Events & Marketing Coordinator

Events and Marketing Coordinator

Your resume will only be considered if accompanied by an articulate cover letter.

Bookends & Beginnings in Chicago’s North Shore university town of Evanston seeks an Events and Marketing Coordinator to join our Events and Marketing Team! The ideal candidate will be familiar with the Chicagoland literary community and be responsible for creating event descriptions, posting them on our website and social media platforms, and executing a checklist of activities that will ensure the event is successful. This person will also be trained as a bookseller and will spend 8-16 hours on the sales floor a week, to create familiarity with the store’s vibe, inventory, and customers. Because events are usually held in the evening, or on weekends, evening and weekend availability will be required. We are looking for someone who is extremely well organized, detail-oriented, and meticulous, and who is comfortable with and can learn promotional platforms including Constant Contact and basic design programs such as Canva. This position ranges from 32 to 40 hours a week.

This position is evolving and will have opportunity for growth in the future.

About the store: Opened in June 2014, Bookends & Beginnings has become a major presence in Chicago’s independent bookstore community. Our relocated store at 1620 Orrington Ave carries new books, used books, and gifts. We regularly hold both in-person and virtual author events and frequently partner with organizations in Evanston and the great Chicago area.

Bookends & Beginnings is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create a kind, safe, and welcoming space where everyone is treated equally, fairly, and thoughtfully, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. We value the diversity of identities and experiences our staffers bring to our store because they enrich the selection of books we carry and the conversations that we conduct. We expect that everyone - booksellers and customers alike - uphold these standards online and in our shared physical space.

Daily Activities:

Posting events on the bookstore website, Eventbrite, and store’s social medias. Creating twice-monthly newsletter and signage and flyers to promote events.

Working most events, including set up and breakdown, writing and delivering author introductions, overseeing event logistics.

· Assisting in planning some special events, including Independent Bookstore Day and Small Business Saturday, as well as authorless social events in our Downstairs MiniBar.

· Training and working as a bookseller for regular shifts to gain familiarity with the store and our customers.

· Working occasional shifts in our MiniBar, which offers single-serving beverages and prepackaged snacks. It does not require any bartending experience but does require a 4-hour Basset certification training.

Requirements:

· Love of books and love of talking about books

· Positive attitude: Friendly, approachable, professional, collaborative, oriented toward problem-solving and brainstorming.

· Ability to master POS system and other programs we depend on to keep the store functioning.

· Ability to lift 40 lbs. boxes.

· Willingness to commit to a regular permanent work schedule (i.e. we cannot accommodate seasonally changing student schedules and vacations)

· Availability to work at least one weekend day.

· Availability to work some later hours, for events and on a regular basis during the part of the year when the store stays open later.

· A high level of organization, especially when managing calendars, high volumes of email, and time-sensitive tasks.

· A high level of written and verbal communication skills.

· A high level of interpersonal skill and the ability to collaborate well with others.

· A creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial approach to event programming.

· Availability and willingness to work a mix of days, nights and weekends.

Experience we are especially looking for:

· Familiarity and experience with bookselling. Social media is also a plus.

· 1+ years of events programming experience.

· Access to a car for offsite events

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $37,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Evanston, IL 60201: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person