Retail Associate – 6 month fixed term contract

Longfield; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Longfield is seeking a Retail Support Associate to provide flexible operational support across its network of charity shops in Cheltenham and Gloucester. The role covers covering staff absence, opening/closing shops, and ensuring shops remain welcoming, safe, and income-generating.

You will help deliver excellent customer service, support volunteers, drive sales, and contribute to the success of Longfield’s retail strategy while handling stock and promotions.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail across multiple sites is beneficial.
• Willing to travel across the retail estate as required.
• Positive attitude, adaptability and a commitment to supporting Longfield’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Provide flexible support across multiple Longfield shops to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Cover staff absence, annual leave, vacancies, and other operational challenges.
• Open and close shops when required and help maintain a safe, welcoming environment.
• Support retail initiatives, promotions, events, and improvement projects.
• Receive, sort, price, and display donated stock.
• Maintain attractive shop displays and replenish stock as needed.
• Maximise sales through excellent customer service and visual merchandising.
• Promote Gift Aid and identify opportunities for online sales.
• Deliver outstanding customer service to shoppers, donors, and supporters.
• Handle customer queries professionally and help create a positive shop experience.
• Follow cash handling, till, banking, and administrative procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Safeguarding, and organisational policies.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and record keeping.
• Share best practice across shops and help improve consistency and performance.

Skills

Flexible

Customer-focused

Organised

Team player

Job description

Retail Support Associate – Two Roles Available

Location – Flexible and Multi-Site, working across Cheltenham and Gloucester

Salary –£12.71 hourly rate

Join Longfield and make a difference in your local community!

Job Overview

Are you adaptable, customer-focused, and passionate about making a difference? Longfield is looking for a Retail Support Associate to provide flexible operational support across our network of charity shops during an exciting period of retail development and transformation.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. Working across multiple retail locations, you will help ensure our shops remain open, welcoming, safe, compliant, and income-generating by providing support during periods of annual leave, sickness absence, vacancies, and other operational challenges.

As a key member of our retail team, you will help deliver excellent customer service, support volunteers, drive sales, and contribute to the success of Longfield’s retail strategy.

Supporting Our Shops

• Provide flexible support across multiple Longfield shops to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Cover staff absence, annual leave, vacancies, and other operational challenges.
• Open and close shops when required and help maintain a safe, welcoming environment.
• Support retail initiatives, promotions, events, and improvement projects.

Driving Sales & Managing Stock

• Receive, sort, price, and display donated stock.
• Maintain attractive shop displays and replenish stock as needed.
• Maximise sales through excellent customer service and visual merchandising.
• Promote Gift Aid and identify opportunities for online sales.
• Deliver outstanding customer service to shoppers, donors, and supporters.
• Handle customer queries professionally and help create a positive shop experience.

Maintaining Standards & Compliance

• Follow cash handling, till, banking, and administrative procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Safeguarding, and organisational policies.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and record keeping.

Contributing to Improvement

• Support the rollout of new processes and ways of working.
• Share best practice across shops and help improve consistency and performance.
• Provide practical support to shops requiring additional resource or operational assistance.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Flexible and willing to work across multiple locations.
• Customer-focused with excellent communication skills.
• Organised and able to prioritise changing workloads.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
• Supportive, positive, and enthusiastic when working with volunteers and colleagues.
• Committed to maintaining high standards and compliance.
• Willing to travel across the retail estate as required.

Previous retail experience is beneficial, particularly within charity retail, but just as important is a positive attitude, adaptability, and a commitment to supporting Longfield’s mission.

Why Join Longfield?

At Longfield, our retail shops play a vital role in supporting the services we provide. As a Retail Support Associate, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while working as part of a friendly and supportive team.

If you’re looking for a varied role where you can contribute to both retail success and community impact, we’d love to hear from you.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to reach their full potential.