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Job Opening: Bookstore Manager
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Would you like to be a part of our hard-working team? Are you a talented, driven person who is passionate about the Middle East? The American Educational Trust and the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs has a position immediately available at Middle East Books and More. Please pass this job description to your friends and associates who you believe would be a good fit for this role.
About the Position:
The bookstore manager is responsible for overseeing the bookstore’s daily operations and maintaining an intimate knowledge of the books and products in the store. They will provide excellent customer service, answer questions and make recommendations to customers who visit the store, email or call. The bookstore manager is responsible for ordering, pricing and maintaining proper inventory of all items, including books, pottery and olive oil. The manager must also manage weekend coverage and clearly communicate with all staff members. The position includes the maintenance of a robust online store www.MiddleEastBooks.org, and packaging and shipping items sold on our website in a punctual manner. Additionally, the bookstore manager must maintain contacts with wholesalers and community organizations. The bookstore director will also have the opportunity to write, solicit and edit book reviews for the Washington Report.
We are seeking someone who is knowledgeable about the current political situation and discussions surrounding books and writings on the Middle East, literature, culture, U.S. foreign policy and the Arabic language. Familiarity with our partner, the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs magazine, which is published upstairs, is desirable.
Qualifications We’re Looking for in a Candidate:
1. Passion for peace in the Middle East and understanding of the region, culture and history;
2. Familiarity with the latest books on the region and related U.S. policy;
3. Coordinate book reviews and the new arrivals section for the Washington Report;
4. Ability to visualize, help plan and implement our bookstore’s ongoing expansion. This could include putting together shelving, displays, furniture and more;
5. Provide and implement marketing ideas and social media expertise to increase books sales and foot traffic;
6. Ability to plan and schedule bookstore events, including book talks, book clubs, film screenings and other community events;
7. University degree; Arabic language proficiency a plus;
8. Experience in retail sales or management and customer service skills—friendly, punctual, flexible and reliable;
9. Provide and analyze monthly financial statements, including sales performance;
10. Revitalize our Website www.middleeastbooks.com;
11. Accurately maintain a Shopify computerized inventory system, and price items;
12. Ability to perform basic maintenance and upkeep tasks of a public facing store
About Us:
The American Educational Trust (AET) is a non-profit foundation incorporated in Washington, DC in 1982 by retired U.S. foreign service officers to provide the American public with balanced and accurate information concerning U.S. relations with Middle Eastern states. As part of its educational mission, AET publishes the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, a magazine printed seven times per year in Washington, DC, and maintains a bookstore, Middle East Books and More.
The Washington Report publishes insightful analysis of the political, economic and historical realities of the U.S.-Middle East relationship. Our magazine is packed with special reports on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, current Middle East issues and grassroots activism in the U.S. and abroad.
Bookstore Description:
Established in 1992, 10 years after the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Middle East Books and More is now a non-profit hub for books and culture pertaining to the region. In the beginning, the store was a unique place for customers to access hard-to-find books on the Middle East that were not available in major bookstores, as well as to encourage better understanding of the U.S-Middle East policy and informed debate around Palestine. In 2004 we expanded our mission to help Palestinian businesses survive by promoting the sale of Palestinian pottery, embroidery, olive oil and other traditional crafts. Since that time, we have continued to expand due to increasing demand, adding sections on Arabic Language, used books and more. In 2024, we launched our largest change yet–an expansion and complete renovation of our space to provide more products, as well as a vibrant community space for author talks, films screenings, reading groups and more. We hope to have this completed by the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025.
We are located in a storefront in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC, below the Washington Report magazine’s offices and next to the Museum of the Palestinian People. Shoppers strolling along the busy 18th Street restaurant corridor are discovering our shop full of Palestinian pottery, olive oil, embroidery, soap and solidarity items. They stay to browse bookshelves brimming with the latest books focusing on contemporary politics, history, culture and literature on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as a robust collection of cookbooks, children’s books and more.
Our Website, www.middleeastbooks.com, is a vital part of Middle East Books and More. On it you’ll find a wide selection of products, which we ship to visitors and supporters from around the world.
Please e-mail your resume and a cover letter explaining why you’re perfect for this position to [email protected] and mention “Bookstore Manager” in the subject line.
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