At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily store operations and manage a high-performing team to deliver excellent customer service.
- Company: Community Furniture Stores, a grassroots charity fighting furniture and digital poverty.
- Benefits: Sociable hours, holiday entitlement, free uniform, and the feel-good factor of making a difference.
- Other info: Short online interviews on 9 November; in-person interviews on 11 November.
- Why this job: Join us to create a welcoming environment and positively impact local communities in North Yorkshire.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail operations, team management, and a passion for community service.
The predicted salary is between 26543 - 32441 £ per year.
Community Furniture Stores is a grassroots charity which works to alleviate furniture and digital poverty in North Yorkshire. We have three stores in York, Scarborough and Selby which sell pre-loved and new furniture and household items at affordable rates to people in our local communities. We also run an IT Reuse project to get equipment to people who would otherwise be digitally excluded. We also have a Bike project where we collect pre-owned bikes, make them roadworthy and give them to people without access to transport. In each store, we provide volunteering opportunities for people to learn new skills, grow in confidence and be part of a team. This is an exciting time to be joining the charity as we work towards developing an ambitious 3-year strategy to help us work towards our goal of ensuring everyone in our local communities has equal access to the support needed to improve homes, lives and lifestyles.
About the Role
You will lead day-to-day store operations ensuring a safe, welcoming environment for staff, volunteers and customers. You'll be responsible for managing a high performing team of staff and volunteers to deliver excellent customer service, meet sales targets and maintain operational compliance. You’ll use your people management experience, organisational skills and forward-thinking mindset to help make a real difference to the people of York and surrounding areas.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead daily store operations including shop floor, warehouse, vehicles and other projects
- Manage a high-performing, thriving team through regular 1:1s, performance reviews and training plans
- Create a customer-focused culture where customers are at the heart of all operational delivery
- Manage the store budget including oversight of all expenditure and meeting financial targets
- Support volunteers, ensuring the store is a welcoming environment for them to grow and develop
- Ensure the store is well merchandised and presented to a high standard at all times
- Increase our presence in the local community through partnership working, outreach and improved communications
- Oversee and continuously improve store operations and logistics for maximum effectiveness and efficiency
- Manage stock levels, donations pipeline, ordering and deliveries
- Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, operational policies and procedures, and GDPR requirements
- Be a representative and advocate for the wider charity, promoting our aims and values externally
- Any other tasks as required
What we'd like from you:
- Experience of managing operations in a retail setting or similar
- Experience of managing a team
- Knowledge of how to deliver excellent customer service and proven track record of excellent customer service results
- Ability to come up with creative and innovative solutions to problems
- Ability to create a calm, professional and high performing environment
- Continual desire to develop and grow in the role taking on all learning opportunities
- Experience working with a charity and volunteers
- Clean driving licence and ability to drive CFS vans
In return, we can offer you:
- Sociable working hours in a friendly and supportive team
- Holiday entitlement inclusive of bank holidays increasing with length of employment
- All uniform and PPE provided free of charge
- No Sunday working
- Feel good factor of working for an important local charity really making a difference to communities in York
We do not expect candidates to meet all the criteria and would encourage people to apply who are interested in the role, share our values and have a desire to make a positive impact in our local community. We will be holding a short online interview with shortlisted candidates on 9 November. From these calls, we will decide who we take forward for an in-person interview on 11 November. Join our team!
Operations Manager employer: Community Furniture Stores
Community Furniture Stores is a grassroots charity dedicated to alleviating furniture and digital poverty in North Yorkshire. The organization offers volunteering opportunities that allow individuals to learn new skills and gain confidence while contributing to their local communities. With a focus on equal access to essential resources, Community Furniture Stores fosters a supportive work culture that encourages personal and professional growth.
Contact Details:
Community Furniture Stores Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Community Furniture Stores, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Community Furniture Stores!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Community Furniture Stores, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Community Furniture Stores and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Community Furniture Stores that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Community Furniture Stores
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
