Retail Deputy Manager at The Works Stores Ltd

This full-time on-site position offers great opportunities for career growth. Retail Deputy Manager 18-hour contract.

Why The Works? We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play. You sell the paint that turns someone into an artist, the book that unleashes an inner author, the games that bring families together, the puzzle book that reconnects with a late family member’s memory. With your passion and our products, you will help ignite the spark within people, allowing them to unleash their creativity, find new passions, hobbies or rekindle fond memories. The unseen possibilities are limitless, and it all starts with you.

Become a Retail Deputy Manager:

• Support the Store Manager to lead the team and deliver an exceptional customer experience.
• Help drive commercial performance, maintain high operational standards, and step up to lead the store in the Store Manager’s absence.
• Be a role model for the team – motivating, coaching, and ensuring every shift runs smoothly.
• Deliver exceptional service, spark conversations and help customers with their shopping missions.
• Recommend products that surprise, delight and inspire.
• Keep the store well-stocked, tidy, safe and welcoming.
• Create an environment where everything runs smoothly and everyone feels supported and included.

Your Mission:

• Take ownership of key operational areas such as stock management, merchandising, and compliance.
• Lead by example on the shop floor, setting high standards for service, presentation and teamwork.
• Coach and develop team members, providing feedback and support to help them grow.
• Step up to manage the store in the absence of the Store Manager, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and training of new team members.
• Monitor store performance and contribute ideas to improve sales and efficiency.
• Ensure health & safety, cash handling and loss prevention procedures are followed.
• Foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture.

Skills / Behaviours that will set you apart:

• Experience in a supervisory or team leadership role within retail or customer service.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confident in leading a team and making decisions.
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Customer-focused with a passion for delivering great service.
• Flexible and reliable, with a hands-on approach.
• Experience in a high-volume or value retail environment.
• Familiarity with retail systems and reporting tools.
• Experience supporting recruitment, training or performance management.

Being a Great Leader:

As a great leader with wonderful people skills, you’ll create a team that’s more than just co-workers – it's a team. Inspire and motivate your team in line with our employer brand, values and purpose. Lead your team to reach their potential and steer your store to break records and get in the spotlight. Work collaboratively with support departments and peers. If something isn’t quite right, provide quality constructive feedback so we can work as a team to get it right! But let’s not forget the most important part – your team's well-being and aspirations. You’ll support their career growth through everyday conversations.

Benefits:

• 25% Colleague Discount – plus exclusive Double Discount days!
• MyWorks – Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities, deals, tech and more.
• Family Friendly Leave – enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Holiday – 33 days, including bank holidays, with allowance increasing with long service.
• Can-Do Academy – Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development.
• Stream – Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when life happens.
• Share Scheme – Own a piece of The Works.
• 24/7 support for you and your family – through our partnership with Retail Trust Charity, who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and more.
• Healthcare Cash Plan – support your everyday healthcare costs.
• Long-service awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work scheme and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose: To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

Our Values:

• We are Crafty – Smart with what we've got.
• We are Caring – Heart in every action.
• We are Can-do – Energy that gets it done.
• We Listen.
• We Care.

Diversity, Inclusion & Reasonable Adjustments: We are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working, and we try to support reasonable adjustments for interviews.