Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024 we embarked on our new 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.
Our shops generate valuable income to support our services, create opportunities for homeless people to learn new skills and contribute to Crisis’ work in the community. They have a unique contemporary visual identity and are dynamic and creative places to work.
Location: 330 Mare Street, London, E8 1HA
Hours: 40, five days over a seven-day rota
About the role
We are recruiting for an Assistant Shop Manager to join a busy and creative team in Hackney. You will join an exciting team and collaborate to build a group of volunteers from all walks of life, raising money to fund Crisis’ work ending homelessness. We are bold with a culture of continuous review and improvement, where we try new things, take risks, and sometimes fail. There will be numerous opportunities to improve our team’s effectiveness. Your voice will count!
We also work closely with local artists and universities. We’d love you to bring your own ideas, along with your experience of fashion, retail and current trends, to this role. You will have opportunities to build your own skills and career progression through training and development – many of our shop managers were promoted internally. Ensuring our recruitment practices are as equitable as possible is our number one priority so we are looking for someone who advocates for others and challenges injustice.
You will be primarily based in the Hackney shop, but you may be required to travel to other shops within London 1 & 2 on a short-term basis.
About you
To be successful in this role you will have retail experience at a supervisory level alongside a genuine interest in charity retail. You will be keen to build your people management skills including working with Crisis members. We are particularly interested in meeting candidates with an interest or background in visual merchandising, although this is not essential. You will be committed to Crisis’s values and mission to end homelessness.
You may have experience in: assistant shop manager, assistant store manager, shop supervisor, store supervisor, charity shop manager, retail manager, charity retail
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.
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.
- Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
- 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: Thursday 15 May 2025 at 23:59.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?
We strongly discourage applicants from using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. This is so we can run a fair, transparent process which gives all applicants an equitable chance of success. We want to hear about your own experience and perspectives in your application and if shortlisted, during the interview too.
Accessibility
We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.
Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094
Registered Charity 
501 - 1000
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
To further develop, deliver and strengthen CSE’s Human Resources function, ensuring that the organisation complies with all relevant legislation and guidance while recruiting and retaining good quality staff. Instilling a collaborative culture of high performance where staff are encouraged and supported to perform at their best and we collectively achieve outstanding results.
Pay and conditions
• The role is full-time, permanent role (37.5 hours per week).
• The salary for the role will be £47,508 - £55,954 (starting salary is expected to be at the lower end of the range)
• You will be entitled to 25 days paid holiday (plus statutory holidays).
CSE offer a range of benefits including, subsidised bike purchase and Tech Scheme, Life Assurance, Health Cash plan, retail discounts and discounted breakdown cover and many more.
We will pay fees and expenses on relevant training courses.
Specific responsibilities
An applicant appointed to the role will be expected to:
• To deliver all aspects of CSE’s Human Resources function, from recruitment, staff welfare, wellbeing and associated support, staff records, training and professional development, oversight and advice on any conflicts or disciplinary matters; and to include the development and maintenance of all appropriate staff policies and processes, including performance management and staff appraisals, remuneration, role progression and all staff benefits.
• To ensure the Staff Handbook remains regularly updated, and to lead on all amendments / updates to this key document for staff. Additionally, working alongside the Director of Finance & Operations, the Chief Executive and other directors to ensure all HR-related policies and procedures across CSE are reviewed regularly and remain updated accordingly, supporting staff needs as effectively as possible while also reflecting the needs and strategic objectives of the whole organisation, its charitable status and mission.
• To maintain the organisation’s personnel records in accordance with appropriate data protection standards and recognised good practice (utilizing the Cezanne HR system). To provide overall ownership of this system – in terms of data contents, security and ongoing operations for the system. The postholder will also act as primary contact for the Cezanne software supplier, liaising with the Director of Finance & Operations and other interested parties where necessary.
• To maintain oversight of staff welfare and working with line managers and other relevant staff, provide and promote access to support and advice to sustain good staff mental and physical health and wellbeing.
• To play an integral role supporting both the Employee Voice (EV) group and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) group and take a lead on related operational functions including administrating the 6-monthly Staff Survey and highlighting issues and trends in staff feedback.
• Provide oversight and guidance in respect of staff recruitment, onboarding, induction development and training, supporting and advising other relevant staff across all associated processes.
• To issue accurate and timely employment contracts, offer letters, job descriptions, pay review letters for all internal changes. Manage and oversee internal paperwork flows from relevant managers, relating to any changes to individual employee terms of employment. Support the SLT in reviewing and amending standard terms of employment contracts to ensure CSE’s practices reflect current best practice.
• To ensure that all payroll documents such as starter forms and payroll amendment forms are completed and saved in the correct location and sent to the payroll bureau where appropriate, and support the Finance team with the administration of our payroll and payroll records and pension scheme contributions and other employee benefits. To accurately track all staff absence and ensure that self-certification and return to work meetings are completed in a timely manner. Update the Bradford factor grid to monitor score against policy and, support line managers and employees in understanding how CSE uses this as a tool at all stages of process.
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of applicable employment, equity and diversity, and Health and Safety laws (with support from professional advisors where appropriate), standards, guidance, and good practice, advising the SLT how these can best be reflected in the organisation’s policies and practices as they apply both to individual members of staff and to the organisation as a whole.
• To prepare accurate and accessible reports for the Senior Leadership Team and Trustees on relevant organisational, team, and individual staff HR matters to enable informed and timely monitoring and decision-making, principally on a set cycle to feed into a routine schedule of meetings and occasionally to meet an ad hoc need.
• To work with the Senior Leadership Team and other staff as appropriate to support change management processes. This may include reviewing remuneration policies, job evaluation and salary benchmarking, skills audits, EDI Practices and line management practices.
• To identify opportunities to improve CSE’s Human Resources processes and practices, informed by a sound understanding of our mission and strategic objectives and our operating context and by keeping up to date with advances in personnel management and human resources practices. To see a more detailed list of responsibilities please see the supporting documents attached. These documents are also available to download from our website.
Essential attributes for this role include:
• CIPD qualification (Level 5) or equivalent Human Resources qualification.
• At least 5 years’ post-qualification work experience, including at least 2 years’ proven experience in an advisory role.
• Experience of developing and implementing effective HR policies and practices across an organisation, including managing any associated change processes.
• Experience in supporting both the organisation as well as individual employees through challenging employee relation conflicts and issues.
• Applied knowledge of employment legislation and good HR practices.
• Experience in overseeing the maintenance of a live HR system.
• Experienced in developing and supporting line managers in managing challenging situations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with well-honed listening skills and an empathetic manner.
• Ability to explain often complex HR matters in a clear and concise manner, to audiences at all levels of seniority and experience across the organisation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and act with discretion, tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to maintain and organise effective electronic and manual filing systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good organisational and time management skills, with experience of working to tight deadlines and budgets.
Please note, the above is an overview of the skills required for this role. To see the full list of essential and desirable skills please see the attached job description.
How to apply
To apply, please download and complete the application form available from our website.
Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification.
To apply, please download and complete the application form available from our website and send it to our Jobs email address.
Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification and job description. To be considered for this role an application form must be sent directly to our Jobs email address.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 21 May 2025.
Interviews are expected to take place Tuesday 3 June and Tuesday 10 June 2025 though this is subject to change. If invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.