Job Title: Retail Operations & Visitor Engagement CoordinatorDepartment: Visitor EngagementReports to: Director of Visitor EngagementDirect Reports: NonePosition Type: Full-timePosition FLSA Status: Salaried, Non-ExemptSalary: $55,000 - $62,000Overtime: EligibleFrequency: Monday–Friday or Sunday–Thursday with regular evening and weekend availability as needed to support retail operations, visitor services, public programs, and special events.Location: On-siteJob Description created/updated on: 8/13/2026About the CenterThe Center for Jewish History (the Center) is the collaborative home of five partner organizations whose collections comprise more than five miles of archival documents, over 500,000 volumes, nearly seven million digital assets, and thousands of works of art and historic objects spanning 5,000 years. The Center welcomes researchers, scholars, students, visitors, and event attendees from around the world while producing hundreds of public programs, exhibitions, performances, conferences, and community events each year.Position SummaryThe Center for Jewish History seeks a highly organized, service-oriented, and detail-focused Retail Operations & Visitor Engagement Coordinator to take primary responsibility for the day-to-day operations of Ruth\'s Bookstore while also providing regular support to the Center\'s front-of-house visitor experience and overseeing routine mailroom operations.Retail operations are the primary focus of this position. The Coordinator will own Shopify administration, point-of-sale operations, inventory accuracy, receiving and replenishment, purchasing and vendor coordination, sales reporting, merchandising, consignment tracking, and related retail logistics. As a member of the Visitor Engagement team, the Coordinator will also provide scheduled and as-needed front desk coverage, oversee day-to-day mailroom functions, and help ensure a welcoming, informed, and professional experience for visitors.The position will work closely with the Director of Visitor Engagement, Finance, Public Programs, Exhibitions, Communications, and other departments to ensure that retail offerings support the Center\'s exhibitions, programs, seasonal initiatives, and broader visitor-engagement goals. The role requires someone who can take ownership of retail systems, inventory, and routine mailroom operations while remaining comfortable assisting visitors, supporting admissions and memberships, and stepping into front desk operations when needed.Key ResponsibilitiesRetail Operations & Shopify Administration· Serve as the primary day-to-day owner and administrator of the Center\'s Shopify retail inventory and Shopify POS operations.· Create and maintain accurate Shopify product records, including product titles/descriptions, SKUs, pricing, cost information where applicable, inventory quantities, vendor information, and other required item data.· Receive merchandise, enter and reconcile inventory in Shopify, process inventory adjustments and transfers, and ensure that physical inventory and system records remain aligned.· Maintain reliable Shopify POS operations at the bookstore/front desk, troubleshoot routine issues, and coordinate with appropriate internal or external support when problems require escalation.· Implement approved pricing updates, promotions, discounts, and retail changes in Shopify and communicate current procedures to Visitor Engagement staff.· Coordinate fulfillment and tracking of online retail orders, where applicable, and maintain appropriate packaging and shipping supplies.· Maintain clear, up-to-date documentation for Shopify workflows, inventory procedures, receiving, returns, reconciliations, and POS practices.Inventory Management, Purchasing & Merchandising· Own day-to-day inventory control for Ruth\'s Bookstore, including receiving, counting, ticketing, storage, replenishment, returns, damages, and stock adjustments.· Conduct regular cycle counts and periodic full inventory reconciliations; investigate discrepancies, shrinkage, damages, and other inventory variances.· Monitor stock levels, sales velocity, and product performance and recommend reorders, markdowns, clearance, or discontinuation of slow-moving items in consultation with the Director of Visitor Engagement.· Coordinate approved purchasing and reorders with publishers, vendors, artists, and merchandise suppliers; maintain organized vendor, pricing, and ordering records and follow up on outstanding shipments.· Track consignment merchandise and prepare required monthly sales information and invoice documentation for Finance.· Support product selection and purchasing tied to exhibitions, public programs, holidays, archival collections, genealogy initiatives, and other institutional priorities.· Maintain attractive, mission-aligned merchandising and product displays and ensure merchandise is accurately priced, stocked, and presented throughout the retail area.Sales Reporting, Reconciliation & Administration· Generate and distribute regular Shopify sales, inventory, product-performance, and reconciliation reports for the Director of Visitor Engagement, Finance, and senior leadership as requested.· Support daily and periodic POS reconciliation and work with Finance to investigate discrepancies and maintain accurate retail records.· Analyze sales trends, inventory turnover, stock levels, and product performance to inform purchasing, reordering, markdown, and merchandising decisions.· Maintain organized records for invoices, purchase orders, vendor information, consignment arrangements, returns, and other retail documentation.