store manager York, England
Job description
Please note: Applications should be submitted via the application form available at rspca-yorkhome.org.uk/retailmanager.
The RSPCA in York, Harrogate and District is a separately registered charity although we are supported by and work in partnership with the RSPCA National Society. We are primarily self-funding and the money we spend in York is raised in York and Harrogate and surrounding areas. The RSPCA has been helping animals and their owners in York since 1864.
The York Animal Home looks after 30 dogs, 24 cats as well as many small furries and birds, at any one time. Many of our animals are brought to us via national RSPCA inspectors who have rescued them from dangerous and abusive situations. We rehabilitate and rehome around 500 animals each year. We also operate a small wildlife unit houses hedgehogs and feral birds which are released back to the wild when they have been brought back to health.
Maintenance of the 9 buildings, staffing costs, supporting our volunteers, veterinary bills and most importantly caring for, rehabilitating and rehoming our animals’ costs around £500,000 a year.
Purpose:
Over the last 18 months our retail work has seen significant change lead by our current Retail Manager. We now have three shops all performing well, with a view to opening an additional store in the near future, to continue building upon the good work. Our current Retail Manager will soon be going on Maternity Leave and we’re now in the process of looking for someone who can oversee our retail work until she returns. There will be a comprehensive handover with the current Retail Manager.
The branch currently operates three charity shops (Acomb, York City Centre and Selby) and are in the process of opening a new shop in Malton. Our retail work is one of the key elements of our income strategy but is operating in a challenging and competitive environment. We want to make our charity shops the backbone of the charity and provide regular sustainable income, which can be relied upon as move forward.
The Retail Manager is responsible for co-ordinating the retail work of the charity, directly overseeing the charity shops, ensuring our stores are hitting their sales targets and maximising their potential. We’re looking for an individual who isn’t afraid to get stuck in, who can help us to continue to deliver a consistent high-quality experience for our customers across all of our stores, whilst maximising the income to support the work of the animal home.
Salary: £29000 a year
Hours of Work: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (7.5 hours per day). Due to the nature of the role, working hours may exceed this total as business needs fluctuate. The post will involve weekend work.
Place of Work: You will be expected to cover the York, Harrogate and District area, with time split between:
- Home
- York Animal Home – Landing Lane, York, YO26 4RH.
- Acomb Shop - 5B Goodramgate, York YO1 7LJ.
- York Shop - 43 York Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4LN.
- Selby Shop - 3 New Ln, Selby YO8 4QB.
- Malton Shop – 10 Saville Street, Malton, Y017 7LL
Duration of Post: The role is a fixed contract to cover the maternity period of our current Retail Manager. The role is expected to last from October 2023 to October 2024.
Reporting to: Branch Retail Manager
Application forms: should be returned, marked Private and Confidential, to Peter Gorbert, via email to [email protected]
Contact: For an informal conversation regarding this role, please contact Peter Gorbert, Branch Manager on [email protected].
Retail Duties:
- Ensure the charity shop staff and their volunteer teams are maximising the profit potential of each retail unit.
- Set stretching targets, devise robust reporting mechanisms and monitor performance.
- Support the retail team with training (e.g. merchandising, promotion, pricing, window dressing etc.) and exciting charity retail concepts.
- Keep a centralised training record.
- Ensure retail teams are maximising Gift Aid income where appropriate
- Completing regular Gift Aid returns to HMRC
- Act as line manager for all retail staff, carrying out performance management
- Manage the retail staff holiday calendar and ensure stores have suitable holiday cover, including working in the charity shop when necessary.
- Ensure all shop staff adhere to HR, health and safety and fire procedures as required by the Branch’s policies and UK legislation.
- Ensure proper financial controls and reporting are in place in all stores and that these are audited on a regular basis.
- Provide monthly reports on each retail unit to the Branch Manager.
- Encourage the sharing of best practice between the retail units and facilitate co-operation between the shops.
- Maintain consistent branding, standards, processes and procedures across all the retail units.
- Encourage retail unit teams to use all social media to promote any stock for sale.
- Coordinate a mystery shopper system to provide on the ground feedback on the shops.
Donation/Stock Duties:
- Manage the Retail Driver and ensure the efficient pick-up and delivery of all donated and sold stock, across the branch area.
- Recruit and train a team of volunteers to support the stock donation activity of the branch, including volunteer drivers and stock sorters.
- Ensure stock is distributed to shops in a manner that maximises the best return.
- Encourage and manage the rotation of stock between the retail units
- Organise successful methods of attracting stock, including donation stations, and
- Create relationships with other retailers to develop opportunities for stock donation.
- Organise and promote seasonal donation campaigns to attract stock at key times.
- Develop relationships with student representatives at the two Universities and student accommodation providers to increase donations from the student population.
Volunteering Duties:
- To identify volunteering opportunities and recruit new retail volunteers, as required.
- Support and motivate existing volunteers to assist with retail activities across our shops. Providing any necessary support and training.
- Ensure regular and effective communication takes place volunteers
- Ensure that all fundraising volunteers are familiar with and follow the Branch Health & Safety policies and procedures.
Development Duties:
- Devise a strategic plan to develop the Branch’s charity retail income, which might include new charity retail outlets, specialist retail units e.g. media shop, furniture unit etc.
- Identify suitable new locations and retail opportunities, presenting the Trustee Board with a business case, including a financial forecast, for the development of any new retail opportunity.
- Subject to Trustee Board approval and alongside the Branch Manager and professional representative, negotiate new sites, leases, fittings, signage, staff and launch publicity to agreed budgets.
General Duties:
- To promote a positive image of the Branch by maintaining a high level of customer services at all times.
- Ensure compliance with RSPCA standards & policies, relevant legislation and best practice, in all aspects of the role.
- Foster the highest standards of performance, discipline, honesty and integrity from branch retail team of staff & volunteers.
- Contribute to the development of appropriate policies and procedures for retail.
- Work with the branch fundraiser to promote fundraising opportunities in store.
- Work with the animal home to promote animal adoption opportunities in stores.
- To carry out any other duties, as required, commensurate with the level of the post.
- A full clean driving licence and access to a car is a requirement of the post.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Salary: £29,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexitime
- Work from home
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Flexitime
Experience:
- Retail Management: 1 year (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in York, YO24 4LN
Application deadline: 24/08/2023
Expected start date: 09/10/2023
