Position Title:Senior Sales Supervisor - ISU Book Store
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience
Preferred Qualifications:Experience supervising full-time, student, or temporary staff
Merchandising and retail product knowledge experience
Retail inventory or cycle count experience
Experience with POS (point of sale), sales metrics, and reporting
Experience developing and implementing sales strategy and goal setting
Job Description:
Do you have strong retail experience and are looking for an opportunity that offers excellent work-life balance? Are you looking for a role that offers a wide variety of tasks and challenges every day?
If so, The University Book Store at Iowa State University is currently seeking applicants for a Senior Sales Supervisor, which will be classified as a Bookstore Specialist III!
What You'll Do:
Oversee the retail sales floor and primary accountability for the technology, books, art, supply, and departmental workwear categories.
Supervise a team of full-time Sales Supervisors, student employees, and seasonal staff, including responsibility for hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance evaluation, corrective action, and separation.
Serve as the Supervisor on Duty on a rotating schedule, including some weekends, weeknight closings, and special events.
Provide in-depth onboarding and ongoing training to ensure employees understand bookstore operations, customer service standards, and retail best practices.
Serve as a key liaison between the retail sales team and other departments (e.g., Marketing, Buying, Warehouse) to coordinate merchandising efforts, signage needs, promotional campaigns, and manage and report team payroll.
Monitor and analyze inventory levels in assigned categories (technology, books, art, supplies, course materials, cards, and convenience items); investigate and resolve discrepancies.
Coordinate and manage retail support for in-store and on-site events, including staffing, product merchandising, and teardown/recovery.
Recommend and implement strategies to improve retail sales, product placement, and employee efficiency.
The position requires the ability to make informed decisions in a dynamic environment, manage staffing levels across multiple retail areas, and collaborate cross-functionally with buyers, marketing, and store leadership. The Senior Sales Supervisor functions as a key member reporting to the Marketing and Sales Manager, frequently serving as Supervisor on Duty and stepping in to make time-sensitive operational decisions affecting store function, employee supervision, and customer satisfaction.
This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings, weekends, and extended hours during rush periods and special events.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
About ISU Book Store:
The University Book Store at Iowa State University is a vital campus institution committed to academic excellence and student success. As a university-owned and operated entity, we take pride in serving as a trusted partner in the educational journey of every Cyclone. Our role extends far beyond providing textbooks and technology—we are an essential part of the Iowa State experience. All revenues generated by the Book Store are reinvested directly into the university. These funds help advance critical campus initiatives, support academic programs, enhance learning environments, and contribute to the overall vibrancy of the Iowa State community. By aligning our operations with the university’s mission, we ensure that every purchase made at the University Book Store has a meaningful and lasting impact on students, faculty, and the broader campus.
Level Guidelines• Senior-level position possessing high-level professional and/or technical skills working independently under minimal supervision to support ISU’s mission and department or work unit goals• Applies senior-level professional knowledge and expertise to work requiring greater latitude• Solves moderately complex problems and regularly exercises judgment to determine appropriate action• Regularly exercises judgment to resolve problems and determine appropriate action on a broad set of issue and problems. May provide recommendations regarding problems/issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices• Responds to complicated inquiries, provides training, and provides direction to lower-level staff• May provide supervision for sales staff (i.e., leads a small work team)• May lead projects for which well-defined practices and procedures may not exist• Provides guidance to students
Appointment Type:Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS808
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover LetterIf you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)• Life insurance and long-term disability• Flexible Spending Accounts• Various voluntary benefits and discounts• Employee Assistance Program• Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: June 18, 2025
Posting Close Date:July 1, 2025
Job Requisition Number:R17234
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State , we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, 515 294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu .
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485 . Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485 . TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942 .
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.