Shop Support Manager - Midlands

Blue Cross For Pets; Stourbridge; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pet charity is looking for a Shop Support Manager to ensure retail teams thrive across the Midlands. The role involves hands-on support, mentoring, and operational management of shops. Ideal candidates will have retail experience, excellent communication skills, and a full UK driving licence, along with a passion for helping others. This position offers a competitive salary and a range of generous benefits including health support and a robust pension scheme.

Benefits

38 days holiday, rising to 43

Health cash plan

Pension scheme with enhanced contributions

Continuing Professional Development support

20% discount on pet insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in a retail environment, preferably with supervisory duties.
• Ability to motivate and support team members effectively.
• Organised with project management skills for store openings.

Responsibilities

• Support shop teams in achieving their full potential.
• Travel regularly to assist different shop locations.
• Guide teams and volunteers during the Area Manager's absence.

Skills

Proven retail experience

Confidence delivering training

Strong organisational skills

Excellent communication skills

IT literacy

Full UK driving licence

Job description

Shop Support Manager - Midlands

Application Deadline: 2 November 2025

Department: Fundraising, Comms & Engagement

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Stourbridge

Reporting To: Area Manager

Compensation: £25,000 / year

Description

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

Salary: circa £25,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Location: Across the Midlands

Closing date: Sunday 2nd November 2025

Interview date: Tuesday 11th November 2025

Help us make every shop shine and every pet’s story brighter

At Blue Cross, our charity shops do more than raise funds; they change lives. Every sale helps care for sick, injured and homeless pets across the UK. We’re looking for an energetic and people-focused Shop Support Manager who can help our retail teams thrive, grow our impact and ensure every Blue Cross shop is a place that reflects our compassion and community spirit.

More about the role

This is a hands‑on, varied role where no two days are the same. You’ll support shop teams across your area to reach their full potential by helping open new stores, lead refurbishments and boost the performance of shops that need a little extra love.

You’ll be a coach, a mentor and sometimes a stand‑in manager guiding teams, supporting volunteers and keeping everything running smoothly when your Area Manager is away.

You’ll travel regularly between sites (approx. 10,000 business miles/year), supported by a hybrid automatic company vehicle in line with our environmental strategy. The role will involve extensive travel across the Midlands and in the case of new stores, you may required to stay overnight away from home for up to a week at a time.

About you

You’ll be a natural motivator who loves helping others succeed. You’re flexible, positive and happy to travel — whether to lend a hand, open a shop, or celebrate a success.

You’ll bring:

• Proven retail experience, ideally with supervisory or mentoring responsibilities.
• Confidence delivering training, coaching, and guidance to others.
• A track record of achieving sales and profit targets through great teamwork and smart decisions.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, especially around openings or refurbishments.
• Excellent communication and people skills — you build rapport and motivate others with ease.
• IT literacy and comfort using retail systems.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly.

How to apply

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.

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.