Do you enjoy running a shop as if it were your own? Are you the person who spots that a product is missing from the shelf before the customer does, who keeps the paperwork straight without being chased, and who is comfortable using modern software rather than a shoebox of receipts? If you have solid convenience-retail experience, strong English, and the confidence to make day-to-day decisions on your own, we would very much like to hear from you.
About Us
Shanuska Ltd is a family-owned convenience retail business operating two neighbourhood stores in Kent — The Charing Stores on the High Street in the village of Charing, and n Sir John Fogge Avenue in Ashford. Between them our shops serve village residents, commuters and a growing and increasingly diverse local population with groceries, chilled and frozen food, off-licence lines, news, confectionery, household essentials and everyday services.
We are a small business with a big local reputation. Our customers know us by name and expect the shelves to be full, the staff to be friendly and the shop to be spotless. Until now, the two Directors have run the shop floor themselves. As their family commitments increase, they are stepping back from daily operations and are looking to appoint an experienced person to take over the running of both sites. This is a genuine hand-over of responsibility, not a title change — the successful candidate will be trusted to run the business day to day.
Job Description
As a head of operations you will take full operational charge of both stores. Your key responsibilities will include:
Store Operations: Open and close the stores, set the daily plan, and make sure both sites trade well every day. Maintain standards of cleanliness, presentation, food safety, age-restricted sales compliance and health and safety across both premises.
Team Leadership: Recruit, induct, train, rota and supervise the shop staff across both sites. Set clear expectations, handle day-to-day people issues, and cover shifts personally where the rota demands it.
Stock and Supplier Management: Take charge of ordering, goods-in checking, stock rotation, wastage control and stocktakes. Negotiate with symbol-group and independent suppliers, review buying prices, and keep availability high while controlling shrinkage.
Sales and Margin: Own the sales and margin performance of both stores. Set retail prices, plan promotions and seasonal displays, and manage space so that the right products get the right shelf.
Administration and Business Records: Handle the day-to-day administration of a two-site retail business — daily takings reconciliation, banking, supplier invoice checking and payment scheduling, payroll hours submission, utility and licence records, and keeping the books tidy and up to date for the company's accountant. We use cloud accounting software with AI-assisted bookkeeping features, and you will be expected to run it confidently.
Systems and Technology: Get the most out of our EPOS, back-office, stock and scheduling systems, and help us adopt new tools that save time and reduce cost. If you enjoy setting up a system properly so it does the work for you, you will enjoy this part of the role.
Business Development: Keep your eyes and ears open. The population around both stores is changing, and with it what people want to buy. We want a manager who talks to customers, watches what sells elsewhere, tests new ranges, and brings us well-judged proposals — and who has the confidence to act on the good ones without waiting to be told.
Customer Service: Be the face of the business. Resolve complaints on the spot, build relationships with regular customers, and set the tone for how the team treats people.
Requirements
- Substantial hands-on experience in convenience retail, grocery or a similar fast-moving store environment, including supervising or managing staff.
- Sound commercial judgement — you understand margin, wastage, availability and cash, and you can explain your decisions.
- Confident, accurate English, written and spoken, for dealing with customers, staff, suppliers, and official correspondence. Additional languages spoken in the local community are a genuine advantage in serving our customer base.
- A high level of IT literacy. Comfortable with EPOS and back-office systems, spreadsheets, cloud accounting or bookkeeping software, email and online supplier portals. Experience with AI-assisted or automated bookkeeping tools is a distinct advantage.
- Strong numeracy and a methodical approach to records, reconciliation and paperwork.
- The ability to work independently, prioritise sensibly, and take decisions without day-to-day supervision.
- Flexibility to work across both sites and to cover a rota including early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
- A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is desirable, given the two locations.
- Personal Licence holder (or willingness to obtain one) is an advantage.
Perks and Benefits
- Competitive salary in the range of £ 37,000 to £ 42,000 per annum.
- Genuine autonomy — you will run the stores, not simply relay instructions.
- Staff discount on our product range.
- Workplace pension, 28 days' paid holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
- Training and support in retail systems and compliance.
- A stable, family-run business with long-standing local customers and room to shape the direction of both stores.
How to Apply
If you are ready to take charge of two busy neighbourhood stores and make them your own, we would love to hear from you.
Click Apply now and submit your CV through Indeed. In the message box, or in a short covering note attached with your CV, please tell us three things:
- Your convenience retail or grocery management experience, including how many staff you have supervised and whether you have run more than one site.
- Which EPOS, back-office, stock or accounting systems you have used, and how comfortable you are picking up new software.
- One product range or service you would test in a convenience store serving a changing local population, and why.
There is no closing date. We review applications as they arrive and will begin interviewing as soon as we see the right people, so early applications are encouraged. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal conversation at one of our stores, followed by a short trading-day trial shift.
All applications are handled in confidence by the Directors. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Shanuska Ltd holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence and sponsorship may be available to candidates who meet the Home Office requirements for this role.
Pay: £37,000.00-£42,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
