Retail Assistant - 1 Year Fixed Term Contract 37 Hours

Retail Assistant

If you want to make a real impact on the lives of others join Galway Simon Community where we work towards eliminating homelessness through advocacy, education and campaigning in line with our values of compassion, community and collaboration.

We are looking for compassionate and motivated people who are ready to make a difference!

Contract Details 1-year Fixed Term Contract, full-time 37 hours

Location Sean Mulvoy Road

Benefits

• 25 Days Annual Leave

• Employee Pension Scheme (after 1 years’ service)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Bike to Work Scheme

• Education Assistance Program – financial support for upskilling/qualifications

• Death in Service benefit – 2 times basic annual salary

• Occupational Sick Leave Policy

Job Summary

To play an active, hands-on role in the day-to-day operation of the charity shop, ensuring excellent customer service, strong stock standards, and efficient retail processes. The Retail Assistant will directly support sales on the shop floor, process donations, maintain a high standard of presentation, and contribute to the shop’s income generation. This role also includes supporting colleagues planning and delivering off-site and pop-up shop events throughout the year.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Actively welcome customers in a warm, friendly, helpful and professional manner.

• Support customers with queries, purchases and information about the charity’s work.

• Open and close the shop as rostered, Monday to Saturday

• Keep the shop floor clean, tidy and presentable before, during and after opening.

• Answer calls and respond to customer enquiries promptly.

Sales & Retail

• Operate the till, process card/cash payments and follow cash-handling procedures.

• Contribute to achieving daily and weekly sales targets.

• Carry out stock rotation, pricing, tagging and merchandising.

• Set up seasonal promotions, themed displays and shop layouts as directed.

• Proactively identify off-site sales opportunities, liaising with university contacts as required, and supporting colleagues in planning and delivering off-site events and pop-up shops.

• Actively maintain a high standard of presentation across all retail areas.

Donations

• Receive, sort and process donations in line with shop guidelines.

• Clean, prepare, price and label donated items for sale.

• Identify higher-value or specialist items and pass them to the Shop Supervisor for further review.

• Ensuring that the shop is adequately stocked with clean, good quality items, correctly priced and labelled and presented attractively.

• Maintain well-stocked retail areas with clean, good-quality, appropriately priced goods.

• Handle and store stock safely and in line with manual handling guidance.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Follow all shop policies, procedures, and safeguarding requirements.

• Keep the shop environment safe, clean and hazard-free at all times.

• Ensure stock donations are managed and safety stored.

• Adhere to all health & safety standards including hygiene, fire safety and manual handling.

Teamwork & Volunteers

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers on daily shop tasks.

• Train, mentor, and motivate volunteers and colleagues as required

• Help foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive team environment.

• Participate in shared cleaning rota with other members of the shop team.

Administration & Reporting

• Carry out routine admin tasks such till reconciliation, banking, record keeping, and stock control (as required).

• Report maintenance, safety, safeguarding or staffing concerns to the Shop Supervisor.

• Assist with answering and responding to emails received into the shop inbox.

• Arrange / schedule deliveries and collections for furniture and larger donations.

• Help maintain positive donor and customer relationships.

Other

• Work to Galway Simon Community values and ethos.

• Positively promote Galway Simon Community in activities and conduct.

• Adhere to HR and Galway Simon Community policies and procedures

• Maintain confidentiality on all matters relating to staff, volunteers, clients and general Simon Community Business.

• Participate in appraisal process including attending relevant training and development courses as agreed with your manager.

• To participate in the Team in working together collaboratively.

• Be vigilant in relation to Health Safety and Welfare Risks in the workplace and bring concerns to the attention of the Line manager or Health and Safety representative.

• Attend training and meetings as required.

• Carry out any other duties as required as consistent with the responsibilities of the post.

• This is a practical, customer-facing retail role where the successful candidate will be actively involved in the day-to-day work of the shop.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience in a customer service or retail environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Commitment to the values and mission of the organisation, including respect, dignity, and support for people experiencing homelessness

• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.

• Friendly, approachable, and supportive.

• Flexible and adaptable Comfortable with hands-on duties including manual handling, sorting donations, and maintaining a clean, tidy, and well-presented shop environment

• Excellent numeracy and IT skills (e.g. using a till, handling cash, inputting data, Office 365).

• Reliable, punctual, and organised.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity shop or with volunteers.

• Knowledge of visual merchandising and sales techniques.

• Experience supporting projects or events (e.g. seasonal promotions or pop-up retail shops).

• An interest in sustainability, recycling, or community services

Closing 04/01/2026

Galway Simon Community is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.