Job Title: Rural Information Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: TEMPORARY SHOP ORGANISER LOCATION: Normal base Sandbach Shop, may be required to work at our other shops in Cheshire ACCOUNTABLE TO: Senior Shop Organiser/Shops Co- ordinator DATE WRITTEN: November 2013 PRIMARY PURPOSE: To manage the premises, organise staff, acquire and present stock and achieve sales targets. The post holder will work as part of a team. Main Duties:

1. To ensure that the Age UK Cheshire Charity Shop achieves required standards of performance and sales targets.

2. To take responsibility for the shop within their designated hours, implementing shop procedures, as follows:

 To act as a keyholder at an assigned location  To open and close the shop at the correct time and ensuring the shop is secure before leaving  Presentation of shop and merchandise, window displays  To sort, prepare and price stock in line with agreed pricing structure and ensure stock rotation  To recruit, train, organise, supervise and support volunteer helpers  To reconcile the cash register and banking and work to Age UK Cheshire’s financial policies and procedures  To complete paperwork and administrative systems as necessary  To carry out Age UK Cheshire policy on Health and Safety of staff and customers, emergency and accident procedures, trading standard policy, refunds and exchange policy  To promote the Age UK Cheshire Gift Aid Scheme ensuring that as many donators as possible sign up and keep accurate records

3. To participate in recruitment, induction, training and deployment of staff and volunteers, working with other members of staff when necessary to ensure compliance with all legislation and good practice. To cover for holidays / absence where and when appropriate.

4. Undertake other duties as required by the Senior Shop Organiser and Shops Co-ordinator, as appropriate to the skills and position of the post.

5. To raise the profile of Age UK Cheshire and older people within the voluntary and statutory sector and within the community in general.

6. To undertake training relevant to the post.

7. To maximise income by participating in fundraising and trading opportunities.

8. To undertake such duties as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Senior Managers or Chief Executive within the flexible definition of the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria:

- prior retail experience - good administrative and organisational skills - excellent customer service skills - the ability to motivate a team of staff and volunteers - flexibility in working hours

Desirable Criteria:

- full driving licence and use of a car - experience of the voluntary sector/working with or as a volunteer - charity shop experience - ability to use Microsoft office packages ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (This information does not constitute part of a contract of employment).

Age UK Cheshire employs around 85 people and has approximately 350 people registered as volunteer helpers without whom, the organisation could not fulfil its objectives which is to assist older people in Cheshire to live a full and rewarding life. Age UK Cheshire has operated charity shops for over 28 years (with shops now in Northwich, Middlewich, Crewe and Sandbach). We are currently seeking to employ a Temporary Shop Organiser to work alongside our Senior Shop Organiser and Volunteers. The on- going viability of the role will be reviewed regularly with the job holder. The successful applicant will normally work from the Sandbach Shop, however it is a requirement of the role that cover be provided in the other shops on occasion.

All Age UK shops sell unwanted household and personal goods donated by the public. The success of the shops is dependant upon achieving a regular adequate supply of donations. Age UK shops have established a reputation for selling good quality items, well presented and at reasonable prices.

The shops are staffed by volunteer helpers. They do not receive any payment other than the re-imbursement of their exact travel costs from their home to the shop. The shops are organised by paid employees. The Sandbach shop consists of a Senior Shop Organiser (4 days per week) and the Temporary Shop Organiser (2 days per week) reporting to the Shops Co-ordinator (who is based at the Hartford office).

The shops are all expected to trade profitably and targets are set accordingly. Their function is to provide unrestricted income to the organisation. Each shop is given a weekly sales target to achieve to produce a targeted net profit, once rents and other costs have been deducted.

Location: Sandbach Shop Hours: 14.5 hours per week, working 9:00 am to 5:00 pm over 2 days including alternate Saturdays. Hours will be worked on a rota system (rota system will include 4 days of Senior Shop Organiser time and 2 days of Shop Organiser time). Rota will be discussed at interview stage. There is a requirement that the Shop Organiser would have to be able to extend their working hours in the absence of the Senior Shop Organiser or to provide cover at the other shops. Salary: £5,436 per annum for hours worked. Pension: Age UK Cheshire has a stakeholder pension scheme in place for eligible employees.

Travel: The nature of the job may require travel to the other shops (if this is needed travelling expenses will be paid for travel to other shop locations). A full driving licence and use of a car would be a distinct advantage.

Holiday Entitlement: Five weeks leave p.a. (excluding Bank Holidays) rising after 5 years continuous service by one day per year (pro rata) to a maximum of 6 weeks leave after 10 years.

Contract: This is a temporary contract of employment. The requirement for the role will be regularly reviewed with the job holder and at least one weeks’ written notice of termination will be provided.

Pension: Age UK Cheshire has a stakeholder pension scheme in place for eligible employees.

Criminal Disclosure: This post is not subject to checking.

Closing Date for Applications: 5:00 pm Wednesday 13th November 2013

Age UK Cheshire is a Mindful Employer and positive actions will be taken to ensure that people will not be excluded from working for Age UK Cheshire because of their age, race, ethnicity, faith, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, physical or mental health.

Registered Charity No. 1091608