At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop charity shops, driving performance and community engagement.
- Company: Join FARA Foundation, a vibrant charity retailer transforming lives in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel across London and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be a part of a mission-driven team that supports vulnerable children and families.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail management and a passion for people development.
The predicted salary is between 40586 - 49606 £ per year.
- Location: London (field-based with some home working)
- Role: Area Manager
- Contract: Full Time
- Area: Head office
- Address: FARA Head Office
- TW11 8GT
- Share vacancy
Location
London (field-based with some home working)
Salary
£46,000
Contract
Full Time
Closing Date
- 24th August 2026
- Join FARA and Help Transform Lives Through Retail
Founded over 35 years ago, FARA Foundation is a UK registered charity and a successful charity retailer with a network of 39 vibrant shops across London.
FARA raises vital funds to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families in Romania, providing services that help break the cycles of poverty and give young people a better start in life.
We are looking for an exceptional
Area Manager to lead and develop a portfolio of 10+ charity shops, supporting Shop Managers to deliver outstanding commercial results while creating welcoming, community-focused spaces that embody FARA’s values and mission.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially-minded and people-focused leader who enjoys developing others, driving performance, and contributing strategically to a charity retail operation.
The Role
Reporting to the Trading Director, you will be responsible for supporting and developing a group of Shop Managers, helping them maximise sales, donations, Gift Aid income and community engagement while ensuring shops operate safely, compliantly and efficiently.
As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will contribute to the wider development of the trading business, lead operational projects, and play a key role in delivering FARA’s long-term retail strategy.
About You
- We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following competencies:
- Values-led leadership: A strong commitment to FARA’s mission, vision and values, with the ability to lead, coach and develop Shop Managers in a supportive, accountable and collaborative way.
- Commercial focus: Experience of achieving results through others, using KPIs, budgets and financial reports to improve sales, contribution, Gift Aid, stock generation and controllable costs.
- People development: Strong line management skills, with experience of recruitment, induction, performance management, succession planning and handling employee relations matters.
- Retail operational excellence: A sound understanding of shop operations, including pricing, culling, density, curation, sales space, sorting, layout and the ability to coach managers to improve the retail proposition.
- Compliance and risk management: Working knowledge of health and safety, risk assessments, fire risk assessments, regulatory requirements and the ability to maintain safe, compliant shops.
- Project and planning skills: Experience supporting target setting, five-year plans, shop improvements, refits, relocations or other operational projects.
- Proven experience in an Area Manager, Regional Manager or equivalent multi-site retail role (or demonstrable desire to gain wider experience).
- Strong track record of leading teams to achieve and exceed commercial and operational KPIs.
- Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to analyse financial and operational data.
- Experience in coaching, developing and motivating staff.
- Experience handling employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary and grievance matters.
- Knowledge of health and safety, risk management and compliance requirements.
- Strong organisational, planning and project management skills.
- Ability to build effective working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
- Proficient IT skills to perform a range of professional functions on excel, word and other applications.
- Experience within charity retail or the not-for-profit sector.
- Knowledge of retail refurbishment, relocation or property projects.
- Understanding of Gift Aid and donation-led retail operations.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Additional Information
- Travel across London will be required.
- Participation in an on-call rota approximately one weekend per month will be required.
- Occasional cover for colleagues during periods of annual leave/absence will be required.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Area Manager employer: faraonline
FARA Southfields is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and dynamic work environment where employees can truly make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. With a strong focus on community engagement, our team enjoys a supportive culture that fosters personal growth and development, alongside benefits such as enhanced sick pay, generous holiday allowances, and employee discounts. Join us and be part of a dedicated team that values your contributions and celebrates your successes!
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Manager
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by faraonline.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like faraonline.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at faraonline.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at faraonline. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Area Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of faraonline. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Area Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at faraonline
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of faraonline. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
