Community Grocery Assistant Manager – Hexham

Job Specification

Job Title: Community Grocery Assistant Manager

Hours: 17.5 hours

Salary: £8,751 (Pro Rata)

Start date: TBC

Responsible to: Community Grocery Manager

Primary internal working relationships: Community Grocery Manager, Hub Leader, church

leaders, volunteers

Primary external working relationships: Community Grocery members, suppliers

Main purpose of the job

To support the Community Grocery Manager in the day-to-day running of the Grocery.

History of The Message Community Grocery

In April 2020, the national lockdown meant our café and kitchens at our Message Enterprise

Centre had needed to close, but as we saw families in need of food on our doorstep we

decided to repurpose this and reach out to the local community. Using our facilities, we cooked,

prepared, and delivered thousands of food parcels and hot meals to residents across the local

area throughout lockdown.

As our meal delivery programme came to an end in September there was still great need, so

we set up The Message Community Grocery as a way to support people across Wythenshawe

that were feeling the financial impact of Covid-19 through a membership scheme. Through the

Grocery we are able to offer a range of food options fresh from local supermarkets, at a fraction

of the cost. All our members also have access to a range of free support services including job

clubs, debt relief support, mental wellbeing courses, exploring Christianity courses, voluntary

work placements and more.

Within just a few weeks we had 500 families signed up to the Grocery, many joining the various

courses and the success and need has opened doors for us to launch more groceries around

the UK.

Find out more about how our Community Grocery works at www.communitygrocery.org.uk

Main duties and responsibilities

– Completing regular stock takes and ensuring the shop is adequately stocked and well

presented at all times.

– Supporting the Community Grocery Manager in training volunteers.

– Providing a great level of customer service and building a good rapport with Community

Grocery members, sharing your faith wherever the opportunity arises as well as encouraging

members to engage with courses.

– Assisting the Manager in operating the day-to-day running of the Grocery and providing

good customer service.

– Adhering to all relevant health and safety and food safety requirements and the completion

of relevant documentation.

– The post-holder will be expected attend monthly prayer days and occasional evening prayer

meetings.

– Be an advocate of The Message and help recruit donors to support the ministry.

Person Specification

Essential

– A team player who respects and supports the leadership of others.

– A commitment to excellence in all things, especially customer service.

– Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure.

– Ability to work both alone and as part of a team.

– Professional attitude and appearance.

– Able to articulate a clear vision for their role within the work of The Message, particularly

with reference to their ability to function within the framework of its Mission, Vision, Ethos

and Values. (Full copies of our Mission and Vision statement and our Ethos and Values

statement are available on request or can be viewed online at www.message.org.uk)

Notes

All Message staff are set a personal fundraising target. We ask that the successful applicant

has a minimum of £75 per month of regular financial support before commencing employment,

increasing to £125 per month by the end of the three-month probation period and aims to add

one supporter a month after that. Training and support will be given to help you achieve this.

Staff are also expected to organise and take part in, at least one fundraising or other sponsored

event annually.

This job description is not exhaustive and amendments and additions may be required in line

with future organisational changes.

Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR): This post has been identified as having a GOR to

be filled by a Christian under the provisions of the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief)

Regulations 2003 Section 7.2.

Confidentiality: Any information relating to people contacted by the Trust acquired in the

course of duty must be treated in strictest confidence and must be discussed only within the

confines of the work setting with the appropriate members of staff.

Any information relating to staff acquired in the course of duty must be treated in the strictest

confidence and must be discussed only with senior staff members or with the line manager.A