The General Merchandise Manager reports to the Director of the University Store and is charged with managing Apparel, General Merchandise, Supplies, Sundries, Greeting Cards, Technology, the Graduation Business, and Custom Merchandise via in-store sales and on the store’s e-commerce website. The General Merchandise Manager is responsible for all merchandise with the exception of trade books and textbooks.

Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.

Visit jobs.wlu.edu to learn more about working at W&L, our benefits, community, and living in the area.

Essential Functions:

• Reflects weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually on sales reports to determine each department’s performance. Creates plans for re-orders, future buying opportunities, product assortment, and strategies to improve sales.
• Manages, trains, supervises, and evaluates performance for three full-time employees: Non-Book Assistant, Custom Order Coordinator, and Shipping and Receiving Coordinator. Coordinates the training of all employees (full-time, part-time, and work study) in executing the fulfillment and communication with the web and phone orders business.
• In collaboration with the Director, serves as the primary buyer for Department 70: Apparel; Department 80: General Merchandise; Department 60: Supplies; Department 50: Greeting Cards; Department 55: Consignment; Department 45: Technology; Department 40: Sundries; Graduation Business. Depending on supporting staff, the primary buying for smaller departments may be delegated to other staff, in which case the Non-Book Manager would oversee and consult on the buying. Places re-orders and new orders as needed and during annual buying seasons.
• Oversees the overall execution of the Non-Book side of the Web business and the general workflow of fulfillment, shipping, UPS Claims, and returns for online orders. Ensures items are added and maintained on the Store’s website. Oversees and assists with shipping web orders whenever needed.  Coordinates web coverage staffing based on time of year and web traffic.
• Monitors vendor relations (terms, conditions, assortment). Identifies potential new vendors and new products to add to the assortment, when appropriate. Manages and coordinates vendor meetings, tradeshow buying, receiving, and restocking for all NB departments.
• Maintains appropriate retail margins for each department.  Sets retail prices for new products and adjusts prices as needed.
• Oversees the merchandising and appearance of the selling floors (display homes, display outposts and cyclical events displays)
• Oversees the organization and management of all supporting stockrooms and off-site storage. Annually assists the Director with executing the year-end physical inventory process.
• Monitors trends in collegiate retail to make informed buying decisions and achieve an optimal assortment of products.
• Coordinates and assists the Shipping and Receiving Coordinator with receiving as needed.  Heavily involved during peak receiving times, July through September.
• Coordinates and reflects on stock counts and sales history for potential orders to ensure data-based decisions on all ordering.
• Gains a well-rounded understanding and working knowledge of the University Store’s operating systems (ARC and Insite) for reporting, ordering, receiving, investigating product identification and maintenance.
• Gains an understanding of University Licensing.  Refers significant licensing issues to the Director.  Works with the Director to help new vendors become licensed.
• Participates in the Social Media bi-weekly meetings with Marketing Manager and Director. Assists Marketing Manager and Director with selecting items for Alumni Magazine ads and planning other promotions or sales.
• Assists the Store in all functions (book and non-book events, operating the registers, opening, and closing as needed, serving as “manager on duty”).
• Serves as the event lead for all non-book-driven events, including move-ins, YAW, Parents Weekend, Holiday web, Reunion Weekends (UG & LAW), Graduations (UG & LAW), Admissions events, and annual sales.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of customer service experience in a high-volume retail setting
• Three or more years of experience in a management or supervisory role, or equivalent.
• Ability to effectively, professionally and tactfully interact and communicate with customers, students, faculty, and staff.
• Experience working with inventory and point-of-sale systems.
• Effective communication, interpersonal, and multi-tasking skills with ability to deliver strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work flexible hours. Some early morning, evenings and weekend hours are required, especially when campus events are occurring.

Minimum Pay: $58,700 - Commensurate with Experience

Application Instructions: 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  A resume and cover letter are required. Please upload these documents when prompted on the application form. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.

Application instructions are at https://www.wlu.edu/employment-opportunities.

Physical Requirements:

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.

Working Conditions: The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Types of Work: Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
 

Position Type:

Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible