Thrift Shop Supervisor

Summary

There is an opportunity for a person with strong retail skills and experience to join the U-turn team.Reporting directly to the Charity Shop Manager. This is a full-time, onsite position and will initially be offered as a one-year contract.

This position

The candidate will apply their supervisory skills to run our Retail store in Canal Walk to grow sales and profitability. At the same time, the person will be supervising a team of sales assistants who were formerly homeless and are currently on the U-turn work-rehabilitation programme. The ideal candidate is happy to work in an organization with strong Christian motivations, displays a passion to see people grow (i.e. to work developmentally) and is excellent at customer service.

Background

U-turn is a thriving non-profit that exists to equip homeless people with the skills to overcome homelessness. Founded in 1997, we believe that every homeless individual is intrinsically valuable and should have access to an effective pathway to address their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs so they can leave the streets and become a long-term productive member of society.

To help people overcome homelessness, we operate a phased approach that includes addiction rehabilitation, counselling, life-skills training and sheltered work placement in one of our social enterprises. Through this process, the programme inculcates a healthy work ethic, furnishes modern job skills and gives 18-24 months of real work experience so that individuals can be gainfully employed in the modern South African economy.

Our graduates enter the open market employment and show an above 85% long term success rate We are actively working to expand to more locations in Cape Town and across South Africa.

Social Enterprises

Actual work experience largely takes place within our social enterprises. U-turn's social enterprises comprise an extensive retail network connected to our Charity Stores as well as other companies owned by, or in partnership with, U-turn.

Key areas of responsibility

• Manage a U-turn charity shop under the direction of the retail manager and occupational therapist
• Deal with customers' complaints and queries
• Deal with HR queries about the store, e.g. days off, reporting conflict and tasking of participants on the floor
• Ensure cash handling at the store is done as per instructions
• Manage and grow our e-commerce presence on Facebook for the store
• Manage a U-turn charity store to meet sales targets, including motivating staff to do so
• Use and contribute to the existing planning and record-keeping system

Experience and Skills

• Previous experience in the retail sector (essential)
• Experience as a duty manager/ assistant manager or a manager in a retail setting (desirable)
• Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
• Well-developed interpersonal skills
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise
• A collaborative team player – concerned with the team's success as well as individual performance
• Ability to motivate, coach, and develop people. Commercial awareness

Personal attributes

• Passion for U-turn's mission and values.
• Strong leadership with a collaborative mindset.
• Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Organisational Fit (where applicable)

• If in recovery - actively engaged in own ongoing recovery, accessing accountability support and practicing recovery behaviour
• If employed as a Professional - affiliation with professional board, continued personal development and accessing supervision
• Gospel orientation - connected to a local fellowship of believers, reading the Bible and grounded in Gospel-motivated Social Action

Next Steps

Candidates interested in this position should apply online at : letter of motivation should be approximately 1 page in length and include information on why you would like to work at U-turn and how you fulfil the required knowledge skills set outlined above. Please note that applications without a letter of motivation will not be considered. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM US WITHIN 4 WEEKS, PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION UNSUCCESSFUL

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person