Shop Assistant

1. PURPOSE OF THE JOB To provide support and assist the Manager in the operation of running Vincent’s shops in a manner which reflects SVP’s high retail standards and maintains the professionalism and profile of the Society in all areas of operation. 2. ENVIRONMENT OF THE JOB The SVP is a large, national, voluntary organisation with extensive experience of working with a diverse range of people who experience poverty and exclusion. Through its network of over 12,000 volunteers and 700 staff, it is strongly committed to working for social justice and advocates the creation of a more just and caring society. SVP employs people to support volunteers in a variety of settings including Social Housing, Child & Family services, Retail, Administration and other specialist areas. SVP retail is the third largest retailer in Ireland with 227 shops. When you work in an SVP shop your dedication, initiative and passion are helping to make an important contribution to the work SVP does and to change the lives of people in need across the country. SVP is committed to ensuring that everyone we encounter, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. All employees are expected to act in accordance with SVP policies on Dignity & Respect and Safeguarding in respect of related Child and Vulnerable adult safeguarding policies and procedures. The Society is Christian based with a strong sense of Gospel values. The founder of the Society, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, was a devout Catholic and his legacy of spirituality remains a key element for volunteer members of the Society and underpins the conduct of conference meetings. It can often therefore be normal practice within the Society that prayers are said at the beginning and end of Conference meetings or at meetings where members are in attendance as this underpins the ethos of the Society. There is no requirement for staff members to actively participate in the saying of prayers but to respect the ethos of the Society and be aware that this practice may occur. 3. GUIDANCE AND AUTHORITY The job holder will report directly to the Shop Manager who in turns reports to the Regional Retail Manager. The Shop Assistant will be required at all times operate in a professional manner maintaining a high-quality standard of work, and to always work in accordance with aims, values and ethos of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

The nature of matters referred upwards are those: • Where significant resistance is experienced in the development of good practice and implementation of policy. • Where practice or proposed practice places stakeholders in a position of risk e.g. a child, a vulnerable adult, members, employees, the reputation of the Society. • Where decision will have a significant impact on the workload of others. 4. PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES Shop Assistants will be specifically required to provide: • Provide sales support in specific shops • Cover Shop Managers holidays • In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed below, the job holder may be required from time to time to perform other duties as deemed reasonable and necessary by the employer. The job holder may also be required from time to time to work or attend training/meetings at another location. As much notice as is reasonably practicable will be given of any such change. 5. ACCOUNTABILITIES Business Development: 1. Implement effective re-sourcing of staff/volunteers and stock to anticipate customer demands 2. Ensuring substantial donations to anticipate customer demands. 3. Review day to day operations and offerings of the shop in conjunction with recognised guidelines on core issues including customer care, retail standards, financial control, health and safety and security and recommend changes in working practices and staff levels where appropriate. 4. Maximise the financial contribution of the Vincent’s Region by striving to meet the shop sales target and by encouraging all members of your team to do likewise. Customer Service: 5. Develop a “Sales through service” culture with the specific aims of retaining existing customers, attracting new customers and expanding customer activity in-store to include, buying, donating and volunteering. 6. Develop a culture of regular selfassessment in the shop. 7. Investigate and resolve all legitimate customer complaints where possible and aim to recover the customer where practicable Team Satisfaction: 8. Create and sustain an environment in which all staff and volunteers are motivated and are given suitable work to ensure that their individual motivations and abilities are being recognised and met. Compliance: 9. Completion of Cash Reporting Sheet 10. Comply with all Retail and SVP policies and procedures while working in store 11. Compliance issues or concerns should be raised to the Regional Retail Manager. 12. Promote and maintain a satisfactory level of control in the area handling cash and stock control and ensure compliance to recognised staff purchase and Emergency Assistance controls 13. Continually reassess the operational risks inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices and any impact of management restructures / new technology. 6. CHALLENGES There are a number of challenges in this role, largely determined by the scale, complexity, voluntary nature and high levels of local autonomy with the Society. • Acceptance of the dynamic of a complex, national, membership organisation and an understanding of how this both contributes to and constrains the work. • Influencing others not under direct authority. 7. OTHER INFORMATION

The job holder must be available for weekend and evening work as required. The job holder will be expected to use initiative and be highly motivated. The post holder will liaise with relevant personnel / departments. In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required from time to time to perform other duties as deemed reasonable and necessary by the employer. The job holder may also be required from time to time to work or attend training/meetings at another location. As much notice as is reasonably practicable will be given of any such requirement/ change. The Society is committed to the Right to Disconnect Code of Practice which applies to all employees irrespective of where they work, be that office, service, home or other remote location, or their working pattern, either core, shift, or flexible hours. Given the nature of our organisation, employees may request or be required, depending on their role and agreement of management, to work in a more flexible manner and occasionally outside of their normal/standard working hours. Certain roles by their nature may have a requirement to work evenings or weekends and may be on a shift pattern (as detailed in the written particulars of employment), others may be required to attend evening or weekend meetings with members or may be subject to annual peaks and troughs in the workload. These are usually normal, expected, and foreseeable work-related requirements and staff should ensure that they receive the required breaks and compensatory leave as detailed in the Society’s Time off in Lieu policy. Employees are responsible for notifying their manager in writing of any statutory rest period or break to which they are entitled to and were not able to avail of on a particular occasion and the reason for not availing of such rest period or break within one week. 8. EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS TO UNDERTAKE THE ROLE AT A FULLY ACCEPTABLE LEVEL EDUCATION • Job holder should ideally be educated to leaving certificate standard KNOWLEDGE • Knowledge of the Society and of its mission and values. • Commercially aware EXPERIENCE • At least 2 years retail experience ideally some of which will have been gained in the community / voluntary sector. SKILLS • Experience of working in a customer facing environment, be motivated, have excellent customer care skills, be a confident communicator and have a passion for helping people. • Excellent organisation skills • A positive outlook with resilience and persistence in the face of barriers and setbacks. • An ability to display empathy, patience and a well-developed sense of humour. • A keen eye for visual merchandising and display • Self-motivated and take pride and satisfaction in your own work • Outgoing and energetic and enjoy working on your own and as part of your wider team • Excellent numerical skills • Willingness to work in a flexible manner and provide cover for the Shop Manager when required The person must also demonstrate the following personal attributes: • Be honest and trustworthy • Be respectful • Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity • Be flexible • Demonstrate sound work ethics 9. MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS Contract Type: Permanent Part-Time Pension: 5% or 7% employer contribution 5% or 7% employee contribution *Employer matches employee contribution Hours: 21 Hours per Week (3 days, Saturday Mandatory) Salary: €14.80 per hour / €16,161.60 per annum. Paid on a monthly basis