Shop Manager

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Location: Shop from Crisis, 19 Stroud Green Rd, Finsbury Park, N4 3FB

Hours:40 hours per week, five days over a seven-day rota

About the role

This is a role for a retailer who wants their commercial instincts and creativity to count for something. You will run your shop as if it were your own business: setting the standard on the shop floor, making smart, quick decisions on pricing, stock and merchandising, and spotting the opportunities others miss. That might be a window that stops people in their tracks, a local partnership that brings in quality donations, or an event that draws in a whole new crowd.

You will lead a team of paid staff and volunteers, creating a shop that is vibrant and fun to shop, work and volunteer in. You will have genuine autonomy, ambitious sales, donations and volunteering targets, and the backing to go after them. This includes overseeing the day-to-day management of the instore cafe.

Your shop will also be one of the most visible parts of Crisis in your community. Every conversation with a customer, donor or volunteer is a chance to challenge assumptions about homelessness and to bring more people into the movement to end it.

In practice, you will:

• Drive sales and profitability in the shop and cafe, using your trading data to decide what to change and when
• Build a strong flow of quality donations and volunteers through local networks, partnerships and events
• Lead, coach and develop staff and volunteers, including people gaining work experience as part of their journey out of homelessness
• Keep your shop visually inspiring, with windows and displays that bring the Crisis Shops brand to life
• Run a safe, compliant and well-organised shop, from stock processing to cash handling

You will be part of a close-knit network of shop managers who share ideas and what is working, supported by your Area Manager, with real investment in your training and development.

About you

You are an experienced charity retail manager with a track record of growing sales and leading teams that perform. You understand the numbers behind a shop and you know how to move them. You are creative: you can see the potential in a rail of stock, an empty window or a quiet Tuesday afternoon, and you have the ideas and energy to make something of it.

You may be running a shop for another well-known charity or a high street retailer, or you may come from independent or vintage retail. Many of our managers joined us because they wanted more scope to shape their own shop and to see the difference their results make. What matters most is that you are commercially sharp, people-focused, and motivated by the idea of your success directly helping to end homelessness.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

Get to know us before you apply

We want you to be confident that Crisis Shops is the right next step for you, and we would love to get to know you too. Before applying, we ask candidates to get in touch with us in at least one of these ways:

• Come along to our open evening event at the Finsbury Park charity shop 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Thursday 12 November 2026

One of our screening questions asks about this, so please make a note of who you spoke to and when. If getting in touch in these ways is difficult for you, email us and we will find an alternative that works.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note, our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%

• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.

• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below.Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 15 November 2026 23:55

Interviews will take place in-person W/C 23 November 2026

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying, and that is fine for checking spelling or structure. However, our screening questions ask about specific moments, decisions, conversations and results from your own experience, and about your contact with us before applying. We are looking for real examples, with the detail only you would know, so generic answers do not score well. Please make sure every example you give is your own.