Charity Background and Overview

Application Pack

Charity Shop Manager

AT HOME IN PORT AT SEA

CHARITY BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

Sailors’ Society is a Christian maritime welfare charity that meets the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of seafarers and their families, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, in ports all around the world.

With their roots in the post-Napoleonic war era when thousands of sailors returned to London destitute, Sailors’ Society has helped seafarers in need for almost two hundred years.

From providing floating homeless shelters and chapels on the banks of the Thames in the 1800’s to the international network of chaplains and Seafarer Centres in the 20th century, the Society has always been a leading provider of maritime welfare, constantly revising its programme to meet the demands of a fast changing industry.

In the last 30 years the shipping industry has further increased pace, reducing the time a ship and her crew spend in port and therefore the contact a seafarer might have with the world beyond his vessel.

The average crewmember now spends nine to 12 months at sea and it’s the role of maritime welfare charities such as Sailors’ Society to help them whilst they are away from home and family.

Sailors’ Society is responding to these changes with a robust programme of services to seafarers, at home, in port and at sea.

At home: We work with seafaring communities providing education and welfare opportunities for families who are without a loved one (husband, wife, brother, sister, father or mother) for months at a time. The Society’s recent work in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan is one example of this.

At sea: The Society is committed to providing resources and publications to help seafarers whilst onboard. We are exploring new technology to enable services through virtual chaplaincy and engage with seafarers through social media platforms. The Society’s Chart and Compass magazine has a reach of over 100,000 and we expect to see that double in the coming year.

In port: Most obviously through port chaplaincy and ship visiting activity. This is the core work of the charity and we intend to expand our port coverage in the coming years with a port expansion programme. To better enable this service, and help inform the strategy of expansion, we are embracing the use of modern technology including the development of our Ship Visitors’ App.

CHARITY SHOP MANAGER

An exciting and challenging opportunity has arisen for an experienced Charity Shop Manager to join us at the very early stages of our retail development project within the Sailors Society. As Shop Manager of one of our new charity shops, you will play an integral part in helping us to shape and develop our charity retail proposition. Using your experience to the full you will help us guide the project to launch and beyond.

You will be bordering on fanatical about customer service, building and maintaining a talented team, inspirational merchandising, good profit contribution and continually driving your store forwards. Guiding and developing your team to deliver the best service and charity shop experience in the community you serve. As Shop Manager you will also efficiently handle the administrative side of your business, including stock management, cost control and profit and loss accounts.
What we are looking for in you:
We need a leader and role model, someone with an obsession for delivering exceptional customer service and standards of merchandising. A commercially astute manager, you will also know how to enhance your shops appeal and profitability and its place in the community.
You will have worked in a fast paced environment and have previous management experience in a retail environment, preferably within the Charity Shop sector.
Who are we:

Sailors’ Society is proud to be among the largest and most comprehensive international seafarers’ support charities.

Today, we rely on merchant seafarers the world over to guarantee the transport of goods that enrich our lives through international trade. And that’s why, for nearly 200 years, Sailors’ Society has been privileged to support seafarers’ and their families every day of the week – at home, in port and at sea.

As part of its round-the-clock mission, Sailors’ Society provides a wide spectrum of support services and assistance to seafarers and their families and, when in dire need, financial help.

Whenever a seafarer connects with us, he or she can count on a comprehensive response.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Charity Shop Manager
Department: Commercial; Retail
Reports to: Retail Manager

Hours: Full time. 40hrs per week worked on a rota basis and includes weekends and bank holiday

Based at: Salisbury City Centre

Salary: £18,000 - £20,000 dependant on experience
JOB PURPOSE
As a Shop Manager you will be a confident ambassador for the Sailors Society. You will focus on customer satisfaction whilst inspiring and developing your team to be the best they can. You will take overall responsibility for the running of the shop ensuring that every customer receives a great experience. You will manage costs and drive contribution to the society’s funds.
To be responsible for the effective operation of the shop with responsibility for:

·  Managing the day to day running of the shop

·  Maximising sales

·  Maintaining effective stock management and merchandising

·  Managing and training staff and/or shop volunteers

·  Carrying out shop administration

·  Ensuring Sailors Society policies and procedures are adhered to at all times

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Role As Shop Manager

·  To take day to day responsibility for managing the shop

·  To brief the Retail Manager at regular agreed intervals on progress in the shop

·  To propose action to him/her for improvements in operations

·  To maintain an awareness of developments in local shops, especially in the charity sector, updating the Retail Manager as required

