Job Description

JOB TITLE

: Community Engagement and Your Community Shop Supervisor

Job Purpose

Are you a passionate person who aspires to build positive relationships, inspire positive and make a real difference in lifting people out of food insecurity?

The postholder will work as an integral part of our small but brilliant Community Shops team. The primary focus is to proactively engage with the local community to promote membership and sustained engagement to the three Community Shops and The Food Hub with support from volunteers. Their role will also manage the Saturday opening of the Horsley Hill Community Shop and provide support to cover sickness and holiday periods across all shops throughout the year.

Our Community Shops are like no other. We provide support to those in our community who are living in food insecurity. The aim of the shop is to enable our community to access food and receive support whilst they address the underlying issues that are impacting on their financial and emotional wellbeing.

The postholder will also need to understand the broad range of responsibilities in leading the day-to-day running of the community shop so that they can lead on the Saturday opening at Horsley Hill and ad hoc cover when needed. This will involve working with volunteers and the community to ensure that the shop is meeting the required standards in relation to health & safety, retail standards and safeguarding. However, their main focus will be the promotion of our services and increasing membership and use of the three Community Shops.

Most importantly the postholder will ensure that the local community are treated with dignity and respect, inclusivity and above all receive a warm friendly welcome. In achieving this the postholder will also support the wellbeing activities that improve the emotional and financial wellbeing of those accessing the service

Job Responsibilities

Community Engagement

To develop and engage with a network of contacts, building relationships and a strong pipeline of referrals for the Community Shops and wider services.

Act as a point of contact between The Community Shops and the wider community.

To ensure that the wider community is informed, engaged and aware of the benefits of our Community Shops and the wider services that we offer.

Communicate with passion about our services and their benefits to local residents, businesses and community groups.

With the support of the Community Shops Coordinator, develop a plan to target local communities to encourage engagement with the Community Shops. This will include working with the local community directly as well as working with other organisations and agencies. It is essential that future membership is representative of the local community and include working households, those in receipt of benefits and those that are retired.

Maintain effective records that detail the engagement with communities and organisations.

Manage community feedback on how the Community Shops could improve their offer to the local community.

Community Shop Support

The post will lead on the Saturday opening of the Horsley Hill shop every week and other shops throughout the week on an ad hoc basis when needed to provide cover for sickness, holiday and training.

Support volunteers in the delivery of services.

Ensure that you and others work to the highest Health & Safety and Safeguarding standards.

Ensure that you and others work to the highest food safety standards including complying with Safer Food Better Business standards.

Meet and greet customers visiting the shop in a warm and friendly way that promotes our values of Compassion, Integrity, Inclusivity and Empowerment.

Take payments, check members in and out and register new customers on the case management system.

Ensure the 'shop floor' is kept well stocked, well presented, clean and hygienic.

Signpost people for support services both internally and outside of the charity.

Assist in the delivery of wellbeing services that work with people to reduce isolation and promote wellbeing, financial security, and good health.

Receive deliveries, maintaining stock control systems and stock levels ensuring that goods are in date, in good condition and stored correctly and safely.

Host visits from other organisations and interested parties as agreed with the Operations Director.

Maintain social media platforms in order to communicate with customers.

Participate actively in your own personal development, including supervision sessions.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with previous experience of working in a community focussed or liaison role. You need to be confident, diplomatic and able to work independently while managing multiple priorities.

Work Experience

Strong background in community engagement.

Experience of working in a retail environment.

Experience of working directly with people living in disadvantage.

Experience of using IT systems and familiar with Microsoft applications.

Experience of working directly with volunteers.

Qualifications

Maths and English grade C/4.

Knowledge Required

An understanding of the charitable and third sector. Working within a funded environment.

An understanding of adult safeguarding procedures.

Skills & Aptitudes

Strong people skills with an ability to manage conflict and sensitive issues with professionalism and tact while maintaining a calm and confident response when challenged.

Deliver clear and effective communication about the benefits of the Community Shops. Also, strong written communication skills.

Full clean driving licence.

Attention to detail and commitment to high quality customer service.

Personal Qualities

Flexible and responsive to people's needs.

Works collaboratively and as part of the team.

Resourceful and imaginative, bringing creativity to the role.

Has a positive can-do attitude and builds trust and confidence from others.

General Circumstances

Must be flexible on working hours including evening and weekends.

Terms and conditions

Salary Fixed term contract until end of March 2026. Seeking to extend this subject to funding. 13.17 per hour Paid on the 28th of each month.

Hours of work

30 hrs per week

Working pattern

Saturday between the core hours of 8.30am to 2.30pm. Other hours to be negotiated. Flexibility will be required.

Leave entitlement

28 days (pro-rata to 30 hours), plus Bank Holidays.

Probationary period

3 months

Notice period

1 month

Absence

You must comply fully with Hospitality and Hope Absence Management Policy

Pension arrangements

You will be auto enrolled into the company pension scheme unless you formally opt out in writing. Employee 5% contribution. Employer 3% contribution.

Flexibility

The post holder will be required to work flexibly, as an example, but not limited to: attending meetings, covering the absence of colleagues.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 13.17 per hour

Work Location: In person