We are looking for a confident, proactive and commercially minded OTC Sales Assistant to take ownership of the front-of-house retail area in our busy independent pharmacy.
This is a customer service, retail sales and stock-management role. You will be responsible for delivering excellent customer service, keeping the shop floor organised and well stocked, supporting sales and ensuring daily retail operations run smoothly.
Previous retail, sales or customer service experience is essential. Pharmacy experience is desirable but not required, as appropriate OTC training will be provided under the supervision of the responsible pharmacist.
This role does not involve providing independent clinical advice. All clinical questions, medicine concerns or recommendations outside your training must be referred to the pharmacist.
Working hours:
Thursdays 10am-9pm (12pm start also available)
Fridays 10am - 9pm (12pm start also available)
Saturdays 10am -9pm
Key Responsibilities
Customer Service and Sales
- Welcome customers and provide friendly, professional assistance.
- Help customers find suitable products within the scope of your training.
- Provide information on product availability, pricing and promotions.
- Recommend relevant retail products where appropriate.
- Refer clinical questions and symptom-based requests to the pharmacist.
- Process purchases accurately using the till and EPOS system.
- Support retail sales targets and develop strong product knowledge.
- Handle complaints and difficult situations calmly and professionally.
Front-of-House Ownership
- Keep the retail area clean, organised, fully stocked and ready for customers.
- Ensure shelves and promotional displays are attractive and clearly priced.
- Monitor customer queues and request additional support when needed.
- Complete customer-facing tasks before the end of the shift.
- Provide a clear handover on outstanding tasks, stock issues and customer queries.
Receiving Deliveries
- Receive and check incoming deliveries promptly.
- Match products and quantities against invoices or delivery notes.
- Identify and report missing, damaged, incorrect or short-dated items.
- Separate retail, pharmacy and special-order stock correctly.
- Store deliveries promptly without blocking customer or staff areas.
Stock Management
- Enter received stock accurately into the EPOS or inventory system.
- Maintain accurate prices, barcodes, product details and stock levels.
- Complete stock counts and assist with stock audits.
- Identify low-stock, out-of-stock, fast-selling and slow-moving products.
- Report products requiring reordering.
- Help prevent overstocking, duplicate orders and avoidable stock loss.
Pricing and Merchandising
- Ensure products are correctly priced before being placed on sale.
- Check shelf labels against the till system.
- Arrange products according to merchandising standards.
- Create attractive product and promotional displays.
- Update promotional material when campaigns begin or end.
- Report pricing errors before completing a sale.
- Support seasonal promotions and new product launches.
Shelf Maintenance and Stock Rotation
- Refill and organise shelves throughout the day.
- Rotate products using first-expiry, first-out principles.
- Check expiry dates and record short-dated stock.
- Remove expired, damaged or unsuitable products immediately.
- Follow procedures for quarantining or disposing of stock.
- Keep storage areas, drawers and stock rooms organised.
Online and Delivery Order Support
- Pick and prepare retail products for online and delivery-platform orders.
- Check product details and quantities carefully.
- Escalate unavailable items, substitutions or pricing issues.
- Package orders neatly and securely.
- Hand orders to the correct colleague or courier.
- Update the relevant system when orders are prepared, collected or cancelled.
- Do not include prescription or pharmacy-only medicines without pharmacist involvement.
Cleanliness and Safety
- Maintain a clean, tidy and professional shop floor.
- Clean shelves, counters, displays and customer areas.
- Keep walkways and exits clear.
- Follow health and safety, fire and security procedures.
- Report hazards, spillages, damaged fixtures or suspicious activity immediately.
- Follow the correct process for damaged, leaking or hazardous products.
Teamwork
- Work closely with the pharmacist, dispensary and retail teams.
- Support colleagues during busy periods.
- Communicate stock shortages, customer concerns and outstanding tasks clearly.
- Attend required training and team meetings.
- Follow written procedures and ask for guidance when unsure.
- Suggest improvements to sales, displays and customer service.
Person Specification
Essential
- Previous experience in retail, sales, hospitality or customer service.
- Confident and professional communication skills.
- A proactive and customer-focused attitude.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Reliable, punctual and organised.
- Comfortable using tills, EPOS systems and basic computer software.
- Able to manage several tasks while maintaining excellent service.
- Willing to learn about pharmacy products and OTC processes.
- Able to recognise when a customer must be referred to the pharmacist.
- Comfortable taking responsibility for the front-of-house area.
Desirable
- Previous pharmacy, healthcare, health and beauty or skincare experience.
- A Medicines Counter Assistant or equivalent qualification.
- Experience with stock ordering, stock rotation or inventory systems.
- Experience working toward retail sales targets.
- Experience creating displays or managing promotions.
- Knowledge of vitamins, skincare, toiletries or personal care products.
What Success Looks Like
The successful candidate will:
- Keep the pharmacy clean, organised and fully stocked.
- Deliver consistently warm and professional customer service.
- Take ownership of retail sales and front-of-house standards.
- Maintain accurate prices and stock records.
- Identify and resolve issues promptly.
- Refer clinical questions safely.
- Support sales through strong product knowledge.
- Communicate clearly with the wider team.
Pay: £13.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
