Assistant shop manager

Sense; Coventry; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

24 days’ annual leave

Training and development opportunities

Health and wellbeing support

A workplace pension

Employee discounts

Job summary

Sense Willenhall Shop in Coventry is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Shop Manager to help run a welcoming charity shop and lead a volunteer team. You will contribute to friendly customer service, effective merchandising and safe shop operations, turning donated goods into vital income for people with complex disabilities.

This role offers progression in a purpose-driven environment. The position is permanent, 15 hours per week, with two 7.5-hour shifts across Monday to Sunday.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail, customer service or a similar customer-facing environment.
• Friendly, approachable manner with commitment to excellent service.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to motivate, encourage and support others.
• Willingness to learn and contribute to shop success.

Responsibilities

• Create a welcoming shopping experience and provide excellent customer service.
• Support the Shop Manager with day-to-day running including opening/closing.
• Motivate and support volunteers to feel valued and involved.
• Maximise sales and donations through merchandising and stock management.
• Ensure items are sorted, priced and presented to a high standard.
• Support recruitment, induction and development of volunteers.
• Maintain a safe, organised and welcoming environment.
• Take responsibility for the shop when the Shop Manager is absent.

Skills

Retail experience

Customer service

Leadership

Volunteer coordination

Organisational skills

Flexible schedule

Job description

Assistant Shop Manager – Willenhall, Coventry

Love retail? Put your skills to work for a cause that matters.

Imagine a retail role where creating an inviting shop, delivering excellent customer service and inspiring a team all contribute to making a difference.

At Sense, we're looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Shop Manager to help our Willenhall charity shop thrive.

You'll work alongside the Shop Manager to create a welcoming shopping experience, support our volunteers and help turn donated goods into vital income that supports people with complex disabilities.

Whether you're an experienced retail supervisor or looking to take the next step towards management, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in a rewarding, purpose-driven environment.

About the role

Location: Sense Willenhall Shop, Unit 9, 90 Remembrance Road, Coventry, CV3 3DP

Salary: £13.00 per hour

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 15 hours per week

Working pattern: Two 7.5-hour shifts per week, across Monday to Sunday

What will you be doing?

As Assistant Shop Manager, you'll play an important role in the day-to-day success of the shop, helping to create an enjoyable experience for customers, donors and volunteers.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Creating a welcoming shopping experience, providing excellent customer service and encouraging repeat visits.
• Supporting the Shop Manager with the day-to-day running of the shop, including opening and closing procedures.
• Motivating and supporting volunteers, helping them feel valued, confident and involved.
• Helping to maximise sales and donations through effective merchandising, attractive displays and stock management.
• Ensuring donated items are sorted, priced and presented to a high standard.
• Supporting the recruitment, induction and development of volunteers.
• Maintaining a safe, organised and welcoming environment for everyone.
• Taking responsibility for the shop when the Shop Manager is absent.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute ideas, develop your leadership skills and help make the shop a valued part of the local community.

Develop your skills and grow with Sense

We believe that a great retail career should offer opportunities to learn, develop and progress.

As an Assistant Shop Manager, you’ll gain valuable experience in charity retail, volunteer coordination and shop operations while developing the skills needed to take on greater responsibility.

You’ll have opportunities to:

• Develop your leadership and people‑management skills, supporting and motivating a volunteer team.
• Build commercial retail experience, including merchandising, stock management and driving sales.
• Access online and face‑to‑face training opportunities.
• Explore leadership and management development opportunities.
• Learn from experienced retail colleagues and share ideas across the wider Sense retail team.

What we're looking for

We’re looking for someone who enjoys retail, brings positive energy to their work and knows how to make customers and volunteers feel welcome.

You’ll bring:

• Experience in retail, customer service or a similar customer‑facing environment.
• A friendly, approachable manner and a commitment to excellent customer service.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Confidence working independently and taking responsibility when needed.
• The ability to motivate, encourage and support others.
• An eye for attractive displays and an interest in maximising sales.
• A flexible approach to working, including availability across the seven‑day trading week.
• A willingness to learn and contribute to the success of the shop.

Previous supervisory experience or experience working with volunteers would be an advantage, but we’re equally interested in your enthusiasm, initiative and potential to grow.

Alongside the opportunity to make a meaningful difference, you’ll have access to a range of employee benefits, including:

• 24 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holiday entitlement, increasing with service and adjusted according to your contracted hours.
• Training and development opportunities, including online and face‑to‑face learning.
• Leadership and management development opportunities.
• Health and wellbeing support.
• A workplace pension.
• Employee discounts and other benefits, subject to eligibility.

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life.

Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

Our values guide everything we do:

• We’re creating change.
• We’re always learning.
• We’re better together.

Ready to make a difference through retail?

If you’re looking for a rewarding retail role where you can develop your skills, support a fantastic team and contribute to a meaningful cause, we’d love to hear from you.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. All appointments are subject to relevant pre‑employment checks.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from disabled people and people from underrepresented ethnic minority communities.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme