At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a vibrant charity shop, manage volunteers, and maximise fundraising efforts.
- Company: Join Concern Worldwide, a humanitarian organisation fighting extreme poverty.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, enhanced parental pay, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible hours available; part-time and full-time options to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while gaining valuable retail experience.
- Qualifications: Retail management experience and strong customer service skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 25907 - 28786 £ per year.
Concern Worldwide (Northern Ireland) is looking for a highly motivated and dynamic Shop Manager to join our new shop on Castle Street in Derry.
About Us
Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living in extreme poverty. We work with 25 million people each year, in some of the hardest to reach and most fragile places. Places prone to conflict, natural disasters, climate change and extreme hunger. When an emergency strikes, we are among the first on the ground. We use our voice to bring the stories of extreme poverty to world leaders.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave, pro-rated for part-time employees
- Annual leave purchase scheme
- Enhanced parental leave pay
- Stakeholder pension
- Cycle scheme
- Life assurance
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Details of our benefits could be found on our website.
About the role
To manage all aspects of the shop, including recruiting and leading the volunteer team in order to maximise the income generated for Concern's work. Our new shop in Derry City is a thriving, busy hub that represents the future of charity retail - a modern, vibrant space that has brought new energy to Castle Street since opening in June. As a dynamic addition to the high street, it showcases how charity retail can inspire communities while supporting Concern's life-saving work. You will be instrumental in making sure the shop is at the hub of the local community, ensuring a steady flow of donations and acting as the face of Concern Worldwide and raising public awareness of our campaigns. You will lead by example and be confident working within a fast-paced retail environment.
You will contribute towards the success of the shop by:
- Ensuring a high standard of customer service
- Achieving targets to maximise income
- Maintaining a high standard of creative visual merchandising
- Actively recruit volunteers and establish the shop in the local community
- Generate stock to fill the shop
About you
As Shop Manager, you will have the opportunity to be part of a small, but dedicated and successful retail team. You will be a highly motivated self-starter who takes full ownership of your role. You will lead and motivate your shop volunteers in maximising the fundraising income for the shop. It will be your chance to demonstrate and further develop your existing strong commercial awareness, relationship management, sales and customer service skills. This is an exciting time for you to join Concern Worldwide (NI) as we seek to engage more with local communities and increase support for our work in tackling hunger and transforming lives in some of the poorest places in the world.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Concern Worldwide encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity and origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organisation. Concern is against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations, and is committed to promoting equality.
Concern Charity Retail in Northern Ireland
Concern Worldwide operates a growing retail network of eight shops across Northern Ireland, each playing an important role in supporting our work to end extreme poverty. Our portfolio currently includes two specialist bookshops located in Derry and Holywood, alongside five established charity shops in Ballycastle, Newcastle and across Belfast on the Lisburn Road, Antrim Road and Ormeau Road.
Conditions of Appointment
It is the nature of this post that weekend working (Saturday) and occasional additional seasonal hours are part of the normal working week. Working hours will also involve some evening work to meet the needs of the post. Due to the nature of this role, flexibility is required. We are happy to consider candidates interested in either part-time (28 hours per week) or full-time (35 hours per week). Flexibility required. Appointment will be subject to a six-month probationary period.
If you require a paper application form, please contact us.
Salary: £25,907 - £28,786 full time - based on full time, 35 hours per week. New employees typically start at the beginning of their pay band.
Deadline: 26th July 2026. Due to the urgency of filling this position, Concern reserves the right to close the recruitment activity earlier if we have received applications which match the role. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid a potentially earlier closing date.
The successful post holder will be required to complete a Basic AccessNI check and sign a criminal records self-declaration form. Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with Concern Worldwide (NI). This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences.
Skills:
- Retail Management
- Volunteer Management
- Customer Service
- Cash Handling
- Banking
- Numeracy
- Communication
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Shop Manager in Londonderry County Borough
✨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 Concern Worldwide, 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 Concern Worldwide!
We think you need these skills to ace Shop Manager in Londonderry County Borough
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 Concern Worldwide, 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 Concern Worldwide 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 Concern Worldwide that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Concern Worldwide
✨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!