·  To maintain and develop good channels of communication with Sailors Society clients and colleagues in other Sailor Society shops, local communities and organisations

·  To provide cover for Shop Managers from time to time in other stores (if applicable), as required by your Retail Manager. This would usually be through negotiation and mutual agreement, although in an emergency you may be asked to cover at short notice

Optimising Sales and Income

·  To ensure the shop meets sales targets set by the Retail Manager

·  To initiate marketing campaigns and sales promotions to increase sales

·  To ensure the shop is competing effectively with local competitors

·  To ensure all volunteers maintain a high standard of customer care

·  To promote the store in the local community through initiatives, for example initiating stock appeals by writing to a local paper or working with local schools

·  Maximising Gift Aid sign up to meet / exceed set targets

Maintaining Effective Stock Management & Merchandising

·  To control pricing of items for sale

·  To ensure the highest possible resale value of donated stock.

·  To ensure the highest standards of presentation, visual merchandising and display at all times

·  To generate required level and quality of stock donation

·  To control stock density and rotation

·  To initiate local stock and sales promotions

Volunteer Management & Training

·  To take day to day responsibility for managing and delegating work to volunteers ensuring satisfactory performance

·  To provide adequate supervision for any volunteers

·  To provide training for all volunteers

·  To recruit volunteers

·  To lead and develop the staff/volunteer team in the shop, encouraging effective communication, setting objectives, initiating work plans and helping to foster a positive team spirit through regular team meetings

Administration

·  To apply Trading Standards Regulations in the shop and ensure volunteers are aware of these

·  To apply cash register procedures

·  To take action to ensure the shop is adequately manned, setting and maintaining rotas

·  To summarise and report takings using agreed procedures

Premises Management

·  To ensure shop housekeeping is to the required standard

·  To take day to day responsibility for shop interior

·  To ensure all shop equipment is kept in good working order

·  To inform the facilities manager of necessary repairs and maintenance

Security

·  To act as main key holder and delegate key holding to other staff / volunteers within procedural guidelines

·  To ensure the security of shop takings

·  To provide best circumstances for the personal security of volunteers

·  To ensure that security procedures are understood and implemented by all volunteers

Health & Safety

·  To apply the organisations Health & Safety policy

·  To ensure that health and safety procedures are understood and implemented by all staff and volunteers

General

·  To carry out these tasks and responsibilities with an understanding of and commitment to Sailors Society equal opportunities policy

·  To use new technology as required

·  To do all within your powers to keep Sailors Society property secure and in good working order

·  To carry out any other duties deemed appropriate by the Retail Manager

The above list of duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role.

SKILLS / COMPETENCIES
Essential

·  Enthusiasm, energy and passion to execute exceptional customer service

·  Ability to lead a team through motivation and engagement

·  Communicate confidently to all

·  Flexible approach

·  Honest and open

·  Willing to learn

·  Reliable and Committed

·  Shows initiative

Experience and Knowledge

·  Minimum 2 years management experience

·  Have worked within a customer facing environment

·  Understanding of key performance measures

·  Have worked within the retail charity sector

·  The ability to work independently on own initiative, and co-operatively within a team environment

·  The ability to work under pressure

SAILORS' SOCIETY CHARACTER

As well as looking for ability, experience and expertise the Sailors’ Society is also interested in the character of its staff and would want to know how you demonstrate the following:

Awareness

You will be self-aware and able to recognise both your strengths and weaknesses as you grown personally and professionally. You will demonstrate awareness for colleagues, enabling you to help them flourish and achieve positive outcomes.

Teamwork

You will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, personal loyalty to colleagues and a collaborative style of solving problems though a shared sense of common mission and purpose.

Leadership

You will recognise that the trustees look to the executive leadership team of the Sailors’ Society to develop the cultural, relational, intellectual, spiritual and physical capital of the organisation. You will be expected to play your part in developing a successful organisation that is a world leader in the provision of maritime welfare, this means that you will be bring valuable leadership qualities to your role. You will be expected to take responsibility for your actions and show initiative to excel in your role.

Vision and Values

The mission of the Sailors’ Society is Christian in essence. At its heart is a vision to transform the lives of seafarers and their families. Our values inform how we work and we look to you to uphold and promote these values as you help us in our work.

Society values

Integrity Innovation

Collaboration Compassion

Inclusivity Accountability

Community Leadership

Please note that due to the high number of applications we receive, only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted.