At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a café team, ensuring excellent customer service and smooth operations.
- Company: Join the Royal Voluntary Service at Clatterbridge Hospital.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, 26 days holiday, flexible working, and career development.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on lives while developing your management skills.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in retail or café management with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for training and progression.
Job Description
Please note that the advertised rate is pay award pending as of 1st April 2026. As our new rates are yet to be published, this will be set to meet or exceed National Minimum Wage laws.
About The Retail & Cafe Manager Role
Royal Voluntary Service hospital cafés, shops and trolleys are part of the fabric of the NHS and a real asset in their own right. Staffed by employees and volunteers, we provide an outstanding range of healthy food choices. Our customers love the fact that the money they spend with us pays for volunteer action in hospitals and the community.
Location: RVS Cafe, Clatterbridge Hospital, Clatterbridge Road, CH63 4JY.
Hours: 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday – 5 hours a shift. This is subject to agreement if you are successful.
Contract: Part‑time, permanent with a salary of £13.28 per hour (FTE £24,187 per annum).
What You\’ll Bring
- Excellent customer service skills, ensuring a positive and welcoming experience for all customers.
- Strong communication abilities for clear interactions with customers and team members.
- Exceptional organisational and time‑management skills.
- Proficiency in industry‑standard IT systems, including Microsoft Office and email.
- Proven leadership and people‑management skills to motivate and guide a team effectively.
Job Requirements
- At least two years’ management experience.
- At least two years’ experience in a retail or café environment.
- At least two years’ cash handling experience.
- Experience working at management level within a similar retail/café environment, with a comparable turnover.
- Proven leadership and people‑management with great motivational skills.
- Experience working alongside volunteers would be advantageous.
- Knowledge in Food Safety & Health & Safety procedures would be advantageous.
- Good understanding of EPOS / Till systems.
- Proficiency in IT systems, for example, Microsoft Office and email to a basic level.
- Knowledge and experience of general administrative processes.
- Can remain calm & professional in a fast‑paced environment.
- The ability to deliver excellent customer service through your team.
- Ability to communicate in a consistent and effective manner.
- Flair for organising, delegating & prioritising.
- Flexible to the needs of the business & can attend out‑of‑hours training if required.
- Willingness to undertake training and continuous professional development.
- Good literacy and numeracy skills.
Job Responsibilities
- Oversee all aspects of the store’s operations, including stock control, staffing, and ensuring smooth day‑to‑day functioning.
- Meet or exceed the agreed Profit and Loss (P&L) budget, regularly monitoring performance and adjusting costs as needed.
- Maintain exceptional store standards, ensuring a safe, clean, and organised environment.
- Ensure compliance with statutory standards, including Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, Data Protection, and Financial controls.
- Lead by example to create a positive volunteer experience, motivating and engaging volunteers and employees.
- Provide coaching, mentoring and training to your team to ensure compliance with Royal Voluntary Service policies.
- Implement processes to manage team performance and drive improvement.
- Recruit and coordinate volunteers and employees to meet operational requirements.
- Use management reports to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Regularly visit competitors to identify trends and provide feedback to the Retail Support team.
- Collaborate with the Area Manager to develop the Retail Business Plan and its local implementation.
- Establish an effective working relationship with the local NHS team.
- Provide regular performance updates to the Area Manager.
- Be prepared to work flexible hours aligned with store trading hours.
How You\’ll Be Doing It
- Enable volunteers by demonstrating an understanding of the role’s impact on their experience, collaborating with the Volunteering Team.
- Take charge, empower and direct people and activities, inspiring others to follow your lead.
- Support others by engaging in teamwork, being approachable and dependable.
- Focus on service delivery, identifying and addressing customer needs with high quality service.
- Network by building effective relationships and sharing information.
- Analysing data to make rational judgments and commitments, utilising facts and figures.
- Plan and organise future activities, monitoring implementation and delivery.
- Maintain quality orientation, focusing on accuracy and risk minimisation, adhering to policy and standards.
- Show drive and determination, accepting challenges and achieving results.
- Display commercial awareness, evaluating situations with financial factors and long‑term impact.
- Demonstrate resilience, bouncing back from setbacks, managing work challenges and accepting constructive criticism.
- Advocate equality, diversity & inclusion, promoting inclusive behaviour in all interactions.
Job Benefits
- Salary of £13.28 per hour (FTE £24,187 per annum).
- 26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata).
- 10 weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation.
- A great pension scheme.
- 2 x Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification.
- Enhanced Family Leave schemes.
- An employee benefits package with access to an exclusive rewards website for discounts and cashback online.
- A 24‑hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies.
- A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face‑to‑face counselling sessions included.
- Extensive online and on‑the‑job training to ensure success in the role.
- Opportunities to discuss flexible working.
- Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
- The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities and society.
If you have the skills and experience to become our Retail and Cafe Manager, please click ‘apply’ today – we’d love to hear from you!
Closing date for this role is 15 April 2026. However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
At Royal Voluntary Service our goal is to welcome everyone and build inclusive and diverse teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work. To find out more about our commitment to EDI, visit our website.
Join Royal Voluntary Service and together we can change lives, change communities and change society.
Other organisations may call this role Retail Manager, Café Manager, Store Manager, Retail Store Manager, Branch Manager or General Store Manager.
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Retail and Cafe Manager - Clatterbridge Hospital in The Wirral employer: Royal Voluntary Service
Contact Detail:
Royal Voluntary Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail and Cafe Manager - Clatterbridge Hospital in The Wirral
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail and café industry, especially those who might know about opportunities at Clatterbridge Hospital. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the Royal Voluntary Service and their values. Show us that you’re not just looking for any job, but that you genuinely want to be part of their mission to change lives and communities.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Think of specific examples where you’ve motivated staff or handled challenges in a café or retail setting. We love hearing about real experiences that showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows us that you’re genuinely interested in the role. Plus, it’s a great way to reiterate your enthusiasm!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail and Cafe Manager - Clatterbridge Hospital in The Wirral
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see why you're excited about managing our café and how you can make a difference in the lives of our customers and volunteers.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Retail and Cafe Manager position. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in leadership and customer service, so we can see how you fit into our team at Clatterbridge Hospital.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, so don’t be afraid to show off your organisational skills!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the position there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Voluntary Service
✨Know Your Café Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with the café's menu, services, and any recent changes. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you answer questions about how you would manage operations effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've motivated teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you led staff or volunteers to achieve great customer service. This will demonstrate your ability to inspire and manage a team.
✨Understand Health & Safety Regulations
Brush up on food safety and health & safety procedures relevant to café management. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure compliance and maintain high standards, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations, like handling a difficult customer or managing stock shortages. Practise your responses to show how you can think on your feet and maintain calm in fast-paced environments.