Shop Manager

Blue Cross For Pets; Wilmslow; Remote; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

38 days holiday incl. Bank Holidays

Wellbeing programmes

GP access via MetLife

Health cash plan

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Blue Cross for Pets in Wilmslow is seeking a Shop Manager to lead a friendly team, motivate staff and volunteers, and ensure exceptional customer service.

You’ll own shop performance—sales, stock, merchandising, Gift Aid—and work with the Area Manager to plan income targets and manage costs. This permanent, full-time role (35 hours over 5 days) offers a rewarding environment and opportunities to develop local community connections.

Qualifications

• Retail management experience.
• Commercial awareness to deliver sales.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships.
• Good IT skills and a basic understanding of finance.
• Good people management skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Full driving licence (benefits role requires travel).
• Experience of working with volunteers (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate staff and volunteers to deliver excellent customer service.
• Recruit and onboard new volunteers and staff, maintaining training and confidence.
• Manage shop activity to plan income targets and control costs with the Area Manager.
• Champion Gift Aid, pricing accuracy, and in-store fundraising initiatives.
• Maintain high merchandising standards, stock control, and stock takes.
• Create a welcoming shop environment and build strong community links.

Skills

Retail management

Commercial awareness

Interpersonal skills

IT skills and finance basics

People management

Customer service

Driving licence

Volunteer experience

Job description

Shop Manager

Application Deadline: 22 September 2026

Department: Fundraising, Comms & Engagement

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Wilmslow

Reporting To: Area Manager - Shops

Compensation: £25,000 / year

Description

Contract: Permanent, full time (35 hours over 5 days per week)

Salary: Circa £25,000 per annum

Location: Wilmslow, SK9 1DU

Closing date: Tuesday 22 September 2026

Charity shops are the in-place to shop and in 2026 and we want you to join us at our store in Wilmslow! By joining our team, you will be working within the local community and keeping people and their pets at the heart of everything that we do.

More about the role

As Shop Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind our friendly and committed team. You’ll lead and motivate staff and volunteers, recruit new people to the shop and make sure everyone feels trained and confident in their roles. Working closely with your Assistant Manager, you’ll keep communication clear and create a positive, energetic environment for the whole team.

You’ll take ownership of sales and profit, working with your Area Manager to plan income targets and keep costs under control. You’ll champion Gift Aid, ensure accurate pricing and bring creative ideas to in-store fundraising so the shop continues to grow.

Stock will be a big focus, encouraging local donations, keeping displays fresh, maintaining high merchandising standards and making sure the shop is always clean and inviting. You’ll also oversee new goods, stocktakes and day-to-day processes that keep everything running smoothly.

Above all, you’ll set the tone for outstanding customer service. You’ll create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, deal with any issues calmly and build strong community connections that help increase donations. As an ambassador for Blue Cross, you’ll represent our values with confidence and care.

Our shop is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 till 17:00 and your normal working pattern may change each week, subject to the needs of the business.

About you

Essential qualifications, skills, and experience:

• Retail management experience
• Commercial awareness to deliver sales
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong external relationships.
• Good IT skills and a basic understanding of finance
• Good people management skills
• Excellent customer service skills

It would also be great if you had:

• Full driving licence
• Experience of working with volunteers

Blue Cross benefits

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.

Our generous benefits package includes:

• Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
• Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
• Health cash plan
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
• Life assurance
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Recognition scheme
• Annual volunteer days
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.