Vacancy Introduction

Our Retail Support Officers (RSO) provide an important service to our branches, helping to keep our colleagues safe and protect our business.

As an RSO, you’ll provide security support to our branches across East Anglia. This support will vary from immediate response to providing colleagues with advice and guidance following an incident. We’re passionate about managing anti-social behaviour through colleague support and training and proactively engaging with the local community.

Developing professional and positive working relationships with colleagues in-branch, as well as with external stakeholders, such as the Police, Local Authorities and community groups, is key to success in this role.

Whist previous experience or qualifications in security / loss prevention would be desirable, this is not essential. However, you will need to show that you have good judgement and decision-making skills – especially when under pressure - as well as the ability to communicate effectively. 

We are truly local so, whatever your experience, you can work safe in the knowledge that you will be fully supported in this role by our state-of-the-art Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) and the wider Security team, as well other Society colleagues.

Role Responsibility

• Respond to incidents of theft, robberies, anti-social behaviour and general security observations, as directed by the ARC or Security Management.
• To detain and deter offenders, sometimes with the support of colleagues, but typically, alone.  
• Investigate thefts, taking witness statements and gathering evidence, including downloading and reviewing CCTV.
• Compile written reports including police statements (to include the details of linked incidents, where appropriate), presenting findings to the ARC and/or Security Management and Police.
• To provide advice, guidance and training to colleagues on best practice in dealing with anti-social behaviour, theft and other security matters.
• Provide welfare support to colleagues further to incidents of anti-social behaviour.
• Take a pro-active approach in forming effective relationships with the Police and local communities  
• Complete other duties requested by the ARC and/or Security Management, e.g. welfare and response tasks, campaigns in-branch, etc.

The Ideal Candidate

• Flexible, hard-working and confident
• Professional and self-motivated
• Able to work alone on own initiative and also as part of a team
• Punctual, both in attendance and in delivery of work against timescales
• Reacts quickly and embraces change
• Able to communicate effectively and empathise with colleagues and the general public
• SIA CCTV and Guarding licenses
• Uses up to to date professional and technical competence to achieve objectives
• Full UK driving license (a company vehicle will be provided)

To ensure we are able to effectively respond to security incidents, the successful candidate must live in Norfolk.

Package Description

Click here to find out more https://www.eastofengland.coop/careers/benefits-of-working-for-the-east-of-england-co-op.

Alongside a competitive salary, we also offer enhanced employer pension contribution and holiday entitlement, as well as our colleague discount scheme (including 10% off in our Foodstores) – these are just a few benefits of working for us! Full details can be viewed on the ‘Colleague benefits’ section of our website.

You will benefit from our award-winning training helping you to achieve your true potential. Should you have your sights on career progression in the future, we’ve supported lots of our colleagues through Apprenticeship and other learning & development programmes.

Working Hours

As the primary responsibility of this role is to support our branches, the successful applicant will be required to work a variety of shifts across their trading hours, which include early mornings, evenings and weekends (5 days out of 7) – some night work may be required on occasion. We promote flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss different ways of working (please indicate your availability within your application).

About the Company

As a co-op we’re a different type of business. We’re owned by our members and we work for the benefit of people and our communities, not just for profit.  We’re driven by our democratic values which are based around being fair, doing the right thing and caring for all those we deal with. This includes our customers, our suppliers, our environment and each other. 

We expect colleagues who work with us to share these values. We’re still a business and we work in a very competitive area so it’s still important that we’re efficient and work to the highest professional standards.

We’ve been able to achieve success for over 150 years because of our people and we encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds; you reflect the communities we serve! If you would like to join us on the next part of our journey, please follow the instructions on how to apply.

COVID-19 Recruitment Statement

Our colleague’s health and wellbeing is our priority and we have taken all reasonable steps to protect our teams in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whilst we have a number of measures in place to make our workplaces COVID-secure, applicants should be aware that the vast majority of our vacancies are for customer-facing roles. Whilst you are not obliged to share the details of any health conditions as part of your application, we would encourage you to consider any Government guidance which might apply to you. The latest advice for clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable people can be found here (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus).

If you would like to discuss a vacancy prior to making an application, please contact hrservices@eastofengland.coop.

East of England Co-op