With over 50 charity shops across England and Wales, Blue Cross is supported by a network of generous donors who provide a variety of items—from clothing and books to toys, household goods, and soft furnishings. In addition to these pre-loved treasures, we also offer a range of new products in our shops and online platforms. Every item sold helps fund our vital work: supporting sick, injured, and homeless pets and caring for over 40,000 animals each year through our rehoming, veterinary, and education programmes.
As our Assistant Shop Manager, you'll play a crucial role in our shop’s daily operations. You’ll work closely with the Shop Manager to manage donations, organise displays and merchandising (including our new product range), coordinate stock deliveries and collections, keep accurate records, and handle cash with care.
But that’s not all—you’ll also inspire and lead a fantastic team of volunteers. Your role will involve recruiting, training, and motivating them to ensure they’re fully equipped to support our cause.
Together with the Shop Manager, you’ll help shape the shop’s local impact, creating a welcoming and engaging space for both customers and volunteers.
Our shops open Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 17:00. Your shift pattern may vary week by week to accommodate business needs and the availability of staff and volunteers, including weekend work and occasional lone shifts. Flexibility is key, as there may be times when you’ll need to cover for the Shop Manager, necessitating additional hours.
About You
You’ll bring with you:
1. Previous experience in a retail environment
2. Cash handling and reconciliation expertise
3. A knack for leading and motivating a team
4. Excellent customer service skills and a positive, friendly attitude
5. Strong computer and administrative skills
It would be wonderful if you also had:
6. Experience in managing volunteers
7. Some background in fundraising
Why Blue Cross?
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make a difference that we do today.
At Blue Cross, we’re dedicated to providing you with a supportive and rewarding working environment where you feel valued throughout your career with us.
Our generous benefits package includes:
8. 38 days per year, increasing to 43 with service (including bank holidays). For part-time roles, holiday entitlement is calculated pro-rata.
9. Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
10. Life assurance
11. Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
12. Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
13. Free access to GP via MetLife
14. Recognition scheme
15. Annual volunteer days
16. Claim for professional fees
17. Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers.