Job Description

U-Turn - Thrift Shop Manager- Canal Walk

Summary

U-turn is a leading organisation in developing pathways out of homelessness. We are looking for a Thrift Shop Manager to join our Cape Town Team. They will be based at Canal Walk. They will report to the Retail Area Manager in their area.

This position- Retail with purpose

There is an opportunity for a person with strong retail skills and experience to join the U-turn team as Thrift Store Manager thus giving them the opportunity to apply their professional retail skills in a development setting.

Reporting directly to the Retail Area Manager, the candidate will apply their retail skills to run our retails stores to grow sales and profitability. At the same time, the person will be managing a team of sales assistants who were formerly homeless and are currently on the U-turn work- rehabilitation programme.

The ideal candidate is someone who 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.

This is a full time position and will initially be offered as a one-year contract.

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 in life after homelessness. We believe that every homeless individual is intrinsically valuable and should have access to an effective pathway that addresses their physical, spiritual and emotional needs so they can leave the streets and become a long-term productive member of society.

To help homeless people overcome homelessness we operate a phased approach that includes rehabilitation from substance abuse, counselling, life-skills training and sheltered work placement in one of our social enterprises. This allows candidates to test and apply the training they've received. 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 graduate and be gainfully employed in the modern South African economy.

The programme is yielding wonderful results. Our candidates typically graduate into open market employment and show an above 85% long term success rate! We are actively working to expand the programme 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 thrift store to meet sales targets, including motivating staff to do so. Provide excellent customer service, dealing effectively with complaints and queries, and encouraging customers to join the U-turn loyalty programme. Ensure cash and stock handling at the store is done as per instructions Preparing promotional materials and displays Ensure the store is a therapeutic space for those on the U-turn Life Change Programme. Provide training for and day to day management of store assistants, including task allocation, leave days, adherence to the disciplinary code, and supporting the unique growth journey of each person. Maintain, update, and enforce safety and security procedures.

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 success as well as individual performance Ability to motivate, coach and develop people Commercial awareness

Personal attributes

Resourceful individual that is not easily flustered Ability to self-motivate, and work with minimal supervision Collaborative team player, concerned with team success as well as individual performance Emotionally mature individual Problem solver who is open to change and able to take initiative Willingness to learn and grow personally

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 must submit a letter of motivation and CV to https://homeless.org.za/careers/. The 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. Should you not have heard from us within 1 month please consider your application unsuccessful.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person

Expected Start Date: 2025/08/01