Retail Assistant

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a leading council as a Retail Assistant at Suffolk Archives in Ipswich. You'll deliver excellent customer service, manage shop operations, and promote local history. This role offers flexible working and a commitment to employee well-being.

Benefits

Annual Leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Health and Wellbeing Benefits

Training Opportunities

Flexible Working Options

Qualifications

• Experience in retail or customer service.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Comfortable handling cash and using point-of-sale systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide friendly and professional customer service.
• Handle purchases and support cashing up.
• Maintain attractive displays and monitor stock levels.

Skills

Customer Service

Communication

Organizational Skills

Cash Handling

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Suffolk County Council - The Hold, Ipswich, IP4 1LR - On Site
• £24,404 per annum (pro rata)
• 22.5 hours per week - Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9.15am - 5.30pm each day. (Weekend hours are paid an enhanced rate)
• Permanent

Suffolk County Council's Suffolk Archives is dedicated to preserving and sharing important historical records.

We're seeking an approachable and reliable individual to assist with the day-to-day operations of the Suffolk Archives shop at The Hold, in Ipswich.

If you enjoy working with people, take pride in delivering excellent customer service, and are excited about contributing to a place that celebrates Suffolk's rich history, we'd love to hear from you.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Retail Assistant, you'll play an important role in creating a welcoming and engaging experience for our visitors. Working as part of our Front of House Team, you'll:

• provide friendly and professional customer service to everyone who visits the shop
• handle purchases, operate the till, and support end-of-day cashing up
• help maintain attractive and tidy displays
• monitor stock levels and assist with restocking and deliveries
• promote Suffolk Archives exhibitions, events, and café
• welcome visitors and support front-of-house operations
• collect and record visitor information, such as numbers and spend
• support volunteers working on the front desk.

You'll be working closely with the Service Manager and the rest of the team to ensure everything runs smoothly day to day.

You will need

• experience in retail or customer service
• to be comfortable handling cash and using point-of-sale systems
• the ability to stay calm under pressure and enjoy working in a busy setting
• to be organised and pay attention to the details
• to communicate well and enjoy chatting with a wide range of people
• the ability to work on your own and with a team
• experience using Microsoft Office.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx) . If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

Suffolk Archives is a small, flexible, proactive team that is passionate about sharing Suffolk's local history and heritage with a wider audience. Archive Assistants work as part of our Operations Team which is responsible for providing public access to the collections housed at The Hold in Ipswich.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

For more information

Please contact Katie Angus (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by calling 01473 260858 or emailing [e-mail]

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).

Step 2 - Click Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the Person Profile' section of theJPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template .
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing [e-mail] or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 26 May 2025.

Interview date:5 June 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .