Assistant Shop Manager - Christchurch

Blue Cross; Hurn; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A charitable organization in Hurn is seeking a part-time retail manager to lead a team and drive sales from donations. The role requires retail experience, leadership skills, and a commitment to excellent customer service. This position offers a supportive working environment with a generous benefits package, including holiday entitlement and health support services.

Benefits

38 days holiday rising to 43 with service

Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support

Free access to GP services

Health cash plan

Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution

Life assurance

20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance

Annual volunteer days

Charity worker discounts

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a retail environment is essential.
• Cash handling and reconciliation experience required.
• Experience of leading a team and providing great customer service.

Responsibilities

• Support the Shop Manager in driving sales and sourcing donations.
• Build a customer base and network of donors.
• Guide team of volunteers to create a welcoming shopping experience.

Skills

Retail management experience

Cash handling

Team leadership

Customer service

Administration skills

Job description

Description

Contract: Permanent, part time (14 hours over 2 days)

Salary: £8,957 per annum pro rata (£22,394 FTE)

Location: Saxon Square, Christchurch

Closing date: Sunday 30th November 2025

Interview date: Interviews will be arranged as applications are received

With over 50 charity shops across England and Wales, our Christchurch shop is based within a community that is rich with history and welcomes locals and tourists alike!

More about the role

Using your experience in retail management / leadership, you will work with our Shop Manager and local community to drive forward sales and source quality fashion, accessories and homeware from donations to regenerate and find a new home!

This store really needs someone who understands the local community and can work to build a solid customer base and network of generous donors. Every item sold helps fund our vital work : supporting sick, injured, and homeless pets and caring for over 40,000 animals each year through our rehoming, veterinary, and education programmes.

We're looking for a positive role model to join our leadership team, guiding our team of volunteers in creating a friendly and welcoming shopping experience. We'd like you to have experience of managing others and have creative ways to lead and motivate a team to achieve maximum success. In this role, you will be supporting the recruitment and training of new volunteers, sharing your knowledge of merchandising and provide a quality customer service to those both purchasing and donating.

Our shop is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 till 17:00 and your normal working pattern may change each week, subject to the needs of the business and the levels of staff and volunteers available to work. This working pattern includes weekends and bank holidays so having the ability to be flexible is essential, and you may also be required to support with additional holiday and sickness cover.

Join us today to have a career you can be proud of!

About you

You could be a current team leader or supervisor, looking to take on more management responsibility or you could be an experienced manager (or deputy) looking for a new challenge.

You will have

• Previous experience of working in a retail environment
• Cash handling and reconciliation experience
• Experience of leading a team
• Experience of providing great customer experience
• Computer and administration skills

It would also be great if you had

• Managing volunteers

How to apply

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.

Blue Cross benefits

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.

Our generous benefits package includes

• Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
• Free access to GP via MetLife- 24 / 7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
• Health cash plan
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
• Life assurance
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Recognition scheme
• Annual volunteer days
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.

If you’d like to learn more about Blue Cross, our mission, and the work we do to support animals and people, take a look at our About Us page