At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape a diverse retail operation across Somerset, managing 32 charity shops and e-commerce.
- Company: Join St Margaret’s Hospice Care, a community-focused charity making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, pension scheme, health cash plans, and excellent learning opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a compassionate team dedicated to improving lives every day.
- Why this job: Make an impact in your community while developing your leadership skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail management is helpful but not essential; passion for people is key.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 52000 £ per year.
St Margaret’s Hospice Care has a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Retail to join our team.
Location: Taunton, with regular travel across our retail estate in Somerset
Salary: £47,000-52,000
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: 37 hours, will include some weekend and out of hours working where required
Our retail operation raises vital income to help St Margaret’s Hospice provide care and support for patients and families across Somerset.
What can you expect to be doing?
This is a brilliant opportunity to lead and shape a large and varied retail operation that sits at the heart of communities across Somerset. You will lead 32 charity shops, including five furniture shops, alongside our e-commerce, central warehouse, logistics and retail support operations. You will be joining a fantastic team of colleagues and volunteers who care deeply about what they do and the difference they make. Working closely with the Director of Income Generation, you will build on everything our teams already do so well while helping us become even more commercial, creative and ambitious for the future. This is a visible and hands-on leadership role. You will spend time across our shops and operational sites, getting to know our people, understanding what is happening and turning ideas and plans into action.
Your day-to-day work will include:
- Developing and delivering an ambitious and sustainable retail strategy.
- Leading our Area Managers, Group Furniture Manager and Retail Digital and Support Manager, helping them and their teams to succeed.
- Taking responsibility for retail income, expenditure and net contribution, using performance information to celebrate success and identify where additional support is needed.
- Exploring opportunities to grow our income through donated goods, furniture, new goods, Gift Aid, e-commerce and other retail channels.
- Creating a positive and inclusive culture where colleagues and volunteers feel valued, supported and clear about what is expected of them.
- Working closely with teams including Finance, Estates, People, Volunteering, Marketing and IT.
- Ensuring our shops, warehouse and logistics operations are safe, well run and compliant.
- Helping us make thoughtful, evidence-based decisions about investment, new shops, relocations and the future of our retail estate.
During your first few months, we would love you to spend time getting to know our people and shops, understand what is working well and help us agree the priorities that will make the biggest difference.
What will you be good at?
- Leading and developing managers and teams across a multi-site retail operation.
- Delivering income growth, managing costs and improving commercial performance.
- Understanding budgets and performance information and turning this into clear, practical action.
- Building strong relationships, communicating clearly and bringing people with you through change.
- Balancing commercial ambition with fantastic people leadership and the values and purpose of a hospice charity.
You do not need to have worked in charity retail before. Experience of charity retail, furniture, e-commerce, warehousing or retail estate development would be helpful, but it is not essential.
Our Values
At St Margaret’s Hospice, our values guide everything we do. We are:
- Compassionate: Kindness and care for everyone, every day
- Collaborative: One team, working together for one goal
- Ambitious: Striving for better, now and into the future.
Inclusive recruitment
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Why join St Margaret’s Hospice?
You won’t just be joining a fantastic team -- you’ll become part of a welcoming, community-minded charity making a real difference every day. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment alongside a range of benefits including:
- Holiday entitlement: 33 days including bank holidays, rising to 35 days after 1 year, and increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)
- Ability to buy and sell annual leave
- Pension scheme: NHS pension continuation where applicable* 6% employer / 5% employee contribution for non-NHS staff
- Additional Benefits: Life assurance cover (2x salary)* Health Cash Plans Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, counselling, wellbeing support, and legal/financial advice Blue Light Discount Card Enhanced maternity leave* Excellent learning and development opportunities Free on-site parking in Yeovil and Taunton Opportunities to volunteer and support fundraising initiatives
*Eligibility criteria applies
Our selection process will take place in two stages and will include a presentation. Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to meet members of the team and learn more about our retail operation. Full details will be shared in advance.
Closing date: 5th October 2026
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safer Recruitment
St Margaret's Hospice are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of those who use our services. As part of our safer recruitment processes, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks relevant to the role. These may include verification of identity, right to work, references, qualifications, and other regulatory, fraud prevention, and compliance checks.
Head of Retail in North Petherton employer: St. Margaret’s Hospice
St Margaret’s Hospice is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that values the contributions of every team member. Located in Taunton, this role provides meaningful opportunities for professional growth within the healthcare sector, allowing you to make a real difference in the community while enjoying flexible part-time hours. With a focus on employee well-being and development, you will thrive in an environment that prioritises high standards of clinical governance and teamwork.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Retail in North Petherton
✨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 St. Margaret’s Hospice, 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 St. Margaret’s Hospice!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Retail in North Petherton
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 St. Margaret’s Hospice, 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 St. Margaret’s Hospice 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 St. Margaret’s Hospice that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at St. Margaret’s Hospice
✨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!
