Are you ready for a new challenge? If you have retail management experience and are looking for a role that will allow you to make a real difference – to your branch, to your local community and to disadvantaged children and young people, this position could be for you.

As a Shop Manager for The Children’s Society, you’ll need the following skills:

* Creative merchandising experience and innovative promotional ideas
* The recruitment, training and people skills to lead a diverse team of volunteers
* Ability to remain customer focused and deliver excellent service standards
* An organised approach to administration and experience managing Health & Safety

As well as a strong commitment to your development with Regional manager training and support, we offer generous holidays (28 days plus bank holidays), contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

This is a 12 months contract working 37 hours per week to include Saturdays

Interviews:  8th April 2010

Title:

Temporay Shop Manager

Location:

Bloxwich, West Midlands

Reward Band:

Retail Shop Manager (HPN) £15,332 - £17,461

Reporting to:

Regional Retail Manager

CRB Level Required

Enhanced Check

Job purpose:

To achieve shop income & expenditure budgets and generate maximum profits through the effective management of the shop.

Key activities: 

•  To maximise sales through every opportunity and manage controllable costs to ensure optimum net  contribution. 
• To recruit sufficient numbers of volunteers to ensure the shop can open the agreed hours and operate to minimum standards.  
• To effectively manage the sourcing, sorting, pricing, merchandising & display of donated goods to ensure shop operates to Retail minimum standards and can achieve sales budgets. 
• To plan and implement internal and external sales promotions to ensure optimum sales and to raise the profile of the shop in the local area.  
• To ensure all shop administration is completed to agreed deadlines and in line with Retail policies and procedures. 
• To train, develop and motivate shop staff and volunteers in accordance with Retail policies and procedures and to ensure effective operation of the shop. 
• To ensure the welfare of staff, volunteers and customers by implementing Health & Safety policies, providing training in H&S procedures and completing relevant audits and reports as required.
• To effectively communicate with staff and volunteers to ensure they are fully engaged with Retail objectives and TCS mission, vision and values and positively promote TCS. 
• To manage customer complaints and deal effectively with all messages and enquiries.  
• To attend training courses and meetings as required. 
  

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have: 

• Relevant learning and experience from working in a retail environment at a supervisory level. 
• GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths/or able to demonstrate competence in these areas. 
• Kowledge of the charity retail sector and of issues of working with volunteers is desirable but not necessary.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly both orally and in writing. 
• Ability to manage a team of volunteers. 
• An organised approach to administration and ability to meet deadlines. 
• Ability to handle a demanding workload and conflicting priorities
  
  

Core competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to: 

•  Meet the local financial targets and operational standards expected. 
•  Work well as a team member at both a local and national level and respond positively to suggestions and feedback.   
• Ensure all resources for which you have responsibility are managed efficiently and in line with Retail policies and procedures.  
• Build and maintain friendly, helpful and supportive relationships with shop team, colleagues and customers. 
• Commmunicate local and national objectives effectively to shop team.
• Work on own initiative and take responsibility for achieving objectives.  
• Provide a high standard of service to ensure customers needs are met and retail objectives achieved.

Other Competencies:

• Continually look for ways of raising standards and improving the business

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances: 

•  Occasional travel nationally and overnights stays may be necessary in order to attend meetings and training courses.  
•  No smoking is allowed on shop premises. 
• You may on occasions be required to work at other shop locations as requested by your line Manager.
  

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and The Society you will require: 

• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation.
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.  
•  A flexible and adaptable approach and ability to cope with changing priorities