Retail Assistant - Night Shift x3 (111103-1225)

University of Warwick; Coventry; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

An esteemed university is seeking a Retail Assistant to create a welcoming shopping experience in their on-campus supermarket. You will be responsible for ensuring stock levels are maintained, assisting customers courteously, and keeping the store clean and organized. Ideal candidates should possess excellent communication skills and prior retail experience. The position offers competitive benefits in a vibrant environment and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus university Christmas closure

Generous parental/adoption leave policy

Onsite childcare facilities

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Living Wage employer status

Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills are essential.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Prior experience in retail is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the shop is adequately stocked.
• Respond to customer inquiries politely.
• Maintain a clean and organized shop.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Team player with a proactive approach

Reliable and punctual

Previous retail experience

Job description

About The Role

Co‑op is a multi‑award winner supermarket located on central campus at the University of Warwick. Serving over 40,000 customers a week in term time, the store stocks an incredible range of international food, freshly baked goods, newspapers, stationery and everything else students and staff might be looking for.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and adaptable working environment. If you have specific preferences or requirements, we welcome a conversation to explore how we can support you.

Are you passionate about customer service and love working in a fast‑paced retail environment? We’re looking for a Retail Assistant to join our team at the new Co‑op store on campus and help create a welcoming and enjoyable shopping experience for our customers.

What You’ll Be Doing

Ensure the shop is adequately stocked, which will involve:

• Replenishing and displaying stock to planogram following the SOP, ensuring every product has a shelf edge label.
• Re‑stocking the shelves to ensure they are filled to an appropriate level.
• Working all stock (delivery, top stock and warehouse overs), ensuring replenishment is completed in rotation order.
• Storing overs that will not go on display appropriately either as top stock, in the warehouse, cold store and freezer in an organised and efficient manner.

Serve Customers In a Thoughtful Polite, Considerate Manner

• Responding quickly and positively to customer questions

Ensure the shop is maintained and presented in a ‘customer ready’ state

• Clearing and sorting rubbish for recycling collection.
• Ensuring all shelves are clean before replenishing stock items in the right place.
• Clearing up spillages and dealing with damaged goods to SOPs, maintaining a consciousness of Health and Safety implications.

About You

What we’re looking for:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A team player with a proactive approach.
• Reliable, punctual, and well‑presented.
• Previous retail experience.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.

About The Department

Warwick Food Group is a community of passionate people leading a collection of planet‑friendly and food‑centric campus services at the University of Warwick.

Our ambition is to break the mould of institutional catering in the higher education sector by offering exciting, vibrant, and inclusive dining and shopping options.

About The University

We are a world‑leading research‑intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 106th in the world and 8th in the UK.* Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world‑leading or internationally excellent.** Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/.

World University Ranking 2024, Guardian University Guide 2025, Research Excellence Framework 2021.

How to Apply

CLOSING DEADLINE: Wednesday 7th January 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time).

To apply, please click "HERE" and submit an application form by the closing deadline. You will be asked to include a CV and a cover letter.

Your CV Should Include

• Your education and employment history (including your most recent employment).
• Any other relevant experience (e.g. volunteering, extracurricular, etc.).

Your Cover Letter Should Explain

• Your motivations for applying to the role.
• Using examples, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the job description (PDF attached below).

All essential criteria must be met by candidates who are invited to interview.

• Interview Date: Week commencing 12th January 2026
• Start Date: January/February 2026

What we Offer

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 26 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• Onsite childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements. Find out more about our flexible working arrangements.

We are proud to be a Living Wage employer.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Warwick is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and respectful community where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities, and actively encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Find out more about our Social Inclusion work at Warwick. We are also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance.

Safeguarding & DBS

• Roles involving regulated activity are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at the appropriate level, in line with the DBS Code of Practice.
• The University will ensure that anyone subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group (children and/or adults).
• All employees, volunteers, and partners are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding.

Rehabilitation of Ex‑Offenders

The University will not discriminate against applicants who make a disclosure relating to a conviction. Disclosures at application stage are only visible to the DBS team, not to hiring panels. This ensures fairness and removes bias from the shortlisting process.

Job Description

JD – Retail Assistant Night Shift x3 (111103).pdf – 220KB (opens in a new window).

Right to Work in the UK

We wish to advise applicants that this role is not eligible for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa. If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK you will need to check the UK Government Website to see if you are eligible to obtain the right to work in the UK through one of the other UK immigration routes before you make your application.