Assistant Director, Swarthmore Campus & Community Store

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore Campus & Community Store is operated by Swarthmore College to serve the Swarthmore College Community. Our mission, as an integral part of the College, is to support the College's academic goals and enrich student life. The Store staff is committed to offering high-quality merchandise at fair prices, all within a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

The opportunity:

The Assistant Director, Swarthmore Campus & Community Store, supports the overall operation and strategic priorities of the Swarthmore Campus and Community Store. This position oversees daily operational processes, including reporting, e-commerce management, purchasing, inventory control, internal departmental orders, and customer service. The Assistant Director manages and trains sales associates and student employees, coordinates store priorities with the Director, and ensures a high level of service to the campus community and external customers. The role contributes directly to the successful, efficient, and customer-focused operation of the Store.

Essential Responsibilities

Website and E-Commerce Management

Maintains and updates the Store’s website and e-commerce platform, ensuring accurate store hours, events, product descriptions, and images.

Ensures online inventory aligns with in-store inventory.

Processes daily online orders from fulfillment through shipping, including pulling merchandise, packing orders, coordinating shipment, and ensuring orders are fulfilled accurately and charged correctly.

Staff Supervision and Scheduling

Supervises part-time sales associates and student employees.

Provides training, ongoing coaching, and performance oversight. Conducts annual performance assessments for part-time staff.

Develops staff schedules at least two weeks in advance, assigns shift duties, and works directly with each sales associate weekly to ensure effective supervision and consistent service standards.

Store Operations and Priority Coordination

Collaborates closely with the Director to anticipate and respond to evolving store priorities. Coordinates staff activities to ensure efficient receiving, shelving, storing, and returning of merchandise, and orders store and shipping supplies as needed, leveraging strong interpersonal and communication skills to maintain smooth daily operations.

Purchasing and Merchandise Management

Sources and reorders all imprinted apparel, staying current with trends in the collegiate market, including students, alumni, staff, and the broader College community, to align merchandise with their interests.

Ensures compliance with College-approved colors, type styles, and branding standards, maintains imprint files, and monitors proper use of copyrighted and non-copyrighted College images.

Plans and executes quarterly visual merchandising displays for apparel to reflect seasonal themes and upcoming College events.

Internal Department and Special Orders

Manages College departmental internal orders by consulting with departments to determine needs, researching vendors, preparing quotes, and placing orders.

Oversees the art and imprint approval process, inventory receiving, departmental billing, and customer pickup or delivery coordination.

Inventory, Stockroom, and Storage Management

Oversees organization and cleanliness of the stockroom and off-site storage areas. Ensures merchandise and fixtures are labeled and accessible.

Assists with preparation, precounting, and participation in the annual inventory.

Conducts annual cleanouts and collaborates with the Director on disposal or sale of unused merchandise and fixtures.

Financial Reporting and Daily Operations

Balances daily sales reports, prepares daily and monthly reports using Excel, makes bank deposits, and reconciles reports with the Point of Sale system.

Works closely with the Business Office to report daily sales, department charges, and resolve any discrepancies.

Provides monthly gift card reporting, assists with reconciliation to Banner, and supports accurate financial tracking.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises the work of 4-5 Part-time Sales Associates and 3-4 Student Employees

Effectively performs the following:

Organize workflow and ensure staff understand their duties or delegated tasks.

Provide and develop training opportunities. Create and conduct staff performance evaluations.

Communicate key issues and information to staff.

Provide fair, constructive, and timely feedback.

In partnership with Human Resources, follow disciplinary procedures as established in accordance with the employee handbook.

Participate in supervisory training opportunities.

Maintain a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment.

Who you are:

The ideal candidate is a strategic and collaborative leader with strong business instincts and a creative eye for merchandising.

They are highly organized, detail-oriented, and data-driven, using sound judgment to make informed buying decisions that support revenue and brand identity.

This individual demonstrates accountability, adaptability, and professionalism, especially during peak seasons.

A successful candidate brings strong communication skills, financial responsibility, and a team-first mindset, serving as both a dependable leader and a thoughtful partner across campus.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED required

1–3 years of relevant retail or operations experience strongly preferred

Strong organizational, oral, and written communication skills

Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines

Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment

Ability to handle frequent interruptions and maintain focus

Preferred Qualifications

Associate’s Degree or higher

Experience supervising staff and student employees

Experience purchasing imprinted apparel, working with vendors, and managing ongoing vendor relationships.

Experience with e-commerce platforms, POS systems, and inventory management

Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and Google Workspace

Physical Demands

This position requires a combination of standing, walking, and stationary work in a retail and stockroom environment. The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Standing and walking approximately 60–70% of the time, particularly during peak business periods, customer service interactions, inventory handling, and special events.

Remaining in a stationary position approximately 30–40% of the time while performing administrative tasks, reporting, scheduling, purchasing, and computer-based work.

Frequently lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling merchandise and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lifting items weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Frequent use of hands and arms for operating point-of-sale systems, handling merchandise, stocking shelves, and performing inventory tasks.

Ability to bend, reach, and move between the sales floor, stockroom, and off-site storage areas as needed.

Working Conditions

Primarily on-campus retail environment with periodic evening and weekend hours.

Saturday work is alternating and scheduled based on operational needs and staffing coverage.

Additional hours may be required during peak periods such as the start of academic terms, textbook rush, buyback, and special events.

The position may require participation in on- and off-campus events in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Work includes time in the stockroom and off-site storage areas and may involve exposure to varying temperatures during events.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with a resume attached by March 10, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $50,000-$72,000 per year, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

Act 153 Clearance Required by Position

This position may regularly interact with minors. Under Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §§6301, et seq.) employees who have direct contact with minors are required to obtain the following background clearances prior to the start of employment:

Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) through the Pennsylvania State Police

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (PACA) through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

FBI Criminal History Background Check (FBI Fingerprint).

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.