Assistant Shop Manager in Warrington

Responsible to: Shop Manager.

Directly Managing: Volunteers and any workers on placements from partner organisations.

Hours of Work: 15 hours per week.

Purpose of the Job

To be responsible, in the absence of the Shop Manager, for the effective operation of the shop, with responsibility for:

• Managing the day-to-day running of the shop.
• Optimising sales.
• Maintaining effective stock management and merchandising.
• Managing and training shop volunteers.
• Carrying out shop administration.
• Arranging repairs and maintenance of the premises.
• Ensuring adequate security.
• Enforcing health and safety policy and procedures.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Role as Assistant Shop Manager

• Take day-to-day responsibility for managing the shop in the absence of the Shop Manager.
• Brief the Shop Manager and Retail Area Manager at regular agreed intervals and immediately, if urgent, on progress towards shop targets.
• Propose action to them for improvements in operations.
• Maintain awareness of developments in local shops, especially in the charity/low-cost sector, updating the Retail Area Manager and Head of Retail as required.
• Maintain awareness of the work of St. Rocco's Hospice and relevant local or national issues through press, media, and local views.
• Maintain and develop good communication channels with colleagues in St. Rocco’s Hospice Shops, local communities, and organisations.
• Assist the Area Manager as required in area-wide initiatives, for example new shop openings.
• Provide cover for Shop Managers from time to time in stores, as required by the Retail Area Manager.
• Ensure the shop meets sales targets set by the Area Manager.
• Initiate marketing campaigns and sales promotions to increase sales.
• Ensure shop competes effectively with local competitors.
• Ensure all staff maintain a high standard of customer care.
• Promote the store in the local community through initiatives, for example initiating stock appeals by organising local leaflet distribution.
• Maximise the sales potential of new goods and Christmas cards.
• Control pricing in line with company policy.
• Ensure the highest possible resale value of donated stock.
• Ensure all items offered for sale meet current legislation and St. Rocco’s trading policies and procedures.
• Apply company display, merchandising and window dressing standards.
• Control stock density and rotation.
• Initiate local stock and sales promotions.
• Dispose of unsaleable items sensitively, at lowest cost, with minimal environmental impact, and achieve recycling or reuse where possible.

Staff Management & Training

• Take day-to-day responsibility for managing and delegating work to volunteers & workers on placements in the absence of the Shop Manager, ensuring satisfactory performance.
• Provide adequate supervision for all volunteers in the shop.
• Assist with training for all shop volunteers.
• Assist with leadership and development of the team in the shop, encouraging effective communication, initiating work plans and helping to foster a positive team spirit through regular team meetings.
• Attend training programmes and liaise with/attend team meetings of Shop Managers.

Administration

• Complete daily/weekly sales returns and brief Shop Manager as required.
• Ensure shop costs do not exceed agreed budget.
• Ensure that all Gift Aid administration is completed accurately.
• Ensure that Data Protection and Information Governance procedures are followed.
• Apply Trading Standards Regulations in the shop and ensure staff are aware of these.
• Apply cash management and security procedures.
• Take action to ensure the shop is adequately staffed, setting and maintaining volunteer rotas.
• Control and requisition shop supplies.
• Bank takings using agreed banking procedures.
• Ensure shop housekeeping is to company standard.
• Take day-to-day responsibility for shop exterior in the absence of the Shop Manager.
• Ensure all shop equipment is kept in good working order.
• Inform Retail Area Manager of necessary repairs and maintenance.

Security

• Act as a keyholder and delegate keyholding to other volunteers within procedural guidelines.
• Ensure the security of shop takings and stock.
• Provide best circumstances for the personal security of volunteers.
• Ensure that security procedures are understood and implemented by all volunteers.

Health & Safety

• Maintain Health & Safety records.
• Undertake required fire drills.
• Ensure fire equipment is correctly sited and serviced.
• Ensure electrical equipment is properly maintained.
• Implement risk assessment procedures when appropriate.
• Ensure that health and safety procedures are understood and implemented by all volunteers.

General

• Carry out these tasks and responsibilities with an understanding of and commitment to St Rocco’s Hospice equal opportunities policy.
• Use new technology as required.
• Do all within your powers to keep company property secure and in good working order.
• Carry out any additional duties within the spirit of the post as required by the Area Manager.

Benefits

• Contributory Company Group Pension Plan (If you are a member of the NHS Pension Scheme, you have the option of continuing in this scheme).
• Life Assurance and a Medical Cash Plan - T&Cs apply.
• Free onsite parking.
• Annual holiday entitlement in any holiday year is 7 working weeks, inclusive of all public holiday entitlement.
• Part‑time employees’ annual holiday entitlement accrues on a pro‑ratio basis.
• (Benefits may differ for Bank / Contract for Services workers, T&Cs apply).
• The posts are not salary incremental posts and pay reviews are at the discretion of the Hospice.