Retail Manager

PILGRIMS HOSPICES IN EAST KENT; Whitstable; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pay alignment

Pension scheme access

Free hospice parking

Staff development & CPD

Job summary

Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent is seeking an experienced Retail Manager to lead the Whitstable Furniture Store and its volunteers. The role is a fixed-term 6-month contract, full time, 35 hours per week.

You will work with our retail team to support service development, ensure quality and growth, and provide guidance in retail operations across nearby shops. This position offers the chance to contribute to a valued charity while developing leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Experienced retail manager with strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience of working with volunteers is desirable.
• Commitment to charity values and patient- or community-centered care.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Whitstable Furniture Store operations and volunteers.
• Support other shops in the area as required.
• Provide guidance and expertise within retail operations.
• Respond to charity changes and contribute to service development.
• Supervise and mentor retail staff and volunteers.
• Undertake role-specific projects and initiatives.
• Recommend changes to working practices and processes as needed.

Job description

Retail Manager

Location: Whitstable, Kent

Status: 35 Hours Per Week, 6 months fixed term

Salary: £26,126 per annum

Closing date: 05/10/2026

Interview date: 13/10/2026

Pilgrims Hospices are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Retail Manager to join their team at Whitstable Furniture.

As a member of the retail team, the successful candidate will be involved in corporate day-to-day activities supporting the quality, growth and success of a much valued charity.

This role is fixed term for a period of 6 months, working full time (35 hours per week).

Key duties include:

• Being responsible for the effective operation and management of the Whitstable Furniture Store and volunteers
• Supporting other shops in the area as required
• Providing advice and guidance within the area of expertise
• Recognising and appropriately responding to the charity changes
• Actively contributing to service development
• Being involved in the supervision and education of retail shop colleagues and volunteers
• Undertaking role-specific projects
• Making recommendations for the development of and changes to working practices and processes as required

Recognising the need to support employees in working within this particular field, we provide an extensive range of support measures to ensure your success, including:

• A supportive and friendly working environment
• Regular quality interactions with our clinical and non-clinical teams
• Strong working relations with other members of the multi-disciplinary teams
• On-going training and CPD/career development
• Access to a range of resources to ensure our staff have access to help and support where and when they need it
• Regular self-care and development sessions

About us

As an award-winning employer, Pilgrims provides end-of-life care services to patients and their families across east Kent.

Our commitment is to provide open, compassionate care and expertise for patients and their families – both in the community and in-patient units.

Our Vision

“Of a community where people with a terminal illness and their family and friends are supported and empowered to live well in mind and body until the very last moment of their life”.

We recognise that our workforce is integral to the delivery of our Vision and our charitable aims. Pilgrims Hospices continues to create a highly skilled, motivated, engaged and healthy workforce by providing an environment where staff and volunteers feel highly motivated to perform their roles to a consistently high standard, and actively role model our charitable behaviours and values.

To achieve our Vision, we have a shared set of values and behaviours that enable us to be the people and the charity that patients and their loved ones need us to be. They form

, which guides us in our daily working and decision making:our CODE

CompassionateWe treat everyone with compassion and care

OpenWe communicate openly, honestly and effectively

DynamicWe are dynamic, improving and developing our service

EmpoweredWe empower people to achieve their outcomes

Other benefits

As an Employer of Choice, our commitment to supporting our employees and volunteers is a key priority.

Our Health and Wellbeing Strategy is an important step in ensuring the sustainability of our workforce, and clearly outlines our strategic intentions to improve employee capability, resilience, and engagement, to adapt to and embrace change as the health sector continues to develop.

Our hospices offer:

• Modern, friendly and highly professional working environments
• Opportunities for professional development through a range of extensive learning
• Alignment with NHS pay rates and continuity in membership of the NHS pension scheme
• A sense of achievement in supporting a worthwhile cause
• A sense of wellbeing
• A good work-life balance
• Locations across well-populated areas of east Kent – all providing very good road and rail links
• NHS and financial discounts i.e. Blue Light Card
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Free hospice parking

We invest in our employees, which is one of the key things that makes us an award-winning employer of choice.