We Are Hiring
Director of Marketing and Communications
This position is responsible for developing and executing a broad marketing and communications strategy to promote all that P&P does and ensure vigorous engagement internally with other P&P departments and externally with customers, media organizations, and partners. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), exempt position that reports to the Chief Operating Officer (COO). This position is based at the Connecticut Ave. location with the expectation that this individual also will be in close touch with the branch locations.
The duties include but are not limited to:
- Managing the marketing and communications team;
- Conceptualizing and executing company messaging including P&P’s website, newsletters, e-mail marketing, promotional ads, social media platforms, and videoing efforts;
- Overseeing print and graphic design projects and collaborating on creative store signage and floor and window displays;
- Guiding community sales manager in leveraging B2B efforts;
- Promoting and tracking P&P membership and helping to conceive ways to increase membership numbers;
- Coordinating with all departments to identify their marketing and communication needs and execute strategies to meet those needs;
- Identifying and forging strategic relationships with external partners to increase event audiences, class and trip participation, in-store purchases, and online sales;
- Cultivating and expanding opportunities to promote P&P with local and national media;
- Engaging with P&P staff to keep them informed of departmental activities, hear their ideas, and collect information about the store that can be highlighted on social media or in internal newsletters;
- Coordinating private author signing and community donations;
- Managing holiday catalog production.
The ideal candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and management skills. A minimum of three years of related experience is required.
Complete and submit the online application and email a resume and a brief introduction to Jobs@politics-prose.com
Events Coordinator
Politics and Prose Bookstore is looking for an Events Coordinator. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) hourly, non-exempt position that reports to the Director of Events. This will be based at the Connecticut Avenue store but will also float to the Wharf, Union Market, and partnered event venues as needed.
The Events Coordinator serves as the foundation of in-store and virtual events execution and management so they must be able to work in each environment. They play a crucial role as the liaison between the events department and the operations staff, as well as interacting with the marketing and programs department regularly.
Duties will include but are not limited to:
- Assist with adult in-person and virtual event related tasks
- Create and maintain event listings for website and internal calendars
- Create and administer virtual events using Zoom and Eventbrite
- Assist with event set-up and take down for in-store events
- Communicate with publicists and authors to coordinate in-person and virtual events
- Monitor and manage the events email inbox
- Assist with books orders and ensure they are available on time
- Maintain events department spreadsheets, documents, and metrics
- Keep track of post-event Will Call and returns to our Connecticut Ave location
- Work on the bookstore sales floor during the holiday season and as needed
Requirements:
- Team-oriented
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Strong organization and prioritization skills
- A cooperative spirit and positive attitude
- Able to work collaboratively and independently
- Ability to work evenings and weekends
- Flexibility, especially in regards to schedule
- Ability to lift at least 30 lbs.
- Experience with MS Office, Outlook, Google Forms, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Zoom, Eventbrite, and Square preferred
Complete and submit the online application and email a resume and a brief introduction to Jobs@politics-prose.com.
Branch Bookseller
Politics and Prose Bookstore has a openings for a full-time (40 hours per week) Branch Bookseller. These positions will float between the branch stores located at the Wharf in SW DC, and Union Market in NE DC.
Job requirements:
- Excellent customer service skills
- Extensive knowledge of books
- Ability to lift 25-40 pounds
- Experience in retail strongly preferred
- Bookstore experience preferred
- Ability to work nights and weekends
Duties will include but are not limited to:
- Assisting customers with book selections
- Operating cash registers and answering phones
- Carrying and unpacking boxes
- Shelving books and assisting with events
- Receiving book orders
- Designing and maintaining displays
To do well in this position, aspiring booksellers must have an abiding love for books and ideas; the ability to multitask; an impeccable eye for detail; fantastic written and verbal communication skills; curiosity and a willingness to learn our systems; a cooperative spirit and goal-oriented attitude and, of course, they must be punctual and dependable.
Complete and submit the online application below and email a resume and with a brief introduction to Jobs@politics-prose.com
Event Staffer
Politics and Prose is seeking part-time (approximately 12-20 hours per week) Event Staffers.
Event staffers are responsible for facilitating the hundreds of events hosted by Politics and Prose. Events are held at all P&P locations (Connecticut Avenue NW, The Wharf, and Union Market) weeknight evenings and weekends.
Requirements:
- Able to work at least three event shifts per week
- Able to work evenings and weekends
- Able to work on your feet and lift at least 40 lbs.
- Able to set up and break down the event space, set up chairs, move boxes of books, etc.
- Detail-oriented and thoroughly follow standard operating procedures, including managing inventory and sales for event books
- Have a cooperative spirit, strong customer service skills, and a positive attitude, especially in stressful situations
- Be punctual and dependable
Duties will include but are not limited to:
- Work with the event coordinators and managers to prepare for daily events
- Brief authors about the event schedule before the event begins
- Introduce the speakers before the event as needed
- Work in the bookstore in a non-event related capacity during the holiday season or other high volume times
Complete and submit the online application and email a resume and a brief introduction to Jobs@politics-prose.com.
Adult Floor Bookseller
Politics and Prose is seeking full-time (40 hours per week) and part-time (16-20 hours per week) Adult Floor Booksellers for the main store located on Connecticut Avenue NW DC. This is an hourly, non-exempt position that reports to the Adult Floor Director. Booksellers are responsible for ensuring that bookstore operations run smoothly in a lively work environment that offers a varied workday ranging from moving boxes of books to offering personal book recommendations to--always and above all--providing top-notch customer service.
Duties will include but are not limited to:
- Assisting customers with book selections
- Operating cash registers and answering phones
- Moving boxes of books and shelving individual books
- Assisting with events
- Designing and maintaining displays
- Maintaining the cleanliness of the store
- Maintaining a polite and professional demeanor with customers
Job requirements:
- Excellent customer service skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Knowledge and love of books
- Ability to multitask
- Cooperative spirit
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Ability to lift at least 30 lbs.
- Ability to work nights and weekends
- Bookstore and/or retail experience preferred
Complete and submit the online application and email a resume and a brief introduction to Jobs@politics-prose.com.
Supported Events Bookseller
Politics and Prose Bookstore is seeking Supported Events Booksellers for their offsite events. This is a part-time (25 events or more per year, generally lasting 3-5 hours each) hourly, non-exempt position that reports to the Director of Supported Events. This position involves working offsite on events that occur days, nights, and weekends.
Supported Events Booksellers play an important role in conducting book sales at all offsite customer events where they also serve as ambassadors of the Politics and Prose brand in the greater Washington community. Such events include house parties, lecture series, think tank talks, book festivals, conferences, and the like. These events can range in size from 100 people at a house party to thousands of attendees at festivals and conferences.
Duties will include but are not limited to:
- Setting up and organizing book displays at offsite event venues
- Conducting credit card and cash transactions at events using tablets and the Square system
- Resolving customer issues and handling any book-sale related problems at events with office personnel as back-up if necessary
- Performing post event sales and inventory reconciliations
Job Requirements:
- Excellent customer service skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Highly organized and detail oriented
- Creative problem solving skills
- Ability to remain calm under pressure, think on one’s feet, and feel comfortable going to new places, often solo
- Team-oriented with a can-do, pitch-in attitude
- Working knowledge of Outlook, Google Docs, and Square is a plus
- Ability to lift and move multiple boxes of books weighing between 20-40 pounds
- Ability to work evenings and weekends
- Ability to work two to three events per month
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Valid driver’s license required and willingness to drive the small company van
Complete and submit the online application and email a resume and a brief introduction to Jobs@politics-prose.com.