Join us as a Co-op Store Manager where your leadership can shine! This role offers an engaging environment for those eager to develop their management skills while contributing to a thriving retail community.
Role Purpose
To lead the day-to-day operation and commercial performance of the University of Leicester Co-op store, ensuring a safe, legal, inclusive and welcoming shopping environment and consistently outstanding customer service. The postholder will inspire, coach and develop Team Leaders and Catering Assistants, maintain effective financial, stock and cash controls, and build strong relationships with the University, Co-op partners and the local community. The Store Manager will act with appropriate autonomy, use performance and market insight to identify opportunities, and embed the values of both the University and Co-op.
Resources Managed
Reports to: Director of Operations, University of Leicester Food and Drink
Direct reports: Team Leaders and Catering Assistants.
People resources: recruitment, induction, rotas, attendance, training, performance and employee relations.
Operational resources: store budget, sales and labour measures, cash, stock, inventory, equipment, systems and assets.
Job Title: Co-op Store Manager
Salary: £36,000 per annum
Department: University of Leicester Food and Drink
Hours/Contract: 35 hours per week, permanent; flexibility to work evenings, weekends and additional hours in line with store requirements
Reference: UoLFD10001
Main Duties and Responsibilities: % Time
Lead, develop and engage the store team: Recruit, induct, coach and empower colleagues to be accountable and confident. Create an inclusive culture, provide regular training and feedback, manage performance and employee relations fairly, and build a sustainable talent pipeline. 25%
Run a safe, legal and successful store: Ensure the store is safe, legal and operational at all times. Maintain compliance with health and safety, food safety, security, age-restricted sales, COSHH, audit and Co-op operating standards, and ensure maintenance or critical issues are addressed promptly. 20%
Manage commercial, financial, stock and cash performance: Plan and manage sales, labour, margin and other operational measures to achieve budget and maximise opportunities. Maintain accurate stock control, availability, stock checks, waste controls, cash management and store paperwork. 20%
Deliver outstanding customer service and store standards: Lead by example and put customers first. Ensure the store is customer-ready, empower colleagues to resolve queries, monitor customer feedback, address complaints promptly and consistently deliver Co-op service promises. 15%
Support the University and local community: Understand the store’s role within the Co-op community vision and the University environment. Work with the Member Pioneer and University stakeholders to deliver the Community Plan, respond to local needs and support key activities and events. 10%
Lead change, improvement and collaborative working: Use performance, industry and local market insight to identify improvements and commercial opportunities. Lead change with clarity, communicate effectively, share insight across the University and Co-op, maintain confidentiality, and undertake other reasonable duties. 10%
Internal and External Relationships
- Internal: Team Leaders and Catering Assistants; OSM / Account Manager; UoL Food and Drink, Campus Services and retail colleagues; Finance, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Security, Estates and maintenance teams; Marketing, Communications and Events; University staff, students and the Students’ Union.
- External: Customers and Co-op members; Co-op operational and support teams; Member Pioneer and community partners; suppliers, contractors, service engineers, auditors and relevant regulatory bodies.
Planning and Organising
- Develop and maintain daily, weekly and monthly operating plans, including staffing rotas, recruitment, training, leave and attendance arrangements.
- Forecast and monitor sales, labour, stock, cash and operational performance against agreed budgets and key performance measures.
- Plan stock availability, merchandising, deliveries, stock counts and waste controls, responding to seasonal demand and the University academic calendar.
- Coordinate store readiness and staffing for peak periods and key University activities, including arrivals, open days, graduation and other events.
- Prioritise maintenance, compliance actions, incidents and business continuity requirements, escalating significant risks promptly.
- Work autonomously within delegated authority while maintaining regular communication with the OSM / Account Manager and relevant University stakeholders.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- *Relevant qualification in retail, business, hospitality or management, or equivalent substantial professional experience.
- *Significant experience of leading, coaching and developing a team in a fast-paced retail or customer service environment, ideally food retail.
- *Proven experience of managing commercial and operational performance, including budgets, labour, sales, margin, stock, cash and key performance measures.
- *Experience of delivering excellent customer service and resolving customer complaints effectively.
- *Experience of recruitment, induction, training and performance management.
- *Sound working knowledge of retail legal compliance, health and safety, food safety, security, age-restricted sales, stock control and cash management.
- *Competence in retail systems, EPOS, ordering or inventory systems and standard Microsoft Office applications.
- Food Safety/Hygiene qualification at Level 2 or 3, or willingness to achieve the required qualification within an agreed period.
Desirable
- Level 3 or higher qualification in retail, management, business or a related discipline.
- Recognised health and safety qualification.
- Experience in Co-op, franchise, convenience or multi-site retail, or within a university/campus environment.
- Experience of community engagement, partnership working or delivery of a community plan.
Skills, Abilities and Competencies
Essential
- *Visible, confident and inclusive leadership, with the ability to set clear expectations and act as a role model.
- *Strong communication, coaching, relationship-building and influencing skills.
- *Commercial awareness, numerical confidence and the ability to interpret performance information and take appropriate action.
- *Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing demands and deliver to time and budget.
- *Sound judgement, autonomy and problem-solving capability, including making timely decisions under pressure.
- *Ability to remain calm, positive and resilient during high-volume trading, incidents or periods of change.
- *Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, respect and creating a culture in which colleagues feel valued and able to speak up.
- *Ability to lead change, embed new ways of working and encourage open feedback and continuous improvement.
- *Strong collaborative working skills across organisational boundaries and with community partners.
- *IT literacy and confidence using digital retail and business systems.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and additional hours where required by store operations.
Desirable
- Experience of structured continuous improvement or operational change projects.
- Established links with, or understanding of, the local community and the higher education environment.
*Criteria to be used in shortlisting candidates for interview
Criminal Declaration
If you become an employee, you must inform your manager immediately, in writing, if you are the subject of any current or future police investigations or legal proceedings which could result in a criminal offence, conviction, caution, bind-over, charge or warning.
Supporting University Activities
As a University of Leicester citizen, you are encouraged to support key university activities such as clearing, graduation ceremonies, student registration and recruitment open days. We encourage all staff as citizens to work flexibly across the University if required. If supporting these activities is likely to affect your workload, please speak to your line manager in the first instance
University Values
Inclusive - We are diverse in our makeup and united in ambition. Our diversity is our strength and makes our community stronger.
Inspiring - We are passionate about inspiring individuals to succeed and realise their ambitions. We challenge our community to think differently, to get involved, and to constantly embrace new ideas.
Impactful - As Citizens of Change we will generate new ideas which deliver impact and empower our community
Freedom of Speech
The University is committed to upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law throughout our recruitment processes. We ensure that all candidates are considered based on merit and suitability for the role, without regard to their lawful viewpoints or the expression of challenging or controversial ideas. Our recruitment policies and practices are designed to protect applicants from discrimination or adverse treatment on the basis of their opinions, and to foster an environment where open debate and diverse perspectives are valued as essential to our academic mission.
Equity and Diversity
We believe that equity, diversity and inclusion is integral to a successful modern workplace. By developing and implementing policies and systems that challenge stereotypes across all aspects of our work, we have a culture that recognises and values the diverse contributions of our staff which benefit everyone. Our strong values of inclusivity and equality support our efforts to attract a diverse range of high-quality staff and students, and identify our University as a progressive and innovative workplace that mainstreams equality, diversity and inclusion.
Pay: £36,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
