At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support retail shops, ensuring a welcoming experience for customers.
- Company: Join Ty Hafan, a charity making a real difference for children and families in Wales.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, pension scheme, and health benefits.
- Other info: Flexible working across South East Wales with opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact while developing your retail management skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Retail management experience and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 28189 - 28189 £ per year.
If you have a passion for retail and would like a rewarding role, helping make a real difference to children and families across Wales, we would love to hear from you. We are excited to introduce a brand-new opportunity to join Ty Hafan's retail team as a Shop Cover Manager. You will bring energy, confidence and hands-on leadership - stepping in to support and cover our shops when it matters most. If you love variety, value autonomy and enjoy getting stuck in, this could be a brilliant next step in your retail management career.
About the role: As Shop Cover Manager, you will provide hands-on management cover across our shops when Shop Managers are absent, ensuring each shop continues to operate to a high standard and deliver a welcoming, community-focused experience. This is a dynamic, people-centered role where no two days are the same. You will play a vital role in:
- Leading and motivating volunteers and paid staff
- Maintaining excellent visual, operational and customer standards
- Driving income to support Ty Hafan's vital work
- Ensuring compliance with policies and procedures
- Creating positive, inclusive shop environments
Where you will work: You will primarily cover shops across South East Wales, including Abergavenny, Barry, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, Cwmbran, Newport, Penarth, Talbot Green and Whitchurch.
Working pattern: 37.5 hours per week, 5 days Monday to Saturday, 9.00am - 5.00pm. Occasional Sunday and Bank Holiday cover. Travel expenses paid in line with HMRC guidelines.
About You: Proven retail management experience (charity or multi-site desirable), strong leadership and people management skills, confidence working independently and making decisions, excellent organisation and problem-solving skills, flexibility to travel and support multiple locations.
The benefits of working for Ty Hafan include:
- Group Personal Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 5%
- Annual holiday entitlement of 25 days (rising to 27 with service), plus Bank Holidays (based on FTE)
- Life Assurance (Death in Service benefit)
- A comprehensive induction plan and learning and development opportunities
- Employee assistance program, which provides a range of free services including counselling, financial and legal support
- Unlimited access to a 24/7 online GP as well as a range of other health experts
- Healthcare Cash Plan to claim back the cost for appointments and treatment such as dental, optical or physio
- Cycle to work scheme, technology and mobile phone benefit
- Discounted gym membership and shopping discounts (including 25% off all purchases from any Ty Hafan Retail shop)
About our Retail department: Ty Hafan currently has 17 charity shops, geographically spread from Cardigan in the west of Wales to Cwmbran in the east. Our dedicated Retail team plays a key role in raising essential funds to enable Ty Hafan's care provision through our hospice and community programmes which support life-limited children and their families in Wales. We strive to be an innovative, supportive, and agile team, working to collectively deliver ambitious goals.
Our Vision: A Wales where every child with a life-shortening condition lives a fulfilling life, supported with the compassion and specialist care they and their family need.
Our Purpose: No family should have to face the unimaginable loss of their child alone. With children and families at the heart of all we do, we provide free care and support in our hospice and in the community, offering a lifeline throughout the child's short life, at end of life, through bereavement and beyond.
Our Values: At Ty Hafan we make a difference by living our values: Demonstrating Compassion, Providing Excellent Service, Working Together and Taking Ownership.
Tips for candidates: All applications and interviews will be assessed using the person specification included within the job description. Our recruitment system will automatically time out after 120 minutes of inactivity. To ensure your application is submitted successfully, we recommend either saving your progress as you go or preparing your responses in a Word document and copying them into the application form. This will help you avoid losing any information in case of an unexpected timeout.
Please note that this role is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, receipt of satisfactory references, verification of employment history covering the last three years, and pre-employment medical clearance. Ty Hafan is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, including those from under-represented groups. Recruitment decisions are made based on merit and aligned with our values.
If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know. Please note: we may close the vacancy earlier should sufficient applications be received. Agencies need not apply.
Closing Date: Sunday 26th July 2026. Interview Dates: 11th August 2026.
Shop Cover Manager (South East Wales) employer: MindMatch
Selwood Housing is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, offering a supportive team environment where collaboration and knowledge sharing are key. With a commitment to inclusivity and a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working opportunities, and ongoing training, you will not only gain hands-on experience as an Apprentice Electrician but also build a rewarding career in a respected trade within a growing not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing affordable housing in the Southwest.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Shop Cover Manager (South East Wales)
✨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 MindMatch, 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 MindMatch!
We think you need these skills to ace Shop Cover Manager (South East Wales)
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 MindMatch, 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 MindMatch 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 MindMatch that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at MindMatch
✨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!
