Assistant Shop Manager

Are you a dynamic, positive person looking for a retail role that's win-win? We want your energy and enthusiasm, to help fulfil our mission to Save Sight. Change Lives. In return, we'll give you the chance to take a well-stocked, beautifully styled charity shop and make it a lively, well-loved hub for the Muswell Hill area.

About our mission... Imagine being told that you, or someone you love, is losing their sight. In that moment, two profound questions demand urgent answers: Can this be stopped? How will I live my life? Currently, research into preventing and treating sight loss is chronically underfunded, receiving a mere 1.2% of publicly funded health research grants. People who are blind or vision impaired are three times more likely to experience loneliness and isolation than the general population. We find and fund the brilliant minds and bright ideas that put change in sight. Our researchers are at the forefront, making breakthroughs and discoveries that will prevent, treat and cure eye disease. The partnerships we build and initiatives we support are changing life for blind and vision impaired people. We are Fight for Sight: we won't stop until we: Save Sight. Change Lives.

We have a clear ambition and have the support of well-respected and highly engaged ambassadors. We are now looking for experienced, committed, and creative individuals to join our dynamic team to help realise a new five-year growth strategy. You'll be part of something impactful; we'd love to hear from you.

Role Responsibilities

• Support the Shop Manager to lead and manage volunteers.
• Drive sales and maximise shop profits through retail strategy, donations, gift aid, and other income.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and policies.
• Promote strong community relations to enhance the charity's profile.

Main Responsibilities

• Achieve income, gift aid, and donor conversion targets.
• Liaise closely with the Shop Manager.
• Support volunteers in pricing and stock processing.
• Promote a culture of ownership, follow-up, and effective communication.
• Model exceptional customer service.
• Maintain safe, legal, and secure shop operations.
• Network locally to generate donations and volunteer engagement.
• Pursue personal development opportunities.
• Ensure good housekeeping and carry out other relevant tasks.

Shop Floor

• Source sufficient donated stock and establish efficient stock processing systems.
• Ensure compliance with legal and internal stock regulations.
• Inspire volunteers to deliver excellent customer and donor experiences.
• Empower volunteers in visual merchandising and shop displays.
• Support shop maintenance and safe, healthy working conditions.

Leadership

• Assist in recruiting, inducting, and retaining a diverse volunteer team.
• Support training, motivation, and engagement of volunteers.
• Connect volunteers with Fight for Sight's mission and impact.

Person Specification - Desirable Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• The ability to work under pressure whilst remaining calm and organised.
• To be receptive to change and to act as a change agent.
• The ability to maintain excellent rapport with staff, volunteers, supporters, and donors.
• To demonstrate a calm and logical approach to problem solving.
• To consistently demonstrate a dedicated approach to the quality of customer service and team working.
• Comfortable working in a small team both strategically and operationally.
• Commitment to teamwork, business partnering, and a collegiate approach with a can-do attitude and a sense of humour.
• Able to provide positive, dynamic, tenacious, and flexible leadership at all times.
• Results-driven, able to measure and quantify own outcomes.
• Adaptable to changing landscape and evolving organisation.
• Willing and able to operate at pace in an organisation going through rapid change, using your initiative and delivering to tight deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to plan effectively and allocate resources appropriately.
• An understanding of and commitment to visually impaired people.

Employee Benefits

• A great team and a supportive culture.
• Employer pension contributions matching up to 10%, and death in service cover.
• Generous parental leave.
• Flexible/hybrid working options.
• Apprenticeships scheme, study leave, and financial support for training & development.
• Cycle to work scheme, eye test vouchers, and a staff loan scheme.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program.
• An active Social Committee and staff events.

Accessibility

We believe in fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, feel supported and valued. If you have any accessibility requirements or specific needs that you would like us to accommodate during the application process, please let us know.

Equal Opportunities, Diversity & Inclusion

Don't meet every single requirement? At Fight for Sight, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every item in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.