Assistant Shop Manager (3 Month FTC)

Could you be our next Assistant Shop Manager?

Do you have a passion for retail, a flair for customer service and a desire to make a difference?

We're looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Shop Manager to join our friendly team at our Sense charity shop in Crewe, helping to create a welcoming shopping experience while supporting a cause that changes lives.

This is a 3-month fixed-term position, working 15 hours per week, with a salary of £13.00 per hour. You'll need to be flexible to work across seven days of the week, including weekends, depending on the needs of the shop.

As an Assistant Shop Manager, you'll play an important role in the day-to-day running of the shop, supporting the Shop Manager to maximise sales, maintain high standards and create a positive environment for customers, volunteers and colleagues.

From creating eye-catching displays and discovering hidden treasures among donated items to supporting volunteers and delivering excellent customer service, you'll help make every visit to our shop a great experience.

And the best part? Every sale helps Sense continue its vital work supporting disabled people with complex needs.

What will you be doing?

Working closely with the Shop Manager, you'll help ensure the shop operates smoothly, efficiently and successfully.

Some of your key responsibilities will include

Supporting the Shop Manager with the day-to-day operation of the shop, including opening and closing procedures

Delivering excellent customer service and creating a welcoming shopping environment

Helping to achieve sales targets and maximise income through effective merchandising and stock management

Sorting, pricing and displaying donated goods to attract customers and encourage sales

Creating appealing window displays and maintaining high standards of presentation throughout the shop

Supporting, motivating and guiding volunteers, ensuring they feel valued and confident in their roles

Assisting with the recruitment, induction and training of volunteers

Handling cash, operating the till and following financial procedures accurately

Supporting the safe and efficient management of stock, donations and shop resources

Maintaining a clean, organised and safe working environment in line with health and safety requirements

Taking responsibility for the shop in the Shop Manager's absence

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who is friendly, organised and enthusiastic about retail, with the confidence to take initiative and help create a successful shop environment.

You'll need

Experience in a retail or customer-facing environment

Excellent customer service skills and a positive, approachable manner

Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with customers, volunteers and colleagues

The ability to work independently, use your initiative and take responsibility when required

Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks in a busy environment

Confidence handling cash and following shop procedures

A willingness to support, encourage and motivate volunteers

An understanding of the importance of achieving sales targets and maintaining high retail standards

A flexible and adaptable approach to work, including availability across seven days of the week

A commitment to Sense's values and the work we do to support disabled people with complex needs

Previous experience supervising a team, supporting volunteers or working in charity retail would be an advantage, but isn't essential.

You'll receive training and support to help you settle into your role and develop your skills.

About our Crewe shop

Our Sense charity shop is located at Unit B, The Angel Shopping Centre, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 2JG.

Our shops are an important part of Sense, raising vital funds to support disabled people with complex needs and their families.

They also provide opportunities for people to volunteer, develop new skills and connect with their local community.

As Assistant Shop Manager, you'll help create a friendly, welcoming environment where customers enjoy discovering quality donated items, volunteers feel supported and every contribution makes a difference.

Working at Sense gives you a wide range of benefits including

24 days' holiday + bank holiday entitlement, increasing with length of service

Free leadership and management development, including our award-winning Growing Stronger Leaders Together programme

Free access to over 100 online and face-to-face training opportunities

Ongoing learning and development opportunities

Flexible working and family-friendly policies

Employee referral scheme

Health and wellbeing support

Pension Scheme

Discount scheme

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

As part of our new three-year strategy, we're delivering a transformational plan focused on strengthening support for disabled people with complex needs, driving social change and creating a fairer, more equal future.

For further information, visit: Transforming Sense, together: our three-year plan

Our Values

Our values shape the way we behave and work alongside disabled people with complex needs to break down barriers

We're creating change

We're always learning

We're better together

Ready to make a difference?

If you're passionate about retail and would love to use your skills to support a worthwhile cause, we'd love to hear from you!

To apply

Please complete your application, ensuring your supporting statement demonstrates how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.

We recommend reading the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification before applying.

The closing date for applications is 20 November 2026.

Please note that we reserve the right to close vacancies early, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.