Assistant Charity Shop Manager

Assistant Charity Shop Manager

To be considered for the role please submit an up-to-date CV and covering letter including a supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4 outlining your suitability for the role according to the person specific. We cannot consider applicants if these are not provided.

Join our team

We're always interested in hearing from dynamic, motivated people who want to help us provide a great service to Carers.

If you think you have the skills and commitment we need, then we'd love to hear from you. We welcome applications from people with experience as a Carer and disabled people.

Our charity provides a valued and essential service in East Kent to people who find themselves in a caring role for a friend or relative.

About Carers' Support East Kent

Carers' Support East Kent (CSEK) is a charity that provides Carers with the information and support they need. Our services are available to people looking after a relative or friend, who due to physical or mental illness, age related difficulties, disability, or an addiction, cannot manage without their support.

Caring can be rewarding but also challenging. Each situation is different, but we know that caring brings practical, physical, and emotional challenges. We care about the health and well-being of Carers and provide information, support, and signposting/referral to services to help with those challenges.

About the role

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a part-time position as Carers' Support East Kent's Assistant Charity Shop Manager at our flagship charity shop in Whitstable.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated retail specialist to oversee the daily operations of our retail establishment. The ideal candidate will possess experience of similar roles and a passion for charity retail.

The postholder will work closely with the Charity Shop Manager and the shop's volunteers to ensure the shop is an inviting retail space and meets its financial targets. This role will involve deputising for the Charity Shop Manager in their absence. The shop premises will also be a community resource for Carers and CSEK may hold Carer activities at the premises supported by the wider CSEK team.

As the Assistant Charity Shop Manager, you will be responsible for motivating and co-ordinating volunteers, ensuring efficient store operations and sales. Your ability to communicate effectively and organise tasks will be essential.

This post is important to the delivery of our services and will make a vital contribution to the range of support provided to local Carers.

Working for us

Our staff say that Carers' Support East Kent is a great place to work, with a friendly and supportive team where staff feel valued. Here's what some of them say.

"I love supporting Carers and Carers' Support East Kent is a brilliant organisation"

"I am always valued by the staff team and appreciated by my management team. I feel very valued."

"It's rewarding to know that I am part of a team that makes a difference, values and benefits the lives of Carers."

"Everyone that works there, they really care about the Carers."

"The team work very hard and are lovely to work with (and they are always happy to help new people)."

"I enjoy working here, working with a supportive team and a chance to make a difference to the lives of Carers"

Key Responsibilities include:

· Optimise sales and profit of donated stock

· Maintain appearance of the shop within CSEK's brand and merchandising guidelines.

• Support the Charity Shop Manager to manage the day-to-day retail activity, and delegate where appropriate. This role includes some physical tasks.

• Support the training and development of volunteers, working closely with the Charity Shop Manager

• Provide support and direction to the volunteer team, ensuring operational performance and high customer service standards of the shop.

• Assist with efficient, regular recycling and refuse systems, ensuring efficient use of space

• Ensure financial controls and procedures are followed, including cash security
  • Maintain high levels of personal competency with EPOS systems and provide support and to volunteers

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of charity retail practice

• Assist with Gift Aid declarations and ensure sale of gift aid stock is being conducted within the HMRC guidelines and in accordance with CSEK's procedures

Flexibility is essential in this role. The Assistant Charity Shop Manager will be expected to provide cover for the Shop Manager during periods of training, leave and absence. This position will have regular working days on Sunday and Monday, but will also require:

· At least one full weekend (Sat/Sun) per month, and

· Half a weekday every fortnight, to allow opportunities to work alongside the Shop Manager as part of a rota.

To be considered for the role please submit an up-to-date CV and covering letter including a supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4 outlining your suitability for the role according to the person specification.

