At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily operations at a top wetland reserve, ensuring exceptional visitor experiences.
- Company: Join WWT Welney, a leader in wetland conservation and hospitality.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, free entry to centres, and a contributory pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on conservation while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in trading, customer care, and team management required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
WWT Welney is looking for an enthusiastic, highly organised, customer-focused individual to join our team as Trading Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the day-to-day commercial operations at one of the UK’s most important wetland reserves. You will oversee our retail, catering, gallery, and holiday cottage operations, ensuring visitors receive an exceptional experience whilst driving commercial performance and supporting our conservation mission.
Located in Norfolk, WWT Welney is part of the Ouse Washes, renowned for its spectacular winter gatherings of wildfowl and diverse wetland wildlife year-round. At the heart of the reserve is our award-winning visitor centre. The retail space proudly showcases products from local suppliers alongside a wide selection of books, bird care products, optics, gifts, and more. Meanwhile, Wigeon Café offers visitors spectacular panoramic views across the wetlands, complemented by a recently refreshed menu featuring freshly made ciabattas, paninis, soups, and cakes. Delivering an exceptional visitor experience and caring for this unique environment are central to everything we do. We are proud recipients of Visit England Welcome Accolade for the past two years, recognising our commitment to outstanding hospitality and visitor engagement.
By joining our team, you will become part of an organisation dedicated to protecting wetland habitats, saving species worldwide, and inspiring people to connect with nature. Every profit generated through our trading operations directly supports vital conservation work to restore wetlands and unlock their extraordinary environmental benefits. This is a permanent role, working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days from 7 including weekends and bank holidays.
About You
We are looking for a customer-focused individual who is a collaborative leader who takes time to support people in their team. You will have:
- Experience in a relevant trading / commercial environment
- Experience of delivering exceptional standards in Customer Care
- Proven track record in delivering or exceeding departmental targets
- Experience of team management, training and development
- Previous experience of Food Safety Management System
- Ability to determine priorities and set tasks
- Ability to train, motivate and engage your team (including volunteers)
- Ability to plan for and adapt to seasonal trade/campaigns and promotions
About Us
We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case. Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar. Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power.
Why you’ll love working at WWT
- Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
- Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
- 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
- Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
- Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
- Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
- Cycle to work scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
- Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
Trading Manager employer: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
WWT Welney is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work at one of the UK's most important wetland reserves in Norfolk. With a strong commitment to conservation and outstanding visitor engagement, employees enjoy a supportive work culture, generous benefits including 33 days of annual leave, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Join a passionate team dedicated to making a difference while enjoying the beauty of nature every day.
Contact Details:
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Trading Manager
✨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 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, 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 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust!
We think you need these skills to ace Trading Manager
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 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, 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 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust 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 Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
✨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!
