General Manager

9 Lives Furniture

General Manager 9 Lives Furniture

Job Description:

The general manager is responsible for the overall and smooth running of the 9 Lives Charity and shop, reporting to the Board of Trustees who will advise and help with strategy and important decisions. The General Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the Charity, running the shop, the staff and volunteers, training courses, fund raising activities, local community contact and communication and initiatives to maintain and expand the charity. One aspect of 9 Lives is the training, help and support that we provide for people with learning difficulties, the General Manager must have the ability to communicate, empathise with and manage this group of people. The General manager will work a 5 day week and be expected to work on a rota with other staff and volunteers of 5 to 6 Saturdays per year, the shop is open Tuesday to Saturday and the General Manager will work flexibly to cover the days of opening or for administration on Mondays. 9 Lives has a team of 6 Part time employees working for the General Manager to cover the general running of the shop, van collections & deliveries and training.

Specific responsibility for:

1. Management of Staff & Volunteers: 9 Lives has 6 part time employees plus 18 volunteers (some of whom have learning difficulties). Scheduling of the staff, ensuring the skills levels and ability to run the shop at all times, collection and delivery van and training courses, liaising with volunteers who work with the staff to deliver a good level of service to our customers, donors and supporters. Management of the holiday rota ensuring adequate cover for the shop, van and training. Maintaining the procedures, health & safety manuals and managing the correct process to run the charity smoothly and efficiently. Dealing with annual appraisals, staff issues, recruitment, a dismissal process where necessary in line with legal restrictions and the presentation and recommendation of staff salaries to the trustees. Monitoring of DBS checks for staff and volunteers, risk assessments.
2. Financial Management: Providing timely and accurate reporting to the accountant, assisting with the production of year end accounts and annual report, bank audit trails, reporting for the Trustees, Gift Aid database and claims. Arranging the AGM, invitations and presentations.
3. Marketing & PR: The General manager is responsible for all aspects of marketing and PR; coordination of the website, social media, local newspapers, leaflets, printed matter and activity run to promote the Charity in the local area.
4. Fundraising: Creating Funding reports, administration of the records, administration and banking of all funds raised, working with funding organisations to prepare reports on projects and activity as required. Making presentations to Charitable organisation, local council and training organisations that may be useful to the charity.
5. Administration: Working with and managing the Admin Assistant on payroll, invoices, payment of bills, banking & bank accounts on line and cheques etc, the servicing, mot and insurance of the van, air conditioning lift and fire equipment servicing and checks; provision of ancillary items for the running of the office, shop, van and staff.
6. Shop & Customers: Management of the shop, strategy, policies, donations, merchandising, pricing; dealing with customer issues; management of the van driver and volunteer assistance to ensure cover for collections and deliveries.
7. Training: Managing and working with the 9 Lives Trainer to deliver training courses for people with learning difficulties, external training for other charities as required, working with the local council and other charities to recruit students for training activities. The purchase of training materials

Skills and attributes:

The General manager must have the energy, drive and determination to move the charity forward, operate in line with Charity Commission guidelines and continue to be a valuable part of the local community. To achieve this the general manager will require the following skills and attributes:

1. Compassion, understanding and patience to deal with people with learning difficulties.
2. Excellent communication skills to enable the General Manager to deliver presentations to local organisations, talk to councils, leaders of other charities, trustees, customers and other local leaders.
3. Management skills capable of handling both employees and volunteers.
4. Financial & Numeric acumen to be able to create reports, work with the accountant and contribute to annual report and accounts.
5. Excellent Organisational ability to run a complex organisation of shop, van, training and the charity.
6. Ability to think strategically and operationally.
7. Commercial acumen to create a successful operation of the shop and training.
8. Boundless energy and drive to deliver great results, a happy working culture and environment and a great sense of humour.