General Manager

Watermark Books - General Manager Position

In response to community need, www.FirstRungPartners.org, a private nonprofit foundation that supports early stage businesses and entrepreneurs in Eastern North Carolina, purchased an historic building in the downtown waterfront district in Beaufort, NC for the purpose of opening a for-profit independent bookstore. Three business partners, along with local architects, designers, and general contractors, are renovating the 2200 s.f. space with a goal of opening in early summer, 2026. The General Manager will be a key part of the team prior to the store opening with a broad scope of creative and managerial authority in collaboration with the owners. A website and social media are in design. A pathway for building ownership in the company is available.

The General Manager must have a passion for books, be an avid reader, love talking about books, and be skillful at matching customers with the best books for their interests. The Bookstore Manager is the heart of the shop—overseeing daily operations while shaping the store’s voice, selection, and role in the local community. This role blends retail management with literary curation, event programming, and relationship-building. Prior retail sales experience is beneficial. The GM will oversee daily operations, support a small team of booksellers, curate inventory and book-related merchandise, and help establish and strengthen Watermark’s role in the community. This is a full-time salaried position with benefits. A pathway for building ownership in the company is available.

Core Responsibilities

Operations: Oversee all aspects of a retail location, including daily opening and closing procedures, cash management, POS and inventory systems, sales floor layout and merchandising

Curation & Inventory: Select and order books across genres, manage inventory to meet profitability goals, curate literary-themed and branded merchandise, monitor sales trends, and handle special orders

Staff Leadership: Hire, train, schedule, support and supervise booksellers, potentially including volunteers, and expand sales associates’ roles as their individual skills emerge

Customer & Community: Build healthy relationships with customers (full-time local residents and many seasonal tourists and visitors), local partners and community organizations, including neighboring businesses (food, beverage, and retail)

Events & Outreach: Coordinate author and literary-inspired events, book clubs, and in-store programming with effective marketing and social media strategies while establishing and maintaining relationships with authors, agents, and publishers

Financial Stewardship: Monitor sales and inventory health, support budgeting, payroll and bookkeeping functions, coordinate vendor relationships, and report regularly to the owners

Ideal Traits:Sincere love of books and independent bookstores; community-minded and relationship-oriented; organized, proactive, and adaptable; comfortable wearing many hats in a small-business environment; warm, curious, and confident making recommendations; willingness to work weekends and evenings as needed

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

Salary:$45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year