Retail Assistant Manager (Reading Broad St)

cancerresearchuk; Reading; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Retirement plan

Leave allowance

Discounts on travel and tech

Gym membership

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Cancer Research UK’s Reading Broad Street shop is seeking a motivated Assistant Shop Manager to support the shop manager, lead volunteers and drive income through effective merchandising and excellent customer service.

You’ll help manage donations, stock, and store presentation while maintaining high standards and supporting fundraising activities. A flexible, team-oriented approach is essential, with a commitment to the charity’s mission.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of great customer service.
• Experience in lively, retail environments.
• Able to adapt to changing situations and work independently.
• Commercial awareness and ability to contribute to shop performance.
• Ability to build relationships and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support the shop manager to guide, inspire and engage staff and volunteers.
• Assist with merchandising, stock management, shop standards and sales performance.
• Lead by example and deliver excellent customer and supporter service.
• Help achieve targets for donated stock, cash and fundraising metrics.
• Build relationships with the local community and Cancer Research UK colleagues.
• Assist in planning and delivering fundraising events to meet targets.
• Maintain health and safety, safeguarding, security and HR policies.
• Act as deputy for the shop manager when required.
• Perform manual handling and other day-to-day duties.

Skills

Customer service

Retail experience

Adaptability

Commercial awareness

Communication

Job description

Endless pre-loved items. A talented team. One clear purpose.

Retail A ssistant M anager

£13.36 - £15.61 per annum/per hour plus benefits

Reports to : Shop manager

Department: Trading

Contract: Permanent

Working hours : Part time 30 hours per week (Monday to Saturday occasional Sunday)

Location : Reading (Broad Street) Shop

Closing date: 13th September 2026 23:55

External: 13 th September 2026 23:55

Internal: In line with organisational policy this role will remain open for internal applications until: 13 th September 2026 23:55

** The internal title for this role is Assistant Shop Manager.

Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That's why we're looking for someone talented, someone who shares our vision, someone like you.

We're looking for a motivated assistant s hop manager to join Cancer Research UK's trading team. You'll be acting as an ambassador for Cancer Research UK, supporting the shop manager and your team to maximise income through people, resources and stock.

You'll also be surrounded by people who are as dedicated to beating cancer as you are.

What will I be doing?

• Supporting the shop manager to g uid e , inspir e and engag e a diverse team of paid staff and volunteers.
• Support the commercial running of the store including display and merchandising, stock management, maintaining shop standards, store layout, sales and income.
• Leading by example and providing excellent customer and supporter service.
• Work alongside the shop manager t o achieve targets for donated stock, cash, gift aid, average selling price, sell through and stock processing.
• Creating relationships with your local community and Cancer Research UK colleagues.
• Supporting the shop manager in the o rganis ation and delivery of creative fundraising events for your store to achieve fundraising targets.
• Maintaining compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, security, administration and HR policies.
• Deputising for the shop manager in their absence.
• There will be a varied amount of manual handling and physical activity required within the day-to-day duties of the role.

What are you looking for ?

• A working knowledge of what makes great customer service .
• Experience of working in a lively and vibrant environment.
• Adaptability in changing situations, including being able to work effectively independently.
• Commercial awareness.
• The ability to create relationships and communicate well.
• Flexibility, o ur retail teams cover the needs of their stores by working on a rota basis. Whilst a level of flexibility is needed to meet the needs of the business, we don't forget that you have a life outside of work too.

What will I gain?

W e make sure you are supported by a generous salary and benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

Our retail teams also have access to confidential wellbeing support from the Retail Trust.

For the full job description and more information about working with us please contact [e-mail]

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [e-mail] or 0 20 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age