Bookshop supervisor

Reports to: Publications and Retail Manager

Working hours: 5 days a week 10.00am to 6.00pm

Salary: £35,000

Location: London

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 19th May 5:30pm

Lead the day-to-day running of a contemporary gallery bookshop at one of the world’s leading art spaces.

White Cube is a leading contemporary commercial gallery which represents over more than 60 international artists and artist estates and has locations across three continents. With established galleries in London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Seoul. Since its inception in 1993, the gallery has exhibited the work of many of the world’s most highly acclaimed contemporary artists. White Cube also has a long publishing history of award-winning titles, which is founded on innovative design and rigorous scholarship.

The Bookshop Supervisor will play a pivotal role in the daily management of the gallery’s onsite bookshop and online retail operations. This position requires a highly organised individual with a passion for books and customer service, and the confidence to lead a team by example. Reporting to the Publications and Retail Manager, the Bookshop Supervisor oversees the Retail Assistants, ensuring the bookshop delivers an exceptional retail experience and remains an engaging space where visitors can browse, learn and discover.

Responsibilities

Customer service and team leadership

• Train, supervise and support the Retail team on bookshop procedure and stock handling.
• Ensure the Retail team deliver outstanding customer service rooted in knowledge about the offer and a passion for selling books.
• Ensure the team maintain the highest standards of presentation, cleanliness and organisation in the bookshop.
• Deliver outstanding customer service on the shop floor, greeting visitors, assisting with enquiries and encouraging conversation. Lead by example, guiding the team in best practice and tone of service with a customer-oriented approach.
• Ensure the team is knowledgeable about the global exhibition programme and able to respond confidently to visitor questions.
• Lead the Retail team in maintaining high-quality visual displays and signage standards in line with the White Cube brand.
• Conduct regular 121 meetings with each of the Retail Assistants, setting and overseeing yearly objectives and providing support and feedback as necessary.
• Actively promote new White Cube publications and merchandise, encouraging visitors to sign up to the Bookshop mailing list.
• Oversee the timely and professional handling of sales enquiries by phone and email, including delivery follow-ups.
• Process sales transactions and internal gifting accurately via the POS system, assisting the team with technical issues as needed.
• Prepare staff rotas, ensuring full shop coverage and accurate payroll records and provide clear weekend handover notes to support team continuity.
• Working collaboratively with the Publications and Retail Manager, curate the bookshop stock selection in response to the exhibition programme, represented artists, seasonal activity and new book launches.

Bookshop operations and stock management

• Open the bookshop daily, ensuring displays are presented to a high standard and equipment is ready for trade.
• Maintain a clean, organised and welcoming retail environment throughout the day.
• Liaise with the design team to produce and upkeep accurate, high-quality in-store signage.
• Collaborate with the Publications and Retail Manager to ensure the book offer and visual displays align with White Cube’s exhibition programme and highlight new and relevant titles.
• Liaise with the Prints and Multiples team to facilitate new hangs in the Bookshop that reflect the exhibition programme.
• Oversee stock security and key management, reporting incidents of theft, malicious damage or safety concerns immediately to the Publications and Retail Manager and security staff. Oversee regular stocktakes, ensuring accurate inventory counts and stock integrity.
• Work closely with the team to monitor sales trends throughout the week, identifying bestsellers and ensuring timely reordering of high-performing titles.
• Work with the Publications and Retail Manager to actively identify commercial opportunities to boost customer engagement and sales.
• Maintain packaging and shop supply levels.
• Monitor stock levels through sales reporting and make necessary returns of third-party publications where appropriate to distributors.

Online and administration

• Upload new titles to the online Bookshop, liaising with Editorial and Design teams.
• Manage the end-to-end processing of online orders, including invoices and POs, ensuring timely dispatch and accurate documentation.
• Liaise with suppliers, stockists, couriers and storage partners to ensure smooth operations and resolve issues proactively.
• Support the Publications and Retail Manager with KPI monitoring, sales reporting, and monthly reports to the relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate the distribution of book titles across all White Cube galleries globally.
• Ensure bookshop operations and purchasing remain within the agreed budget parameters.

General duties

• Communicate effectively with the team to ensure consistent messaging and collaborative working.
• Attend staff meetings and provide cover for colleagues when required.
• Assist in the coordination and management of events both on and offsite.

This JD is not exhaustive.

Qualifications and skills and expertise

• Proven experience in a similar role, preferably within arts or retail.
• Strong organisational and multitasking ability.
• Excellent communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Dedicated to the importance of creating memorable visitor experiences.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accurate record keeping.
• Proficiency in inventory management and online shop systems.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexible and willing to assist with events outside standard working hours.
• Interest and knowledge for art and books is desired.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.