Retail Van Driver and Donation Centre Assistant

Retail Van Driver and Donation Centre Assistant

Dual site – Donation Centre in Harrogate and Warehouse in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, with travel required across the Yorkshire Region

We are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.

About us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

The Benefits

We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives, offices within walking distance of Hornbeam Park train station, free onsite parking and a whole lot more.

We've got a strong set of values that inform everything we do and we're looking for people who are aligned with these. As our Van Driver and Donation Centre Assistant, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

The Role

We are currently looking for a Van Driver and Donation Centre Assistant to join our Retail, Services and Operations team.

Reporting to the Warehouse Operations Manager, you will be part of the team responsible for ensuring the efficient running of the donation centre and warehouse. The primary focus of this role is to deliver stock to our retail shops across Yorkshire in a timely manner. However, at busy times you will also be required to assist with sorting and selecting of stock, collecting and accepting donations at the centre or from donors, assisting with general maintenance tasks and supporting with the removal of general waste through the appropriate channels whilst working in compliance with all relevant Health and Safety legislation and our Driving for Work policy.

Specifically, you will:

· Carry out deliveries of donated stock to shops ensuring that the shops receive the stock that they have requested from the Donation Centre.

· Complete collections of furniture and goods across Yorkshire, including the disposal of waste materials, as directed.

· Be responsible for day-to-day vehicle maintenance, including completion of the weekly vehicle maintenance checklist and daily visual checks.

· Ensure charity vehicles are left secure, clean and presentable at the end of the day and ensure any vehicle defects and damage promptly are reported in accordance with charity procedures.

· Be an ambassador for the charity whilst driving branded vehicles, ensuring that you drive carefully and mindfully of other road users.

· Seek opportunities to actively engage with visitors to enhance their visit and further promote the profile of the charity.

· Be responsible for assessing the quality of goods collected, including furniture which will include declining donations that are unsuitable for sale and may contravene the Sales of Goods Act 1979.

· Take pride in the centre's presentation, seeing everything through the eyes of the visitor and addressing anything that would not meet a visitor's expectations.

· Complete PAT testing of electrical donations to ensure that they are safe for us to sell (full training will be provided.)

· In the absence of the Donation Centre Managers, monitor the Donation Centre email inbox daily for Stock Requests from shops and ensure that the Donation Centre team have prepared the stock in line with the weekly delivery schedule.

· Assist with basic maintenance tasks at all sites, including:

o Minor repairs to fixtures and fittings

o Basic grounds/exterior maintenance

o Painting & decorating

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

· To be ideally educated to at least GCSE standard or equivalent, including Maths and English.

· To have the ability and willingness to travel across the Yorkshire region.

· To have a full UK driving license with less than 6 penalty points.

· To have a willingness to undertake any additional training as required.

· To be highly organised with good time management skills.

· To be able to prioritise workload, meet deadlines and adapt to changing deadlines.

· To be able to demonstrate a good standard of written and numeracy skills or confident in using available tools to support with this.

· To be passionate about delivering good customer service both internally and externally.

· To have good communication and interpersonal skills.

· A willingness to complete our pre-employment checks (to be undertaken once the role is offered and accepted) which include:

o A check on your employment history by seeking two references

o A check on your eligibility to work in the UK as per the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006

o A DBS check at enhanced level

Application

Before applying, please visit our website to view the full role profile and visit our Careers Page to find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To apply please submit a CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People, ) before 12 December 2025. Please read our privacy notice before applying.

The charity is a responsible and flexible employer. We welcome any discussion for flexible working at interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual's circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £24,242.40 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free flu jabs
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Private medical insurance

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person