Supreme Court Gift Shop Manager

Gift Shop Manager

Supreme Court Historical Society | Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court Historical Society seeks a Gift Shop Manager to oversee its gift shop located inside the Supreme Court of the United States and its online store. The Manager leads daily retail operations, purchasing, inventory, staff supervision, and customer service while helping visitors connect with the history and significance of the Supreme Court.

The Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the Supreme Court. Its gift shop offers books, gifts, and commemorative merchandise reflecting the Court’s history, architecture, and traditions.

This full-time position reports to the Society’s Chief Administrative Officer and offers primarily Monday–Friday, daytime hours. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required for special events.

Responsibilities

Retail Operations and Financial Management

• Manage daily operations of the on-site and online gift shop, including purchasing, pricing, inventory, merchandising, and product displays.
• Maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and well-stocked shop that reflects the standards of the Society and its setting within the Supreme Court.
• Manage the shop’s budget in coordination with the Chief Administrative Officer, monitoring sales, expenses, purchasing costs, and profit margins.
• Analyze sales trends and prepare regular reports with recommendations to improve performance, control costs, and identify growth opportunities.
• Ensure accurate daily reconciliation of cash and credit card transactions, deposits, and financial records.
• Follow Society purchasing and accounting policies, maintain inventory controls, coordinate physical inventory counts, and support audit requests.
• Coordinate shop operations and deliveries with appropriate Court offices, following applicable building access and security procedures.

Purchasing and Inventory

• Select books, gifts, and merchandise that reflect the Supreme Court’s history and the Society’s educational mission.
• Develop exclusive and commemorative merchandise with vendors, coordinating pricing, minimum orders, production timelines, and quality control.
• Work with Society leadership and appropriate Court contacts on products requiring review or approval.
• Maintain vendor relationships, negotiate pricing and terms, and coordinate timely deliveries.
• Maintain accurate inventory records, oversee receiving and replenishment, and investigate discrepancies.
• Monitor inventory turnover and recommend strategies to reduce excess or slow-moving stock.
• Organize and maintain the Society’s off-site storage unit, including product retrieval and seasonal stock rotation.

Online Store and Marketing

• Maintain accurate online product listings, pricing, descriptions, images, and inventory availability.
• Oversee online order fulfillment, shipping, returns, and customer inquiries.
• Coordinate inventory availability between the physical shop and online store.
• Serve as the primary contact for the web development team and product photographer.
• Coordinate email campaigns, featured products, and seasonal promotions with Society staff and contractors.
• Monitor online sales performance and recommend improvements to the customer experience.
• Collaborate with other Society departments to promote publications, educational programs, and special events through merchandise and related promotions.

Staff Supervision and Customer Service

• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise gift shop staff in coordination with the Chief Administrative Officer.
• Establish clear expectations, provide ongoing coaching, address performance and attendance concerns promptly, and conduct annual performance reviews.
• Ensure reliable staffing coverage during regular operations, peak visitor periods, and special events; provide direct floor coverage as needed.
• Maintain timely, professional communication with staff, Society leadership, Court personnel, vendors, and contractors.
• Follow through on assignments, meet deadlines, and implement organizational priorities and directives.
• Provide attentive service to Court visitors, Society members, Court personnel, and online customers, resolving concerns professionally.
• Ensure staff can answer product questions and appropriately direct inquiries about the Court or Society.
• Foster a respectful, collaborative workplace and ensure staff follow Society policies and applicable Court procedures.

Qualifications

Required

• At least three years of retail management experience, including direct staff supervision and responsibility for daily store operations.
• Experience hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, and evaluating employees, including addressing performance and attendance concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a retail budget, evaluate gross margins, control purchasing costs, and use sales data to guide decisions.
• Experience with purchasing, vendor management, inventory controls, physical inventory counts, and resolving discrepancies.
• Hands-on experience managing an online store, including product listings, order fulfillment, shipping, and returns.
• Proficiency with point-of-sale systems and Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Clear, professional communication and consistent follow-through with staff, leadership, vendors, and contractors.
• Excellent customer service skills, sound judgment, and discretion appropriate to working within the Supreme Court.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate across departments, and follow established security and approval procedures.
• Willingness to assist directly with sales, stocking, packing orders, and other daily operational needs.
• Ability to lift and move merchandise weighing up to 40 pounds, stand for extended periods, and perform stocking and merchandising tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to visit and work at the Society’s off-site storage facility as needed.

Preferred

• Shopify experience strongly preferred.
• Experience developing custom or exclusive merchandise, including coordinating production timelines, minimum orders, and quality control.
• Experience in museum, cultural institution, historic site, or specialty retail.
• Familiarity with Salesforce.
• Interest in American history, the Supreme Court, or the Society’s educational mission.

Benefits

• Employer-paid 401(k) contribution of 6% of annual salary after six months of employment.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents at minimal employee cost.
• Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) covering eligible deductible expenses.
• Pre-tax flexible spending and commuter benefit options.
• Paid time off, holidays, and sick leave.
• Employee discount.

Job Type: Full-time Work Location: In person at the Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C.

This position is employed by the Supreme Court Historical Society, an independent nonprofit organization, and is not a federal government position.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person