Kinderhook Books is hiring!
We are looking for a weekend EVENTS LEAD (May-October) team and a BOOKSELLER (April-September)! 

Events Lead. We are gearing up for a big events season in our wine garden—author talks, writing classes, book clubs, community dinners, gallery collaborations, among many other surprises—and we are looking for the right Events Lead to help us produce these gatherings without a hitch until October 1.

The right candidates are smart, well-read, hard-working, and personable—and they must be able to think on their feet to ensure every event is as perfect as possible. It’s a small business, and we’re a small team: We all get our hands a bit dirty setting up and breaking down an event. No prima donnas, please.

Here’s an idea of what a typical shift might include: 

  • Setting up and breaking down the seating, bar, and sound system

  • Restocking the bar and kitchen

  • Serving food and wine to customers

  • In a pinch, working the register inside the shop and helping customers with book selections

  • Setting up special features for an event—e.g., tents, lights, heaters, etc.

  • Cleaning bathroom, kitchen, and floors post-event

  • Tackling about a million more tasks (see above re: no prima donnas).

Weekday and Weekend Bookseller. We have a lot of exciting events and collaborations coming up this year, and we are looking for a Weekday Bookseller and two rotating Weekend Booksellers to work March through September. Our Booksellers have a true love—and gift!—for recommending books to our customers, so we are looking for someone who reads several books a month and has a list of their favorite books that they want the entire world to read.

Here’s an idea of what a typical shift might include: 

  • Unboxing inventory (boxes can weigh over 10 pounds) and breaking down boxes

  • Entering inventory and book metadata into our system

  • Shelving books on the ground floor and styling shelves

  • Carrying books to our second floor, shelving titles, and styling shelves

  • Working the register inside the shop and helping customers with book selections

  • Setting up special features for an event—e.g., tents, lights, heaters, display tables, etc.

  • Cleaning bathroom, kitchen, and floors post-event

Please note: Both positions are physical ones and require the ability to lift at least 15 pounds and to carry merchandise upstairs.

Building a community is important to us, which means we are looking for people who can ensure Kinderhook Books is a warm, friendly and inclusive place to gather, mingle, browse and buy.

All applicants must have equal and abiding respect for people of all races, belief systems, genders, lifestyles, sexual orientations, and socio-economic classes. This is absolutely non-negotiable.

While it is a definite plus if you have book industry, and/or restaurant experience, it isn’t a deal breaker if you don’t. Please note that these are temporary positions, so please only apply if you are absolutely available to work afternoons and evenings on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (Events Lead and Weekend Bookseller) and afternoons and evenings during the weekday (Weekday Bookseller) during these months.

Application Deadline: Friday, March 20. 

How To Apply

Send the following to: read@kinderhookbooks.com

1. Resume (including references)

2. Cover letter explaining why you are interested in working at Kinderhook Books and why you like our bookstore specifically.

3. Answers to the following questions (note: these questions must be answered to be considered for the job, so please don’t overlook them):

(a) If you had one day to live, what book would you re-read? 

(b) What work of fiction have you enjoyed over the past two years?

(c) What work of nonfiction have you enjoyed over the past two years?

(d) What is your favorite wine?

(e) What makes you uniquely qualified for this role? 

(g) Who is your favorite bulldog? (There’s only one answer, folks, so if you don’t follow us on Instagram, we’ll know.)