The Center for Fiction

Position: Inventory Manager

Employee Type: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt 

Reports To: Bookstore Manager

Work Schedule: 40 hours a week, weekends and evenings required; in person

Salary: Starts at $48,000, DOE

The Inventory Manager will be the main person responsible for the maintenance of the store’s inventory, and will complete floor management, training, and bookselling duties as necessary. This position requires strong organization skills, excellent written and oral communication, a high level of attention to detail, and an ability to prioritize and navigate nuanced responsibilities.

This is a full-time position based in New York City reporting to the Bookstore Manager. The benefits package includes health insurance/dental, 401(K) employer-sponsored plan, and paid time off.

Responsibilities:

Inventory Management

•  Reconcile receiving totals to invoices and investigate any discrepancies, to ensure an accurate count of books on hand

• Contact publishers to report any issues with orders (shortages/damages etc.)

• Investigate issues with stock numbers as raised and adjust numbers as necessary 

• Run restock reports and place orders with publishers to replenish sold stock, bearing in mind that inventory numbers need to be carefully managed to avoid overstock

• Ascertain which books should be returned in collaboration with the bookstore manager and book buyer, create pull lists, and box up and send returns to publishers

• Follow up with items returned from the publishers and decide how to process

• Work with booksellers throughout the year to audit sections for accuracy 

• Revise and refine systems, as needed

Bookkeeping and reporting

•  Reconcile bookstore invoices to publisher account statements and ensure cent-perfect receiving

• Work with accounting team to generate receiving reports, and prepare remittances for publisher payments 

• Keep track of publisher credits by reconciling return reports to publisher confirmations, investigate and report any discrepancies to the accounting team

• Complete other general bookkeeping tasks as required, and provide reports as requested

Floor and Shift Management

•  Supervise booksellers’ workflow and assign tasks such as shelving, restocking, visual merchandising, special projects, cleaning, etc. 

• Send booksellers on breaks and ensure coverage is maintained in the store

• Work closely with Bookstore Manager to help train new staff

• On days when the Bookstore Manager is not scheduled, take on responsibilities of communicating with booksellers to make sure there is adequate coverage for the floor, fielding late and sick calls. When necessary, also communicate with the Cafe Manager for issues affecting the first floor and the Managing Director for any facility issues. 

Bookselling

• General bookselling duties whenever needed

Organization Education

•  Keep abreast of CFF activities and field questions about different areas of the organization

• Answer questions about and proactively educate customers about Center for Fiction programs

• Discuss benefits of membership with prospective members and educate them on ways to support the organization as a nonprofit

Job qualifications: 

• Previous book receiving or bookselling experience strongly preferred

• Experience using inventory systems. BookManager experience highly desirable

• Skilled at Excel and Microsoft suite use as well as Google Workspace (suite)

• Previous people management experience

• Previous bookkeeping experience 

Job requirements: 

• Move boxes of books and merchandise up to 50lbs on a daily basis 

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time

• Ascend/descend a ladder to retrieve books from shelves daily 

• Periods of staffing the store solo

• Availability on weekends and evenings

The Center for Fiction has been an anchor of the New York City literary scene for more than 200 years. Founded in 1821 as the Mercantile Library Association of New York, The Center is the only organization in the United States devoted solely to the art of fiction. We unite readers and writers of all ages and backgrounds in a diverse community with a shared passion for fiction. Our work centers on public performances, educational programming, fellowships, and awards which further the continued creation and enjoyment of fiction in a collaborative environment, and assure a strong future for storytelling across boundaries of identity and experience.