At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage charity shops, support teams, and drive performance for a meaningful cause.
- Company: Join National Star, a charity empowering young people with complex disabilities.
- Benefits: Full-time role with opportunities for personal growth and making a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel across multiple locations and a focus on community impact.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission that transforms lives while developing your retail skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in charity retail and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 25543 - 30000 £ per year.
Location: Gloucester or Tewkesbury (with regular travel across a network of 9+ charity shops)
Reporting to: Head of Retail
Contract: Full Time
About National Star
National Star is a national charity dedicated to enabling young people with complex disabilities to realise their aspirations. Through specialist education, employment programmes, social enterprises and income-generating activities, we support individuals to develop the skills and confidence needed to live fulfilling lives. As our successful retail operation continues to expand, we are seeking a passionate Retail Operations Manager to help drive performance, support our shop teams and contribute to the generation of vital income that supports our charitable work.
The Role
This is a varied, fast-paced and highly practical role. You will work closely with the Head of Retail to support the day-to-day operation of our growing portfolio of charity shops. This is not a desk-based position. You will spend the majority of your time visiting shops, supporting managers, developing teams, ensuring operational excellence and helping stores achieve their full potential.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the day-to-day operations of multiple charity shops across the retail network.
- Manage staffing rotas and coordinate holiday, sickness and emergency cover.
- Oversee floating deputy managers and bank staff deployment.
- Maintain and update rota and payroll systems, including absence and overtime records.
- Provide first-line support to shop managers on operational issues, training and retail processes.
- Deliver hands-on support within stores during staffing shortages or busy trading periods.
- Approve shop consumable orders and monitor operational requirements.
- Support stock management and stock movement across the retail portfolio.
- Assist with staff development, performance reviews and training programmes.
- Promote volunteer recruitment, engagement and retention.
- Ensure compliance with policies and procedures relating to health and safety, GDPR, safeguarding and retail operations.
- Support the delivery of exceptional customer service and strong visual merchandising standards.
- Help implement new processes, controls and operational improvements across the retail estate.
About You
We're looking for an energetic and enthusiastic retail professional who thrives in a hands-on environment and understands the unique challenges and opportunities within charity retail.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Significant charity retail experience.
- Proven experience managing and coordinating charity shop teams.
- Experience recruiting, training and developing staff and volunteers.
- Strong operational and organisational skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Strong attention to detail and administrative accuracy.
- Ability to prioritise workloads and work independently.
- Experience conducting staff appraisals and supporting performance development.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Passion for retail, merchandising and delivering excellent customer experiences.
- Full clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the local area and charity retail sector.
- Specialist retail qualifications or training.
- First Aid qualification.
Why Join National Star?
This is an exciting time to join National Star as we continue to grow our retail presence and develop new opportunities to generate sustainable income for the charity. Your contribution will directly support life-changing services for young people with complex disabilities while helping shape the future of our retail operation. National Star is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Full Job Description available on request.
Charity Retail Operations Manager employer: National Star
National Star is an exceptional employer that prioritises sustainability and social impact, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about environmental initiatives. With a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and personal growth, employees have the opportunity to lead meaningful projects that directly contribute to the organisation's mission of transforming lives. Located in a supportive environment, you will engage with diverse teams and communities, driving positive change while developing your career in sustainability.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Charity Retail Operations Manager
✨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 National Star, 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 National Star!
We think you need these skills to ace Charity Retail Operations Manager
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 National Star, 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 National Star 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 National Star that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at National Star
✨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!
