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Job Title: Assistant Shop Manager
Reporting To: Old Swan Shop Manager
Salary: £25,570 - £27,401
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Old Swan, Liverpool
About us:
Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year.
The charity supports a wide range of life-enhancing projects that improve the experience of our amazing young patients. This includes funding specialist medical equipment to ensure our skilled surgeons and clinical teams have access to the most cutting-edge technology and investing in hi-tech distraction equipment proven to reduce pain and anxiety for children during their hospital stay. We also support innovative programmes such as ward musicians, our on-site magician, and dedicated play specialists on every ward.
In addition, our charity retail operation plays a key role in raising funds and engaging our community. With a presence on-site at the hospital and across local areas, our retail outlets offer a variety of high-quality donated and new goods. Every purchase helps us continue to deliver exceptional care and fund critical projects, while also providing volunteering and community engagement opportunities that extend the impact of our mission beyond the hospital walls.
About the role:
We are looking for a passionate, ambitious Assistant Charity Shop Manager to join our successful team to help manage our charity shop in Old Swan.
The Assistant Shop Manager will be an integral part of the wider Charity team.
Main Duties/Tasks:
You will play a vital role in supporting the Shop Manager to lead, motivate, and develop a team of dedicated employees and volunteers, fostering strong community engagement and maximising the shop’s impact. This includes encouraging and harnessing the gifts of time from volunteers, goods from donors, and income from customers. As a visible and active ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity on the high street, you will ensure the shop reflects the Charity’s values and purpose in all that it does. You will also support van collections and deliveries, helping to ensure the smooth and efficient transport of donated goods, while representing the Charity with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Income generation:
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Work with the Shop Manager to maximise sales and profits ensuring weekly targets are met.
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Support the team to maximise income from Gift Aid on donated products.
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Support the team to maximise income via our online platforms.
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Support the team with arranging van deliveries/collections daily.
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Work with the wider Charity team to promote and support fundraising activities and events.
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Explore ways to maximise sales via events, donation drives, pop-up shops etc.
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Cash up the till at the end of shift and ensure banking documents are completed. Investigate any discrepancies and report them to the Manager.
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Support with ensuring the money is ready and accessible for cash collection.
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Open and close the shop at the appropriate times.
Volunteers:
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Support and management of a team of volunteers.
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Utilise volunteer skill sets and motivate them to deliver great customer service and perform tasks in-line with charity standards.
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Maximise the shop’s opening hours and ensure the shop is open and managed by the shop team in the absence of the Shop Manager.
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Help to provide and support ongoing training and development for volunteers.
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Work and treat employees, volunteers and stakeholders in accordance with the Charity’s values.
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Health & Safety (in conjunction with Shop Manager)
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Ensure the shop adheres to Retail Health and Safety regulations.
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Implement good Health and Safety practices to help protect employees, volunteers, and customers.
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Help to ensure employees and volunteers are trained in manual handling.
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Help maintain the cleanliness of the shop and behind the scenes areas.
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Stock Control (in conjunction with Shop Manager)
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Ensure continuous, sufficient levels of high-quality stock.
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Be responsible for deliveries and stock controls.
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Ensure stock is appropriate to the business and priced accordingly.
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Maintain a rigorous process of stock rotation, ensuring rotation within expiry dates.
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Ensure visual merchandising is a high priority, with products featured prominently in window displays.
Customer Service:
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Be professional, patient and have a ‘people-first’ approach to customer services.
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Be committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and collaborative working.
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Set high standards of cleanliness, display and merchandising.
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Establish quality standards, consumer safety and ensuring continuity.
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Play a key role in enabling the shop to represent the Charity’s values.
Other Duties:
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Be an outstanding advocate for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with the core values of the organisation.
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Any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager.
The Charity retail team are currently conducting a four-day working week trial, due to end on 30 June 2026. This means that, for example, staff previously working 37.5 hours a week are now working 30 hours a week to enable a four-day working week. The trial is monitoring the benefits of a four-day working week against productivity. We are confident that by embracing a more flexible and balanced approach to work, we can continue to create a thriving and fulfilling work environment while driving growth and success for our charity. A decision will be made before the 30 June 2026 to agree the next steps, based on an assessment of the trial period; the four-day working week trial may be ended, extended or adopted permanently.
