Seminary Coop Bookstores

The Board of Directors of the Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Inc. seeks an experienced, business-minded Executive Director to lead the bookstores in their next phase. 

The Executive Director will be responsible for furthering the goals and mission of the bookstores while directing organizational strategy, financial management, management of a unionized workforce, and general management of the stores. The Executive Director will be responsible to the Board of Directors and report directly to the President of the Board of Directors. The ideal candidate will have a passion for books, ideas, and reading; demonstrated financial background in the bookselling industry; and demonstrated experience leading a team. 

About the Stores:

The Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Inc. comprises two independent bookstores in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Established in 1961, the Seminary Co-op is celebrated as a renowned academic bookstore, drawing patrons from across the nation and around the world. Its collection reflects a deep commitment to the browsing experience, scholarly and independent press titles, and a book for every reader. 

57th Street Books, founded in 1983, serves the literary tastes of its broader South Side community. Known for its outstanding children's section and welcoming atmosphere, 57th Street Books is a cherished gem among independent bookstores.

Both bookstores are treasured cultural institutions, fostering discovery, conversation, and a love of browsing.

In 2024, Seminary Coop Bookstores became a project of Social Good Fund, a national tax exempt fiscal agent that enables the Bookstores to solicit tax exempt donations. 

The Executive Director role includes the following responsibilities: 

• Leadership
• Oversee organizational priorities in consultation with the Board of Directors
• Work in concert with the Board of Directors on next-phase strategic planning 
• Lead management team of the store and foster positive staff culture 
• Collaborate effectively with management team, unionized store staff, and Board
• Establish strategy on all aspects of operations, including product selection and buying, inventory management, finances, fundraising, programming, marketing and communications in concert with manager-level team
• Direct institutional communication and messaging related to store initiatives internally and externally 
• Ensure positive and productive relationships with stakeholders, including publisher representatives, media, University of Chicago campus administrators, students, faculty, community leaders, local institutions, schools, and other educational institutions
• Maintain strategic partnerships with programming partners
• Build and maintain positive relationship with the local community 
• Board Relations
• Serve as Ex-officio Board member (non-voting) 
• Work with Board Officers on agenda-setting and Board communications
• Engage Board in business-critical endeavors, including fundraising and governance
• Financial Strategy
• Manage fiscal operations, including all obligations, relations with outside bookkeeper/accountant, expense approval and cash flow
• Manage budget and implementation of Board approved financial planning
• Advocate for the financial interest of the Co-op with vendors and creditors
• Human Resources & Staff Management 
• Supervise senior staff
• Ensure compliance and best practice for all HR and labor matters
• Review policies and implement any necessary revisions
• Oversee hiring and recruitment of new staff and managers

To be successful in this role, you will need to have: 

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant career experience in director-level or equivalent positions, including bookstores and publishing, organizational management, and/or others
• Demonstrated success in budget management and operations
• Sales experience in the book industry 
• Familiarity with bookstore software systems
• Experience fundraising with institutional and individual donors
• Proven ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with senior leadership and staff members
• Mission-driven, entrepreneurial, creative, solution-oriented, and customer-centric approach to business
• Appreciation and understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• A love of books, ideas, and reading 

We don’t expect anyone to have all of these skills or experiences, but having at least a few will help you be more successful in this role:

• Experience leading organizations in transition 
• Experience growing an omnichannel business with $1-$5 million in revenue 
• Experience leading marketing and community relations (e.g. through community engagement, marketing to drive revenue growth, strengthening relationships with community) 
• Recognized as a thought leader in the bookselling industry
• Background working within institutional settings (not necessarily experience with The University of Chicago or a large research university of similar size, but strong familiarity with large and complex institutions) 
• Knowledge or experience working with unions or a unionized workforce

We are committed to diversity among our staff, and deeply believe that our continued success requires the highest commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to customers and community members. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and it is the Seminary Co-op Bookstore’s policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic identity or physical disability, or any other legally protected basis.

Expected annual salary range: $110,000–$140,000. Full-time with benefits; on-site; exempt status; reports to the Seminary Co-op Bookstore Board of Directors.

Cover letter and resume via email to searchcommittee@semcoop.com by April 25, 2024.

Expectation is to complete the search by the end of June 2025.

The Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Inc. comprises two independent bookstores. Founded in 1961 and located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, the Seminary Co-op is renowned as an exemplary academic bookstore, attracting customers nationally and internationally. Its inventory reflects the literary and scholarly interests of its membership, many of them affiliated currently or previously with its neighbor, the University of Chicago. 

57th St. Books was established in 1983 and caters to the literary interests of the greater South Side community. With a world-class children’s department, a deep backlist selection, and an enthusiastic staff, 57th St. Books has established itself as a gem among independent bookstores.  

Both stores are unique and valued places of discovery, cultural institutions where browsing and conversation are nurtured. In 2019, the Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Inc. became a not-for-profit bookstores promoting this mission.