Relief Manager - Charity Retail

The Willow Foundation; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK charity organization seeks a Retail Manager to oversee operations in charity shops, manage volunteers, and maximize income. The ideal candidate will possess solid retail experience and a good understanding of charity retail best practices. Key responsibilities include achieving sales targets and maintaining high shop standards. This role requires frequent travel and occasional weekend work.

Qualifications

• Good understanding of retail operations.
• Understanding trends and best practices in charity retail.
• Good understanding of stock management and trading standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage Assistant Manager(s) and Volunteers.
• Achieve sales and profit targets to increase the number of Special Days.
• Control shop expenditure in line with budget.

Skills

Accurate, conscientious, and self-motivated

Good communication skills

Ability to plan, prioritise, and organise

Creative visual merchandising

Ability to motivate and develop teams

Education

GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

Job description

Job Purpose

Willow's charity shops deliver sustainable income for the charity, supporting the delivery of more than 1,000 special days, treats or breaks for our beneficiaries each year. Our shops also play a key role in the local community, raising awareness and support for Willow, as well as providing opportunities for volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide cover in Willow retail shops, managing Assistant Manager(s) and Volunteers, including the recruitment and retention of a motivated team of volunteers.
• Ensure income and profit maximisation through maximising donations, preparation of items for sale, sales and disposals of un-saleable items to trade merchants.
• Achieve sales and profit targets in order that we are able to increase the number of Special Days for seriously ill young adults.
• To achieve the optimum price for all donated stock.
• To maximise sign-ups for Retail Gift Aid and ensuring full records are maintained for donations under this scheme.
• To control shop expenditure in line with budget, applying Willow policies for purchasing at all times.
• To manage customer and donor engagement ensuring the best possible relationship with Willow.
• To manage the physical appearance of the shop maintaining high standards of shop merchandising and visual layout, controlling stock density and rotation systems, ensuring that it is inviting to customers and safe for customers, staff and volunteers at all times.
• To contribute to the development of retail through innovation, ideas and creativity, feeding back all team ideas to the Area Manager and Head of Retail.
• To demonstrate understanding of Willow's purpose and activities striving to improve brand awareness and communicate key messages in order to raise the charity's profile.
• To complete all shop administration including cash handling and banking functions accurately and to deadline, ensuring company policies and procedures are adhered to.
• To plan and organise daily workload for team, encouraging effective communication, setting objectives and fostering a positive team spirit.
• To ensure that trading standard regulations are adhered to at all times.

Generic Responsibilities

• To ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes Willow's equality and diversity policies.
• To promote a health and safety culture within the workplace, observing all health and safety rules and procedures and attend all training courses as required.
• To ensure that essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to, or discussed with inappropriate persons and that all information is maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
• To undertake other duties, commensurate with the post, as required.

Travel Requirements

• To cover shops in the Willow network on a regular basis; to attend meetings at Head Office; to attend Shop Managers meetings; training sessions as required.
• Willow's shops are located in: Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City and Biggleswade.

Unsocial Hours Requirement

• To work on Saturdays (and by prior agreement Sundays) on occasion.

Knowledge and Qualifications

• Good understanding of retail operations.
• Good understanding of stock management.
• Understanding trends and best practice in charity retail.
• Good understanding of retail gift aid and related processes.
• Good understanding of health and safety and trading standards.
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent literacy and numeracy skills.

Key Skills

• Accurate, conscientious, and self-motivated.
• Ability to work on own and use initiative and make decisions.
• Ability to plan, prioritise, and organise.
• Good communication skills at all levels.
• Creative e.g. visual merchandising, marketing.
• Ability to motivate, engage and develop teams to deliver results.

Experience

Proven retail experience in charity sector.

Personal Attributes

• Self-starter - high energy levels.
• Positive and enthusiastic.
• Resourceful, problem solver.
• Strong professionally - credible with integrity.
• Good listener - will challenge constructively and respond well to feedback.
• An affinity with Willow's objectives and activities.
• Mobility - the job entails frequent travel.
• Some Saturday and Sunday working is required (with notice).