Endless pre-loved items. A crucial source of fundraising. A store that runs your way.  

Retail Store Manager 

£26,784 - £31,459 plus benefits 

Reports to: Area manager 

Department: ​Trading​ 

Contract: ​Permanent​ 

Hours: ​Full time 37.5 hours per week​  

Location: Headington, Oxford

Closing date: Open until filled. We will be shortlisting on a rolling basis and will close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications

Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship. 

​​At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.​ 

​​

Ranked 12th Best Employer in the UK by the Financial Times, Cancer Research UK is looking for a standout leader to join our Retail team as a Retail Shop Manager. Are you ready to lead with purpose and passion?

We’re looking for a motivating and community-driven Store Manager to join our vibrant Cancer Research UK retail team at our Headington shop. This is more than just a retail role — it’s a chance to make a real difference in the fight against cancer.

Our Headington shop is one of Cancer Research UK’s larger and more modern retail spaces, featuring a spacious shop floor and a well-equipped backroom designed to support efficient operations and an engaging customer experience. Conveniently located just 18 minutes by public transport from Oxford city centre, the shop is easily accessible for both staff and volunteers. The team consists of four shop assistants  and an Assistant Shop Manager, all working together to create a welcoming and purpose-driven environment.

Why join us?

• Impactful Work: Every sale helps fund life-saving research.
• Community Focus: Be the face of CRUK in your local area, building relationships and raising awareness.
• Skill Development: Gain valuable experience in leadership, retail operations, and volunteer management.
• Supportive Environment: Work alongside a dedicated team in a welcoming and purpose-driven setting.
• Modern Space: Enjoy working in a newly designed, spacious shop with excellent facilities.

What will I be doing?

• Guiding, inspiring and engaging a team of paid staff and volunteers. This includes recruitment, retention and development of a diverse shop team.
• Taking ownership and responsibility for commercial running of your store including display and merchandising, stock management, maintaining shop standards, store layout, sales and income.
• Leading by example and providing excellent customer and supporter service.
• Maximising profit through effective cost control and sales.
• Creating relationships with your local community and Cancer Research UK colleagues.
• Organising and running creative fundraising events for your store to achieve fundraising targets.
• Maintaining compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, security, administration and HR policies.

What skills are you looking for?

• Experience of managing and inspiring a diverse team of people.
• Comfort working within targets and motivating others to achieve those targets.  
• The ability to multi-task in a lively environment.
• Working knowledge of what makes great customer service.
• Commercial awareness.
• Knowledge of high street fashion retail.
• Adaptability in changing situations, including being able to work effectively independently.   
• An awareness of the price, value and worth of items.
• And ideally experience of retail management.

[Download the full role profile] 

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Our retail teams cover the needs of their stores by working on a rota basis. Whilst a level of flexibility is needed to meet the needs of the business, we don’t forget that you have a life outside of work too.  

To support your training and development in this role, you will spend 4 weeks in a training shop, learning from a Training Shop Manager, this may be at a different location to the role you applied for.

Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.

You can learn more about our fantastic retail teams on our website.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].  

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