HWS Store Student Chief Executive Officer

Position Title: HWS Store Student Chief Executive Officer

Semester/Year: 2026 Fall Semester

Total Positions Available: 1

Supervisor: Kristen Tapscott

Pay rate: $16

Hours per week: 20

Start Date: August 31, 2026

End Date: December 11, 2026

Summary

The Student Chief Executive Officer (Student CEO) serves as the senior student leader within the College Store. Working in close partnership with the Director of the College Store, the Student CEO provides strategic input, operational leadership, and peer engagement to advance the store’s financial performance, customer experience, and campus integration.

This role is designed as a hands-on executive learning opportunity. The Student CEO leads student project teams, contributes to merchandising and marketing strategy, analyzes business performance metrics, and represents the voice of the student body in shaping the future of the College Store.

The position blends applied business leadership, retail operations, data analysis, branding strategy, and campus partnership development.

Qualifications

• Current HWS junior or senior student in good academic standing. Preference will be given to students who have served in any of the other student College Store roles in the past.
• Strong interest in business, marketing, economics, entrepreneurship, or leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership experience on campus.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Interest in data-informed decision making.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Campus Engagement (40%)

• Serve as the primary student ambassador for the College Store.
• Lead the Student Advisory Board and supervise student project leads (Marketing, Finance, and Purchasing).
• Partner with the College Store Director to evaluate new initiatives including course materials strategies and merchandising expansions.
• Gather and synthesize student feedback on pricing, product mix, branding, and store experience.
• Present recommendations to campus stakeholders when appropriate.
• Assist in shaping communication strategies to increase student engagement with the store and eCommerce platform.

Retail Operations & Merchandising (25%) 

• Collaborate on product selection, trend research, and emblematic assortment strategy.
• Analyze sales data to identify best sellers, slow movers, and pricing opportunities.
• Support inventory planning initiatives and evaluate sell-through performance.
• Participate in visual merchandising planning and promotional campaigns.
• Contribute to in-store experience enhancements and event-based retail opportunities.
• Participates in general responsibilities around the store as needed, such as inventorying, assisting with sales, and ensuring upkeep of the store.

Marketing & Communications (20%)

• Oversee student-driven marketing initiatives, including social media campaigns.
• Assist in reviewing promotional messaging to ensure alignment with student interests.
• Partner with Admissions, Athletics, and Advancement to enhance campus branding integration.
• Develop peer-focused engagement strategies that increase store traffic and digital sales.

Financial & Business Analytics (15%)

• Review monthly financial dashboards with the Director.
• Assist in preparing summary analysis of revenue trends and margin performance.
• Conduct benchmarking research on higher education retail trends.
• Participate in annual strategic planning and goal setting discussions.
• Contribute to budget-conscious decision making in student-led initiatives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal Student CEO is:

• Entrepreneurial and forward-thinking
• Comfortable interpreting financial data
• Curious about retail trends and consumer behavior
• Collaborative and relationship-driven
• Willing to challenge assumptions and propose new ideas
• Motivated to leave a lasting impact on the campus store experience

Compensation includes the hourly student wage plus academic credit in coordination with Business Management faculty. Depending on the commitment of hours, the student can elect either:

• INT 299 (1 credit) for 240 hours or less, with an academic essay and presentation required at the end of the experience

          Or

• MGMT 499 (1 credit) for 240 hours and can count as an elective to the major or concentration within the major. Requires biweekly reflections, a final essay and presentation.

Students hired into on-campus jobs must complete federal employment paperwork, including the Form I9. Students must present original documents indicating they are eligible to work in the U.S. Photocopies of documents cannot be accepted. Students should ensure they have their documents on campus or have a plan to get their documents to campus if they are hired to work on campus.