Assistant Director for Sales and Bookstores, AUC Press

Reports to: AUC Press Director

Purpose: The job holder will supervise all sales operations for AUC press books in Egypt and the Middle East, and AUC Press bookstores operations including buying of general books, gifts and stationery from local and international suppliers, with two direct reports, sales manager and bookstore manager.

Principal Accountabilities:  

• Coordinate sales strategy in Egypt and the Middle East; develop bookstore strategy for better integration with and support of AUC campus activities, and greater visibility throughout Egypt, including possible store expansion efforts
• Serve on the operations committee of senior managers, representing sales and bookstore activities and interests, monitoring trends and issuing analytical reports to other senior management
• Advise on pricing, print run and marketing strategies for proposed new AUC press titles in Egypt
• Provide market predictions and overall sales forecasting and analysis for AUC Press titles in Egypt and the Middle East
• Attend publishing and transmittal meetings to assess quality and sales potential for new publishing projects for AUC press
• Assess co-publishing proposals submitted to AUC press from overseas markets and make recommendations regarding sales potential as well as pricing and print run strategies in Egypt and the Middle East
• Supervise the processes of bookstore ordering of AUC press titles as well as English-language and non-English general books, gifts and stationery from local and international suppliers
• Manage presentation, pricing and restocking schedules; work with bookstore manager, marketing manager for Egypt, and all bookstore staff to provide a coherent program of promotions
• Ensure quality of selection, presentation and sales are maximized throughout the year
• Create and manage model stock programs in all stores to increase sales and reduce waste
• Manage and refine the core stock system
• Coordinate with the bookstore manager to manage all stock control and all aspects of presentation and restocking; oversee returns and removal of slow-moving or damaged stock and also to ensure that store displays, sections and counter areas are correctly organized and fully utilized
• Manage customer ordering and inventory control systems for the Bookstores, including booksolve, shopify and AUC press website ordering mechanisms
• Oversee the purchasing of new books and remainders from international book fairs for Cairo book fair and AUC press bookstore promotions in Egypt
• Coordinate with the marketing manager for Egypt and the sales manager to develop and implement strategies for expanded customer accounts as well as special promotions to universities, international schools and other educational institutions in Egypt, as well as coordinated marketing and branding of AUC press bookstores consistent with AUC and AUC press strategic planning, for year-on-year improvements
• Coordinate key customer relations and credit evaluation of new and existing accounts in collaboration with sales manager, including Amazon Egypt, and other major customers in Cairo and at museums and heritage sites around Egypt, especially in Luxor and upper Egypt
• Perform any other duties as assigned

 Requirements:

Minimum Education Requirement

• Bachelor degree in a related field; management diploma preferred

Experience

• Minimum of twelve years’ experience in academic or commercial bookselling and/or book publishing

Skills

• Wide knowledge of global culture, literature, international book commerce and importation procedures for books in Egypt
• Very good knowledge of English and Arabic, written and oral
• Knowledge of other foreign language skills is a plus
• Excellent communications and presentation skills
• Experience management skills for Retail Bookstore multi-branch environments in Egypt
• Excellent computer knowledge such as: Microsoft Office, bookstore commerce and inventory management systems such as Booksolve.
• Outstanding analytical and data management skills
• Flexible to travel inside or outside Egypt in case required

The position is open until September 21, 2021

Placement is based on the candidate’s experience and skills. Only candidates who make it to the short list will be contacted.

 “We thank all individuals who have expressed interest in working at The American University in Cairo.”