Our Values
Here at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide the way in which we work. By being courageous, working together, being passionate about our work, and making sure that we are creative in what we do, helps us to deliver the support necessary so that our hospital can continue to deliver the very best care for our young patients and their families. Our values are:
Courage: we try new things and take risks to innovate and drive forward new ideas. We have the courage to speak up and take a stance. We are accountable, responsive and responsible. We are unstoppable.
Together: we work together as one team, sharing our knowledge and learning. We work in partnership with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. We are respectful, celebrate diversity and empower each other to achieve our aims.
Passion: we are passionate about what we do and why we do it. We work together to share and grow. We inspire others.
Magic: we are fun, creative and child led. We create special moments, provide little extras and go further for our brave young patients.
How to apply
You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter which answers the following questions:
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How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.
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Why do you want to work for Alder Hey?
Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification. If you have any questions about the role please contact the People Team.
Closing date: Monday 19th January 2026
Interview date (to be held at Alder Hey Children’s Charity Shop – Old Swan): Tuesday 27th January 2026
Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make every endeavour to make any reasonable adjustments for applicants who require assistance in carrying out their duties due to a disability. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to equal opportunities and positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The post holder may be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.
Team: Retail
Location: Hythe
Work pattern: 14 hours on a rota basis (to include weekends)
Salary:Up to £8,977.77 per annum
Contract: Permanent
We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.
Will you join us and make life better for cats?
Responsibilities of our Assistant Shop Manager:
- To assist the Shop Manager to maximise shop income and profitability through the safe day-to-day operational management of shop activity and key performance indicators, to support the work of Cats Protection
- To act as brand ambassador for Cats protection, being a role model for the values and behaviours of the Charity, taking responsibility for the shop operation in the absence of the Shop Manager.
About the retail team:
- Our retail operation consists of over 80 charity shops
- Each of our shops has its own charm and personality due to our dedicated volunteers and colleagues. From vintage jewellery and jigsaws to harps and handbags, whether our customers are looking for that 'must have' item or simply a 'missing piece'.
What we’re looking for in our Assistant Shop Manager:
- Demonstrable learning and experience from working in a relevant retail environment
- Experience and/or understanding of working to sales targets
- Experience of cash reconciliation and financial controls
- Ability to motivate and manage a team of employees and volunteers
What we can offer you:
- range of health benefits
- 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
- Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
- and much more, which you can learn about
Interested? Here’s how to apply:
Application closing date: 4th January 2026
Virtual interview date: Week commencing 12th January 2026
Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.
If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.
If successful, your recruitment journey will include:
- Anonymised application form
- Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams
Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.
Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats
Location: Edinburgh Stockbridge shop
Salary: £26,227.50 per annum, pro-rated
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part time, 30 per week
Closing date: Tuesday the 6th of January at 11:30pm
We're looking for an inspirational people person to join us as a Assistant Shop Manager in our Edinburgh – Stockbridge shop. This is an exciting opportunity, and we'd like you to join us to help raise vital funds for homeless and badly housed people.
You will work closely with the Shop Manager to ensure the shop looks welcoming, visually appealing and the team of volunteers are motivated and keen to engage with customers and maximise sales.
About the role
You will assist the Shop Manager in the recruitment, support and development of a strong community focused shop team and empower them to maximise Shelter's income. Representing Shelter in your local community, ensuring that you and your team share your knowledge of Shelter's cause with customers, volunteers, donors and potential Shelter clients will also be important aspects of the role.
You will always ensure a safe, clean, bright and happy environment for your team to work in and for your customers to shop in, in turn attracting potential donors and volunteers.
About you
You are a naturally energetic person with an enthusiasm for managing and empowering people. You know how to recruit and develop a team of volunteers, and your extraordinary motivational skills will enable you to inspire your team to increase sales and control costs.
Above all, you are ready to take on a new challenge and have a keen interest in Shelter's cause.
Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
How to apply
Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement.
Please provide specific examples of how you meet the criteria in the 'About you' section of this advert, following the STAR format, and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:
- We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset
Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered
About Shelter Scotland
A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet over a million people in Scotland struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
At Shelter Scotland we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.
We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
Shelter Scotland helps over half a million people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
Safeguarding statement
Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
At Shelter Scotland, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We also encourage applications from people, who have been homeless or have been at risk of homelessness. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them. In addition to this, we encourage an approach to involving people with personal insight of housing issues and homelessness in our recruitment processes.
Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.


