At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support your team to deliver excellent customer service in a fast-paced food retail environment.
- Company: Join a local Co-op store with a strong community focus and supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, discounts, 25 days holiday, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Flexible shift patterns to accommodate your commitments outside of work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference every day while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Previous leadership experience and a passion for great customer service.
The predicted salary is between 26100 - 31900 £ per year.
Our Bishop's Stortford store is looking for a Team Manager to join the team on a permanent, full-time basis, working 39 hours per week. And there's a pretty good perk before you've even walked through the door - we're right opposite Bishop's Stortford train station, making us an easy commute whether you're travelling locally or further afield. As Team Manager, you'll play a key role in bringing our store to life. You'll lead, coach and support colleagues, helping them to build their confidence, develop their skills and deliver a great experience for every customer who walks through our doors. Working closely with the Branch Manager, you'll help set the standard across the store, keeping things running safely, smoothly and successfully. There will also be times when you'll take the lead and be responsible for the store, giving you the opportunity to really make your mark. This is a role for someone who enjoys being in the thick of it. Food retail moves quickly, priorities can change in an instant and every day brings something different. You might be supporting a colleague, responding to a customer, solving a problem, leading your team through a busy trading period or spotting an opportunity to make the store even better. You don't need to have worked in food retail before. What matters is that you know how to lead people, make good decisions, stay calm under pressure and bring others with you. We're proud to be truly local, which means you'll have the support of your store team, nearby branches and colleagues across Head Office. You'll also have the opportunity to get involved in the Bishop's Stortford community and make a difference beyond the store.
What you'll be doing
- Lead, coach and support your team, helping colleagues to realise their full potential
- Work alongside the Branch Manager to deliver high standards, great availability and excellent customer service
- Deputise for the Branch Manager, including taking responsibility for the store when required
- Create a positive environment where colleagues feel supported, valued and motivated to do their best
- Make sure the store operates safely, legally and in line with our standards
- Respond confidently to changing priorities and make quick, sensible decisions
- Build strong relationships with colleagues, other stores and our local community
- Promote membership and help customers get even more from being part of our Co-op
- Get involved in all aspects of store life - no sitting on the sidelines!
You'll be someone who enjoys working with people and getting things done. You'll be confident leading others, but equally happy to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.
We're looking for someone with
- Previous leadership or people-management experience
- The confidence to coach, support and motivate others
- A flexible and adaptable approach - things can change quickly in retail!
- The ability to prioritise, solve problems and make decisions
- Great communication and interpersonal skills
- A genuine passion for delivering great customer service
- The energy and resilience to thrive in a fast-paced environment
If you're ready for a role where you can lead a team, develop people and make a real difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.
Benefits
- Competitive rates of pay
- 20% discount in our food stores, along with other discounts across our family of businesses
- 25 days holiday (plus bank holiday entitlement) which increases with service
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Death in service benefit
- Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements
- Opportunities to grow, with award-winning training and apprenticeship programmes
- Great discounts, deals, and cashback across over 900 high street and online retailers
- Financial wellbeing support, including Stream®
- Access to Cycle To Work, Rental Deposit Scheme, and SmartTech (after a qualifying period)
- Employee Recognition Scheme
- Long Service Awards
- Free remote GP service, available 24/7, including prescription, fitness, nutrition, and counselling services
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced on statutory terms, subject to service criteria.
We recognise the challenges people face trying to balance commitments both in and out of the workplace - perhaps studying, caring commitments, or other employment. We therefore aim to be as flexible as possible, to create shift patterns that work for both our co-op and our colleagues.
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Team Manager (Food Retail) employer: EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED
As a Cluster Lead with our Food team, you'll join a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. With competitive pay, generous holiday allowances, and a strong focus on work-life balance, we empower our leaders to inspire their teams while enjoying unique benefits like discounts across our family of businesses and access to financial wellbeing support. This role not only offers the chance to make a significant impact in Essex and Suffolk but also provides ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within a community-focused cooperative environment.
Contact Details:
EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager (Food Retail)
✨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 EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED, 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 EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED!
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 EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED, 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 EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED 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 EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at EAST OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED
✨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!
