning. We believe in creating retail and learning experiences that engage stud... more
  • 15 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!