Retail Assistant

Manchester City Council; Manchester; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Local govt pension

Parental leave

MCR+ discounts

Learning opportunities

Employment Charter

Volunteering leave

Job summary

Manchester City Council’s Manchester Art Gallery is seeking a friendly Retail Assistant to deliver outstanding customer service in the gallery shop, helping visitors discover products inspired by art and Manchester’s cultural heritage.

You will work part-time, gain experience in retail merchandising, handle sales at the till, and contribute to income supporting exhibitions and public programmes. Enthusiasm for art and culture is valued.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and ability to create positive visitor experiences.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in a retail environment.
• Good product knowledge and ability to promote a diverse range of products.
• Experience of visual merchandising and creating appealing displays.
• Confidence in using point of sale systems.
• Good numeracy skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service in the gallery shop.
• Assist visitors with product discovery and recommendations.
• Maintain attractive displays and assist with merchandising.
• Operate cash register and card payments using POS systems.
• Support the gallery’s retail operations to contribute to income for exhibitions and events.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Retail experience

Product knowledge

Visual merchandising

POS systems

Numeracy

Job description

Working Hours

These part-time positions are 14 hours per week. Two shift patterns are available.

• Wednesday and Thursday
• Friday and Sunday (enhanced pay)

For both shift patterns, the working hours are 9:15am to 5:15pm on each working day.

Contract Type: Part-Time, Permanent

Closing Date:20 August2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action

This role is subject to -

2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Proof of Manchester Residency – Roles at Grade 1 to 3, traineeships, or apprenticeships will initially only be advertised to Manchester residents and internal candidates. An applicant is classed as a resident of Manchester if they live within the boundaries of the City of Manchester; i.e. Any Council Tax liability for their home would be with Manchester City Council. To check if you fall under the Manchester City Council boundary please visit - https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

Manchester Art Gallery is more than a place to view art – it is a space where people connect with creativity, culture and history. Our Retail Assistants play a vital role in shaping that experience. As the first point of contact for many visitors, you will help create a warm, engaging and memorable welcome while supporting the gallery’s retail operation and generating the income that sustains our exhibitions, events and public programmes.

We are looking for enthusiastic, customer-focused Retail Assistants who enjoy interacting with a wide range of people.

Working in the gallery shop, you will provide exceptional customer service, helping visitors discover unique products inspired by art, design and Manchester’s rich cultural heritage.

The gallery shop is an important part of our visitor offer. Every conversation, recommendation and sale helps support the work of Manchester Art Gallery to make great art, exhibitions, learning and thinking happen.

Essential requirements for the role

• Excellent customer service skills and a genuine commitment to creating positive visitor experiences
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience in a retail environment
• Good product knowledge skills, with the ability to learn about and confidently promote a diverse range of products
• Experience of visual merchandising and creating appealing retail displays
• Confidence in using point of sale systems
• Good numeracy skills

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role

• An interest in art, culture and heritage

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks during our annual leave purchase period.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council. At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for, see the top of the advert for details. These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Privacy Notice

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Calculate your take home pay.