Employment

The Yiddish Book Center offers meaningful and challenging positions, a warm, friendly atmosphere, competitive salaries, and excellent benefits. We are seeking applicants for the following positions (see details below):​

​

Museum Store Manager

The Yiddish Book Center seeks a Museum Store Manager who will be responsible for overall operations of the Center’s book and gift shop, including its online counterpart on the Center’s website. This includes maintaining and developing a selection of products related to Yiddish language and culture, creating engaging presentation of store content both onsite and online, as well as overseeing daily operations, financial reporting, and use of business systems for furthering the store’s and the organization’s objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

MERCHANDISING AND PROMOTION

  • Maintain and explore new merchandise that reflect and enhance the Yiddish Book Center’s mission and that support the Center’s educational and public programs
  • Create attractive displays and promote Yiddish Book Center products onsite and in online and print media
  • Support sales of the Center’s publications, especially titles from the Center’s White Goat Press publishing venture
  • Recommend products for Yiddish Book Center branding and support efforts to develop approved items
  • Plan promotions and help market shop in traditional and social media, in conjunction with communications department

ONLINE STORE 

  • Manage store website, including keeping online content fresh and lively, updating the storefront/homepage, maintaining site navigation, and presenting products in creative ways
  • Making the best use of online technology to track and analyze sales, manage pricing and inventory; and explore new tools for enhancing current functions (i.e., shipping systems, sale of digital content, etc.)
  • Prepare promotions for regular e-newsletter, work with Communications and other staff to develop online sales outreach campaigns around holidays and other themes (Hanukkah, Passover, summer reading, etc.)

OPERATIONS AND FULFILLMENT

  • Maintain effective systems for managing store purchasing, shipping/receiving, marketing, sales, and inventory tracking
  • Generate monthly financial reports and work with accounting department to maintain appropriate financial processes and procedures
  • Oversee and manage the year-end physical inventory process 
  • Oversee daily operations: morning opening, cashing out, customer sales, daily reporting
  • Issue, record and receive purchases in retail system to ensure accurate inventory and pricing management
  • Process mail and web orders and respond to emails, phone calls and other correspondence in a timely fashion
  • Work with Yiddish book department to assist with processing and fulfillment of Yiddish book orders
  • Establish and document retail procedures, and train shop staff accordingly
  • Ensure displays are well kept and shelves well stocked
  • Staff the gift shop with additional personnel as needed, and train, mentor and monitor sales staff 
  • Ensure accuracy of sales and reporting
     

Qualifications:

  • Minimum two years of retail experience, including sales, purchasing, and display
  • Experience with retail systems, marketing, and staff management
  • Understanding of basic business practices, and facility with software and systems
  • Highly collaborative style and the ability to work with the public, as well as with vendors, authors, suppliers, staff
  • Sunday work required when Center re-opens to the public
  • Bachelors or associates degree
  • Familiarity with Jewish history and/or Yiddish a plus

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The position requires working at desk and using a computer for prolonged periods of time. The position also requires standing, walking, bending, climbing, and reaching (including packing, unpacking, moving, and shelving of books). Work will usually be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. Some work may be conducted remotely.

Application Process:

Send or e-mail cover letter and resume to: [email protected]. No phone calls please.

 

Wexler Oral History Project Assistant

The Yiddish Book Center seeks a motivated and experienced full-time Project Assistant to provide administrative and communications support for the ongoing collection and curation efforts of its Wexler Oral History Project.

Program Description:

Since 2010, the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project has recorded more than 1,000 in-depth video interviews that provide a deeper understanding of the Jewish experience and the legacy and changing nature of Yiddish language and culture. The interviews in our growing collection are conducted in English, Yiddish, and other languages with narrators of all ages from a variety of backgrounds and are made publicly accessible on the Yiddish Book Center’s website.

Position Description:

The Wexler Oral History Project’s Assistant provides essential support for the maintenance and growth of the Yiddish Book Center’s collection of in-depth video oral history interviews through:

  • Fielding inquiries from the public about the work of the Project
  • Coordination of oral history interviews and remote fieldwork
  • Curating content from oral history collection for website, social media, and other communications
  • Maintaining databases and files
  • Assist with project outreach, including film distribution
  • Administrative support to Project Director and staff
  • Other tasks as assigned

Competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications:

Required:

  • Commitment to program mission
  • Excellent written and oral communication and organizational skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Excellent time management skills
  • Ability to update and maintain integrated tracking system for a complex workflow and expansive project
  • Ability to work efficiently both independently and as part of a team
  • Flexibility and ability to adapt to a growing project
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Google apps, and social media platforms

Preferred:

  • Familiarity with modern Jewish history and culture
  • Familiarity with Yiddish language
  • Experience with archives or data systems
  • BA or equivalent

Note: This position is remote due to the pandemic with plans to return on-site in Amherst, MA when deemed safe.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 
The position requires working at desk and using a computer for prolonged periods of time. The position also requires standing, walking, bending, climbing, and reaching. Work will usually be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. 

To apply:

Send cover letter, resume, and contact information for two references to [email protected].

The Yiddish Book Center is an equal opportunity employer.