· Support annual retail planning, budget tracking, forecasting, purchasing plans, and cost-control efforts within the role\'s area of responsibility.· Identify opportunities to improve inventory accuracy, purchasing, merchandising, retail workflows, staff training, customer service, and overall operational efficiency.Retail Collaboration & Visitor Experience· Coordinate with Public Programs, Exhibitions, Communications, Development, Finance, and other teams to anticipate retail needs related to upcoming programs, exhibitions, author events, seasonal initiatives, and institutional priorities.· Support book signings, exhibition openings, member events, and other activities that involve retail sales or special merchandise.· Communicate product availability, retail promotions, and operational changes clearly to Visitor Engagement staff and other relevant teams.· Identify opportunities to strengthen the visitor experience and grow earned revenue through thoughtful product selection, merchandising, and efficient retail service.· Perform other retail operations and visitor engagement duties as assigned.Visitor Engagement & Front Desk Support· Maintain strong working knowledge of the Center’s visitor engagement procedures and serve as a welcoming and knowledgeable ambassador when providing front desk coverage.· Provide scheduled and as-needed front desk support, including greeting and orienting visitors, responding to questions and concerns, notifying employees of guest arrivals, answering and transferring calls, and supporting routine visitor-services procedures.· Assist visitors with admissions, retail purchases, memberships, and general information about exhibitions, programs, research services, and Center resources when assigned to the front desk.· Support consistent front desk procedures, service standards, opening and closing routines, and visitor communications in coordination with the Director of Visitor Engagement and other team members.· Help train and support Visitor Engagement staff and volunteers on retail processes, product knowledge, Shopify POS use, and related customer-service procedures.· Help maintain an organized, visitor-ready front desk and retail environment and monitor retail packaging, supplies, printed materials, and related departmental inventory.· Respond calmly and professionally to visitor concerns and operational issues, escalating matters to the Director of Visitor Engagement or other appropriate staff when needed.Mailroom Operations· Oversee the Center\'s day-to-day mailroom operations, including receiving, sorting, and distributing incoming mail and packages and coordinating outgoing mail and shipments.· Prepare outgoing mail and packages using appropriate postage and shipping systems and coordinate routine carrier and courier pickups and deliveries.· Notify staff of package arrivals and special deliveries as needed and help resolve routine delivery, routing, or returned-mail issues.· Maintain an orderly and well-supplied mailroom, including postage, shipping materials, labels, and other related supplies.· Maintain clear, up-to-date mailroom procedures and records and coordinate with colleagues to ensure appropriate coverage and continuity of service.QualificationsRequired· Bachelor\'s degree from a four-year college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.· 2-4 years of experience in retail operations, inventory management, museum retail, bookstore operations, e-commerce, or a related field; visitor-services or customer-service experience strongly preferred.· Demonstrated hands-on experience with inventory-management and point-of-sale systems; experience administering Shopify and Shopify POS is strongly preferred.· Strong understanding of inventory control, receiving, reconciliation, merchandising, purchasing, and retail operational workflows.· Excellent customer-service and communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with visitors, colleagues, vendors, and partner organizations.· Exceptional organization, accuracy, attention to detail, and follow-through.· Ability to analyze sales and inventory information, identify discrepancies, and maintain accurate records.· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace, particularly spreadsheets.· Ability to manage multiple priorities, move between detailed retail administration and front-line visitor service, and remain calm in a busy public-facing environment.· Ability to take ownership of routine retail systems and processes while working collaboratively with Visitor Engagement colleagues and teams across the Center.· Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the Center\'s schedule.Preferred· Experience with mailroom operations, shipping and receiving, or office logistics.· Experience working in a museum, cultural institution, library, archive, bookstore, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organization.· Direct experience administering Shopify product records, inventory, reporting, and POS functions.· Experience working with books, museum merchandise, consignment inventory, or vendor purchasing.· Knowledge of retail merchandising and museum-store best practices.· Familiarity with CRM, ticketing, or membership systems.· Interest in Jewish history, culture, museums, archives, genealogy, or related fields.Physical DemandsThe employee is regularly required to stand and move throughout the Center. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and move boxes of merchandise, mail, packages, and supplies weighing up to approximately 30 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The Center for Jewish History is an Equal Opportunity Employer.To apply, email a resume and cover letter to jobs@cjh.org. No phone calls please.
