Relief Manager

Relief Manager to support Willow retail shops across multiple locations mainly in Hertfordshire, and one store in Bedfordshire.

Reporting to: Area Manager

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Part-Time or Full-Time, willing to consider 30 hours (4 days) or 37.5 hours (5 days) per week.

Other Requirements: The jobholder must be mobile and have a car. All travelling expenses will be reimbursed.

Key Responsibilities:

To provide cover in Willow retail shops, managing Assistant Manager(s) and Volunteers, including the recruitment and retention of a motivated team of volunteers
To ensure income and profit maximisation through maximising donations, preparation of items for sale, sales and disposals of un-saleable items to trade merchants
Achieve sales and profit targets in order that we are able to increase the number of Special Days for seriously ill young adults
To achieve the optimum price for all donated stock
To maximise sign-ups for Retail Gift Aid and ensuring full records are maintained for donations under this scheme
To control shop expenditure in line with budget, applying Willow policies for purchasing at all times
To manage customer and donor engagement ensuring the best possible relationship with Willow
To manage the physical appearance of the shop maintaining high standards of shop merchandising and visual layout, controlling stock density and rotation systems, ensuring that it is inviting to customers and safe for customers, staff and volunteers at all times
To contribute to the development of retail through innovation, ideas and creativity, feeding back all team ideas to the Area Manager
To demonstrate understanding of Willow’s purpose and activities striving to improve brand awareness and communicate key messages in order to raise the charity’s profile
To complete all shop administration including cash handling and banking functions accurately and to deadline, ensuring company policies and procedures are adhered to
To plan and organise daily workload for team, encouraging effective communication, setting objectives and fostering a positive team spirit
To ensure that trading standard regulations are adhered to at all times.

Generic responsibilities:

To ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes Willow’s equality and diversity policies
To promote a health and safety culture within the workplace, observing all health and safety rules and procedures and all attend training courses as required
To ensure that essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to or discussed with inappropriate persons
To ensure all information is maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act
To manage personal resources and own professional development
To undertake other duties, commensurate with the post, as required

Travel requirements:

Travel to cover stores in the following locations: Hatfield, Hertford, Hemel Hempstead, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage and Biggleswade
To attend Shop Managers’ meetings and training sessions as required

Unsocial hours requirement

To work on Saturdays (and by prior agreement Sundays) as required within normal rota’d duties.

Person Specification

Knowledge

An appreciation of the value of things
Understanding of stock management
Ability to use word and email
Ability to plan and organise own and teams work load
An affinity with Willow’s objectives and activities

Skills and abilities

Accurate, conscientious and self-motivated
Ability to work on own and use initiative and make decisions
Good communication skills at all levels
An artistic streak, e.g. flair for display

Experience & qualifications

GCSE Maths and English or equivalent literacy and numeracy skills
Experience of managing a team in retail or charity sector
Experience of working within the voluntary sector
Understanding of health and safety and trading standards

Willow Foundation