Closing date: 12 noon – Thursday 11th December 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: AssistantCharity Shop Manager

SALARY: £12.75 Per Hour/ £24,864 FTE

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent

DBS: Enhanced DBS

HOURS: 15 hours per week (shifts Mon-Sun, on a staggered pattern)

EMPLOYED BY: Carers' Support East Kent (CSEK)

RESPONSIBLE TO: Charity Shop Manager

LOCATION: High Street, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AP

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE

This is a part-time position as Carers' Support East Kent's Assistant Charity Shop Manager at our flagship charity shop in Whitstable. The postholder will work closely with the Charity Shop Manager and the shop's volunteers to ensure the shop is an inviting retail space and meets its financial targets. This role will involve deputising for the Charity Shop Manager in their absence. The shop premises will also be a community resource for Carers and CSEK may hold Carer activities at the premises supported by the wider CSEK team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Optimise sales and profit of donated stock

· Maintain apparence of the shop within CSEK's brand and merchandising guidelines.

• Support the Charity Shop Manager to manage the day-to-day retail activity, and delegate where appropriate. This role includes some physical tasks.

• Support the training and development of volunteers, working closely with the Charity Shop Manager

• Provide support and direction to the volunteer team, ensuring operational performance and high customer service standards of the shop.

• Assist with efficient, regular recycling and refuse systems, ensuring efficient use of space

• Ensure financial controls and procedures are followed, including cash security

• Maintain high levels of personal competency with EPOS systems and provide support and to volunteers

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of charity retail practice

• Assist with Gift Aid declarations and ensure sale of gift aid stock is being conducted within the HMRC guidelines and in accordance with CSEK's procedures

• In conjunction with the Charity Shop Manager, be responsible for ensuring compliance with all aspects of Health and Safety legislation and risk management in the shop

• Raise requests for maintenance to the Charity Shop Manager

• Role model and promote CSEK's values and behaviours.

• Report all formal complaints and resolve internal and external issues relating to customer service, customer care and volunteer relationships at the shop in line with CSEK's complaints policy and procedure.

• Attend meetings and training as required

• Be aware of, and comply with, all relevant policies and procedures at CSEK, including health & safety, fire safety, data protection, etc.

· Promote and support fundraising and community activities.

· Share responsibility for own development and training with line manager, taking up opportunities provided and applying learning to practice.

Flexibility is essential in this role. The Assistant Charity Shop Manager will be expected to provide cover for the Shop Manager during periods of training, leave and absence. This position will have regular working days on Sunday and Monday, but will also require:

• At least one full weekend (Sat/Sun) per month, and

• Half a weekday every fortnight, to allow opportunities to work alongside the Shop Manager as part of a rota.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of duties but is intended to reflect a range of duties the post holder will perform. The job description may be reviewed and amended following discussion with the post holder, to consider changes and developments.

Any appointment will be subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Enthusiasm and passion for supporting local Carers

• Experience of working and managing in a retail environment

• Ability to work under pressure in a busy working environment

• A cooperative team player and engagement with the local community

• A people focused person able to evidence interest and engagement with the local community

• Able to work flexibly with weekend work

• Strong IT skills in MS Office and EPOS systems

• Full clean driving license

Desirable

• Experience of leading and developing teams of volunteers

• Experience of charity retail fundraising

• Experience in scheduling collections, deliveries and planning logistics

Proactively manage your own health, wellbeing, and resilience to ensure you can provide consistent, quality support to charity shop team, customers and the local community.

A people focused person, able to demonstrate:

• a proactive "can-do" attitude

• commitment and enthusiasm

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our aim is to create a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected and can thrive.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background, life experiences, or protected characteristics

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR CSEK

· 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing every 2 years to a maximum of 28 days (pro-rata for part time posts)

· Annual Wellbeing Day

· Sick Pay scheme

· Workplace pension scheme – Royal London with ProfitShare

· Salary Exchange scheme

· Enhanced Carer's Leave

· Health Cash Plan – reimbursement of some everyday health expenditure costs and access to GP and wellbeing services

· Employee Assistance Programme – access to wellbeing services/resources, counselling and a virtual GP service

· CarerSmart Membership providing offers/discounts on a variety of products and services

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: £9,945.60 per year

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 11/12/2025