Are you passionate about charity retail? Do you have experience in retail area management and opening new retail shops? If so, we want to hear from you!
Here at Rainbows Children’s Hospice, we provide specialist palliative care and end-of-life support to over 750 Babies, Children, and Young People living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as approximately 3,000 people, including families, siblings, and carers, across the East Midlands. Our vision is to brighten short lives and support families, wherever they are.
This vital work wouldn’t be possible without our retail shops! With government funding covering only seven weeks of our annual costs, the dedication of our fundraisers and retail teams ensures we can continue operating for the remaining 45 weeks each year.
We are looking for a proactive and results-driven Retail Area Manager to join our growing retail team. In this role, you will lead sales growth across our retail shops, maximise income generation, and drive operational excellence to help sustain our essential services.
Location: Home-based with travel across the East Midlands (covering all five counties) to visit retail shops and attend meetings at our Hospice in Loughborough.
Travel: A full driving license and access to your own vehicle are required for this role. Mileage expenses can be claimed on a monthly basis.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with participation in an on-call rota.

REQUIREMENTS

• Effective leadership skills with the ability to manage people effectively and build high-performing teams.
• Experience in business planning, working to targets, and achieving key performance indicators (KPIs).
• A proven track record of managing, leading, and developing large teams within a retail setting.
• Significant experience in managing a retail department or overseeing multiple retail locations.
• Experience of working with and managing volunteers.
• Experience of opening new retail shops
• A solid understanding of charity retail, including industry best practices and key challenges.
• A full driving license and access to your own vehicle are required for this role. Mileage expenses can be claimed on a monthly basis.
• Further requirements can be found by downloading the Person Specification.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Retail Area Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading and supporting our retail team to achieve income and expenditure targets.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing direct line management to Retail Shop Managers and the E-commerce Manager, fostering a culture of empowerment through coaching, situational leadership, and accountability for income and expenditure budgets.
• Taking ownership of the delivery of income and expenditure targets up to £5 million.
• Collaborating with the Head of Retail to develop and manage retail and e-commerce budgets.
• Overseeing the successful opening of new retail stores, ensuring they meet required standards and effectively raise the profile of Rainbows.
• Ensuring shop managers have the necessary tools and support to drive income through effective planning, stock management, and high shop standards.
• Supporting shop managers in recruiting and retaining volunteers while fostering a positive and rewarding volunteer experience.
• Further responsibilities can be found by downloading the Job Description.

THIS ROLE IS SUBJECT TO AN ENHANCED DBS (DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK) AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECKS.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are an inclusive organisation, from our trustees and team members to our children and young people. We treat all job applicants equally regardless of class, age, disability, gender identify or gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or any other equality characteristic. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in the Health and Social care sector