Phoenix Books (Vermont) Seeks General Manager

General Manager - Phoenix Books

Independent Bookstore Group — Vermont | 3 Locations
Full time, exempt (salaried)

About Phoenix Books

Phoenix Books exists to further local, independent and socially responsible bookselling since opening in 2007. Now operating in three Vermont locations with expansion plans in place, the overarching mission of Phoenix Books centers on preserving local independent bookstores, supporting the community, and promoting economic localism. Annual revenues exceed $4 million with approximately 45 employees across all sites. Phoenix Books is privately held by two owners with more than 30 years of experience in the book industry in Vermont.

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced, energetic, and innovative retail leader to oversee operations across our three Vermont bookstore locations. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance the financial and operational discipline of a growing multi-site business with a genuine love for books and the communities we serve. You'll manage a team of roughly 40 employees across three store managers, own the company's P&L, and set the strategic direction for buying, merchandising, and customer experience across all locations.

This role reports directly to ownership.

Key Responsibilities

Financial & Strategic Leadership

• Own full P&L across all locations — budgeting, margin management, payroll-to-sales ratios, and expense control
• Deliver consolidated financial reporting and analyze site-by-site performance
• Set and track annual revenue and profitability targets

Operations & Inventory

• Lead company-wide buying strategy and publisher/vendor relationships, leveraging combined purchasing volume across sites
• Oversee inventory allocation and stock transfer logistics between locations
• Standardize POS systems, training programs, and merchandising standards while allowing for local flexibility at each site

People Leadership

• Hire, coach, and manage performance for all site-level Store Managers
• Set staffing and scheduling standards across a 45+ person team
• Create and deliver trainings to all staff to support strong skill development
• Build a consistent culture and set of operating practices across all locations

Community & Brand

• Represent the business publicly and maintain relationships with local media, schools, and community organizations
• Guide company-wide events and programming strategy (author events, book clubs, partnerships)
• Travel regularly between all three sites

Qualifications

• 5+ years of retail management or bookstore experience, including multi-site operations
• Proven experience managing a P&L at a comparable revenue scale
• Proven experience and skill as a bookseller
• Strong buying, merchandising, and vendor negotiation experience
• Demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and hold other managers accountable
• Knowledge of with POS systems and POS reporting (iMerchant experience preferred)
• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Passion for books and independent retail culture required
• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel regularly between sites required

Compensation

$90,000 base salary plus performance bonus tied to consolidated revenue and margin targets

Location

Vermont. Work is primarily performed onsite at one of the stores, with regular visits to all three sites required several times per month. Remote work permitted approximately 20% of the workweek. Assistance with expenses to relocate to Vermont is negotiable.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to heather@phoenixbooks.biz. We look forward to meeting you!