Vacancy Introduction

Do you promote great standards and take pride in running an efficient and high-performing operation?

Do you enjoy leading others, inspiring and supporting them to achieve their full potential?

Do you like the idea of being placed at the heart of the community, working for the East of England's largest independent retailer?

Retail is fast-paced and constantly evolving; but you already understand this. You know that quick-thinking, a positive outlook and embracing change are all key to thriving in this dynamic environment.

You're a true operator and will strive to ensure that your branch is at its 'A game' at all times. You'll be committed to driving consistent high standards and promoting legal compliance, as well as making sure that the service your store provides exceeds our members' and customers' expectations at every opportunity.

You won't do this alone; key to our success is our skilled, engaged and diverse branch teams. You'll take the same pride in seeing your colleagues achieve their full potential, as you do in realising your own. This role is as much about coaching and supporting your team members, as it is trading the shopfloor.

Role Responsibility

• Lead and support the branch team
• Ensure that the branch delivers exceptional standards and customer service
• Growing the branch's turnover and profitability (e.g. managing costs, including personnel)
• Make sure that the branch is operating safe and legally (including acting as the DPS)
• Establish the branch as the convenience retailer trusted most by its local community
• Build relationships with other stores, customers and Head Office/support colleagues
• Promoting membership

We’re pleased to offer a home delivery service in a number of our stores which is operated by our in-house teams. If there is any requirement to drive in support of this service, this will be discussed with you as part of the recruitment process.

The Ideal Candidate

You don't necessarily need to have managed a store before - we will provide you with the training and skills you need to succeed - but you will have demonstrated first-class team leadership in previous role(s).

• Experience of working in a food retail or customer service environment
• Great interpersonal skills, able to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels
• Commercially astute
• A confident decision-maker
• Driven, determined and resilient
• Good level of literacy, numeracy and IT literacy
• Self-aware, with commitment to continued professional and personal development

Package Description

What’s in it for you

At the East of England Co-op, we strive to be the best place to work. We invest in our colleagues to help them to progress in their careers and achieve their full potential. How do we do this?  

• Competitive rates of pay
• 20% discount in our food stores, along with other discounts across our family of businesses
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holiday entitlement) which increases with service
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Death in service benefit
• Access to our colleague communications app, The Loop
• Enhanced* family leave and pay arrangements
• Opportunities to grow, with award-winning training and apprenticeship programmes
• Great deals and discounts across 100’s of high street and online retailers
• Financial wellbeing support, including Wagestream®

Check out the detail of all our colleague benefits here.

* Enhanced on statutory terms, subject to service criteria.

We recognise the challenges people face trying to balance commitments both in and out of the workplace -  perhaps studying, caring commitments, or other employment. We therefore aim to be as flexible as possible, to create shift patterns that work for both our co-op and our colleagues.

About the Company

The East of England Co-op is the largest independent retailer in East Anglia, with over 230 stores and branches across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Owned by over 260,000 members – including our colleagues – our vision is to be the most valued organisation in our region, by being a better kind of business and using our profit to make a positive impact on our communities.

Our Community Cares Fund provides hundreds of thousands of pounds to support groups and good causes, with a focus on mental health and wellbeing, food justice for all and creating community spaces. 

With a focus on environmental sustainability, we’re proud to have led the way on reducing food waste, being the first major retailer to sell food past its Best Before date for just 10p. 

At the East of England Co-op, we strive to be the best place to work. We invest in our colleagues to help them to progress in their careers and achieve their full potential, whether in food retail, funeral services, property investment, travel, security, stonemasonry, events, or our support functions. 

Find out more at www.eastofengland.coop

Our Recruitment Process

If this is the job for you, simply click ‘apply’. You will be required to register a profile on our careers page. To do this simply click apply. The good news is you’ll only have to register once – after this, it’ll be easier and quicker to apply for any roles in the future too.

Please note that our working patterns are non-contractual. The advertised working pattern represents the normal working pattern for the role at time of advertisement and is subject to change.

East of England Co-op