At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a vibrant shop, inspire volunteers, and drive growth for a meaningful cause.
- Company: Join Save the Children UK, making a real difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous holidays, and amazing employee discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working options available in a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team that champions children's futures.
- Qualifications: Retail leadership experience and a passion for community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and influential retail leader to join us as our Store Manager in Clapham, London, where you will lead one of our key urban proposition shops – a large high‑footfall store with huge potential. This is a uniquely rewarding environment, ideal for someone who thrives on problem‑solving and is passionate about unlocking growth. This role will be based on‑site in the Clapham, London shop. We’re looking for someone able to work 5 days (35 hours) per week to include weekend working (the shop trades 7 days per week).
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard, delivering lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As Store Manager, you’ll lead a shop with a committed volunteer team of around 25‑30, with significant opportunity to grow the team further. With 7‑day trading in place, you’ll shape the shop's next phase of growth through smart planning, strong people leadership and a confident approach to risk and resilience. We’re looking for an ambitious leader who can stabilise performance, drive commercial improvement and continue to build a thriving, community‑rooted store.
- Build, lead and inspire a diverse and motivated volunteer team, championing volunteer recruitment and development to ensure the shop thrives.
- Drive income and profitability by monitoring financial performance, identifying opportunities, and maximising every area of the business.
- Deliver retail excellence through effective day‑to‑day operational management, ensuring compliance, efficiency and high standards across the shop.
- Maintain and evolve the shop's distinctive, design‑led proposition – translating local community trends into compelling product, merchandising and customer experience.
- Act as an ambassador for Save the Children UK within the local community, strengthening relationships and enhancing the shop's reputation as a destination charity retailer.
- Champion safeguarding, risk management and compliance, role‑modeling our values and creating a safe, inclusive environment for volunteers and customers alike.
About you
- Proven leadership experience managing staff or volunteers in a retail or customer‑facing environment (fashion or charity retail experience is highly desirable).
- A strong commercial mindset, with experience working to targets, analysing performance and adapting to drive results.
- Excellent customer service skills and the ability to create an engaging, welcoming in‑store experience.
- Confidence using a range of IT systems, including MS Office and reporting or volunteer management platforms.
- The ability to build and maintain positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, motivating and inspiring others.
- A self‑motivated, flexible and resilient approach, with the ability to work at pace in a dynamic retail environment.
- Commitment to Save the Children’s vision, mission and values.
What we offer you
- Competitive Pay – Our transparent pay policy ensures fair and equitable compensation.
- Generous Holidays – Start with 27 days off per year (pro rata for part‑timers) and enjoy up to 32 days after 10 years.
- Pension & Life Assurance – Secure your future with excellent contributions.
- Employee Discounts – Save on groceries, high‑street brands, home, tech, gyms, holidays, and more! Over 6,000 deals are available through our benefits platform.
- Maternity/Adoption Benefits – Get 21 weeks of full pay after just six months of employment.
- Paternity/Adoption Leave – Enjoy 10 weeks of full pay (plus statutory 2 weeks) after six months with us.
- Additional benefits: include cycle‑to‑work scheme, employee assistance programme, eye care, flu jabs, season ticket loan.
To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received. Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Location & Ways of Working
This role will be based on‑site in the Clapham, London shop. We’re looking for someone able to work 5 days (35 hours) per week to include weekend working (the shop trades 7 days per week).
Flexible Working
We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce, and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where structural inequality is actively addressed, and all employees have a sense of belonging and feel they can thrive. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and are especially interested in hearing from people with diverse and intersecting identities such as lived experience of poverty, people of faith, people of colour, people with disabilities, with experience of migration and/or refugee status, care‑experienced people, the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals with experience living in diverse families. We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think. We know that different voices working together will enable us to do our work better, improving the lives of children around the world.
Salary Structure
Save the Children is committed to paying staff in a fair and equitable way and will benchmark all salary offers in line with the pay of existing staff.
Interview Expenses
Candidates should note that unfortunately it is not our policy to reimburse expenses accrued when attending interviews at Save the Children UK unless you are requested to attend an interview in an alternative location to where the role is based.
Pre‑employment Checks
A satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International Criminal Record Check (if applicable). Receipt of satisfactory references – as a committed member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, as part of our onboarding process, Save the Children UK will undertake a minimum of 2 references, and any additional references required to collectively cover the last 5 years of your employment history. Proof of eligibility to work in the national location for this role.
For anything else you can email us on: careers@savethechildren.org.uk
Shop Manager – Clapham (7379) employer: Save the Children
Save the Children UK is an exceptional employer, offering a rewarding opportunity to lead a vibrant retail team in Clapham, London. With a strong commitment to employee growth, generous benefits including competitive pay and extensive holiday allowances, and a culture that champions diversity and inclusion, you will thrive in an environment dedicated to making a meaningful impact on children's lives. Join us to be part of a community-focused organisation where your leadership can drive positive change and unlock potential.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Shop Manager – Clapham (7379)
✨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 Save the Children, 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 Save the Children!
We think you need these skills to ace Shop Manager – Clapham (7379)
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 Save the Children, 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 Save the Children 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 Save the Children that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Save the Children
✨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!
