Programme Manager - Retail

Living Wage Foundation

Citizens UK

Full time

Salary – circa £30,500

12 month fixed term contract with potential to extend.

The Living Wage campaign was launched by Citizens UK in 2001 and has won over £210 million in better pay for 45,000 low paid workers.

The Living Wage Foundation provides advice and support to employers interested in moving towards the Living Wage and recognises and celebrates Living Wage Employers through an accreditation programme. There are now over 1,200 accredited employers including Nationwide, Google, ITV, Nestle, Barclays and Chelsea Football club.

Our next target is the retailsector. You will be responsible for recruiting new Living Wage Retailers across the UK. You will be part of a team building an organised Living Wage consumer movement.

Our aim is to build a Fairtrade-style, consumer driven campaign for the UK retail market called “We Buy Living Wage”.

Your job will be to recruit retailers to the Living Wage and build a movement of consumers who commit to shop with them.

Main Duties

The Programme Manager will:

  • Develop a recruitment strategy for the retail sector, focussed on independent, family-owned, and values driven businesses.
  • Work with existing Living Wage Employers in the retail sector to publicise the Living Wage Employer mark. You will develop strong relationships with these employers to understand the challenges and benefits they experience in implementation.
  • Increase the number and range of retailers accredited with the Living Wage Foundation.
  • Increase the pipeline of target retailers.
  • Develop a tailored package and content that will attract a range of retailers to accredit.
  • Develop a rolling recruitment plan and process with a timetable in place for each stage.
  • Build collateral to enable recruitment including material for the website and case studies.
  • Build a network of accredited retailers in every part of the UK and connect with local Living Wage campaigns.
  • Contribute to the LWF’s wider strategy for winning the Living Wage in the retail sector.
  • Develop a strategy for engaging consumer support for We Buy Living Wage.
  • Work with Citizens UK members and other partners to build an infrastructure to allow consumers to participate in We Buy Living Wage.
  • To work with Citizens UK community organisers, members and leaders to promote civic engagement with and ownership of the Living Wage campaign.

Person Specification

Knowledge /
  • Good knowledge of responsible business and campaigning.
  • Good knowledge of the Living Wage campaign and its objectives.
  • Good knowledge of issues facing business and retail in particular.

Experience /
  • Evidence of successful business development.
  • A proven track record of working with businesses ideally in the retail sector.
  • Business planning processes and management against targets and key performance indicators.
  • Evidence of successful collaboration.
  • Evidence of effective use of Salesforce or other CRM systems.
  • Track record of successful recruitment and retention of companies into membership/partnership.

Skills /
  • Excellent organisational, planning, prioritisation and time management skills
  • Good relationship and networking skills.
  • Ability to close deals.
  • Clear strategic thinker.
  • Entrepreneurial.

For more about Citizens UK and the Living Wage Campaign please visit and

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter by email to

The subject heading of the email must contain the applicants name and the words Retail Application.

If it does not we are unableguarantee the application will be considered.

DEADLINE: 12 noon Monday 23rd February.

INTERVIEWS: Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th March