Lovestruck Books & Cafe

Role Snapshot

As General Manager, you are the top bookstore leader onsite and the primary bridge between the retail floor and company leadership, reporting directly to the COO. You provide strategic direction to a team of Assistant Store Managers (ASMs) across Buying (Books & Gifts), Visuals, and Customer Experience. This is a hands-on leadership role for a master coach who can prioritize competing work needs and build systems that ensure both employee satisfaction and business goals remain interconnected.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership, Coaching & HR Management

• Management & Mentorship: Lead and develop a team of ~25. Provide high-level guidance to AMs to ensure they are effective and supportive to their teams and that they hit goals in Buying, Visuals, and CX.
• Complex Scheduling & HR: Own staff scheduling and time-off management, skillfully balancing the needs of the team with the high-traffic demands of the company. Assist with benefits administration, handbook updates and adherence, and personnel concerns.
• Training & Monitoring: Act as the primary trainer for the management team; implement rigorous monitoring to ensure new SOPs are followed and changes are sustained.
• Workplace Wellbeing: Foster a culture of accountability and joy, ensuring staff feel heard, supported, and professional development is prioritized.

Operations & Systems Architecture

• Prioritization & Execution: Expertly manage competing work needs, ensuring urgent operational tasks are completed without losing sight of long-term projects.
• Systems Design & Enforcement: Design, document, and maintain SOPs for all operational needs and ensure these are executed daily.
• Technical Optimization: Optimize usage of Bookmanager (POS/Inventory) and other tools to remove friction and improve data accuracy.
• Facility & Compliance: Coordinate with vendors for maintenance and safety; maintain adherence to MA retail regulations and labor laws.

Functional Oversight & Collaboration

• Strategic Buying & Merch: Guide Book and Gift buyers on curation, margin health, and turns. Partner with Visual and Marketing leads to align floor sets with promotional calendars.
• Cross-Functional Liaison: Support the Events team for operational readiness for signings, launches, and events. Serve as the key liaison to the Cafe/Bar leadership to ensure storewide harmony.

Financial Performance & Evolving Scope

• P&L Ownership: Manage retail P&L drivers: sales targets, gross margin, labor %, and shrink. Use data to pivot based on results and risks.
• Growth & Adaptability: Adapt to new requirements, take on special projects, and evolve the role as the company scales.

What You’ll Bring

• Retail Leadership: 2–5+ years as a retail General Manager (independent retail preferred).
• Master Coach: Exceptional training skills; able to develop managers and maintain accountability.
• Time Management & Prioritization: Exceptional personal timekeeping and organization; proven ability to manage competing demands and meet strict company deadlines.
• Functional Expertise: High proficiency in promotions, inventory cycles, visuals, and CX.
• Systems Builder: Success building SOPs and workflows in a fast-paced, growth-phase environment.
• Outstanding Communication: Ability to foster trust across all levels and align diverse teams. ● Meticulous Detail: A natural obsession with organization; you catch small gaps before they scale.
• Availability: Available for a variable schedule including weekdays, weekends, nights, events, and holidays.

How to Apply: Email resume, cover letter to mlauzon@retailnetwork.com. Please do not reach out to the store location or staff directly regarding your application. All inquiries should be directed to the email above.

Lovestruck Books & Cafe is an independent, romance-focused bookstore in Cambridge, MA. We are a community hub grounded in inclusivity, joy, and a deep love of the romance genre. Having passed our first anniversary, we are a growing business in an active startup phase--building the systems to support our next chapter.