Retail Associate

Description

Do you want your workday to make a lasting difference? At UGM Thrift Stores, every donation sorted, every item priced, and every donor welcomed helps support a Christ-centered ministry serving people in need throughout our community. As a Retail Associate, you’ll be part of a purpose-driven team that transforms generously donated goods into hope, dignity, and practical help for neighbors experiencing homelessness and hardship. If you have a servant’s heart, enjoy hands-on work, and want to use your gifts in a mission-minded environment, we invite you to consider joining our team.

UGM considers every position one of ministry and a vital and valued part of our team.  Therefore, it is essential that all employees of UGM have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and subscribe to our Statement of Faith and Core Values. Additionally, employees must be willing to lead and/or participate in Bible study, prayer, devotions and sharing the Gospel.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

UGM Thrift Stores specialize in reselling, reusing, and recycling slightly used donated clothing, furniture, and household items. The Retail Associate works under the direction of the Retail Manager in carrying out all retail operations in the store, including, but not limited to, creating a Christ-centered environment, register operations, customer service, store appearance and displays, and employee interactions.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Result Area #1: Culture, Training and Best Practices

• Assist the Retail Management team in the building of the team, by being an example of “revealing Christ” to all staff, donors, and customers. 
• Provide a friendly and joyful welcoming to all customers when they enter the store and throughout their shopping experience. 
• Assist the Retail Management team in register transactions including handling of cash and credit card payments and any non-cash purchases, in order to ensure the accuracy and security of all transactions.
• Work with the Retail Management team to establish and maintain customer service standards in order to ensure compliance with the company mission statement and to provide a pleasant shopping experience for each customer.
• Communicate, daily, all events related to customer service issues or problems, register mistakes, employee issues or accidents, and general store operations to the manager, in order to ensure all issues are handled properly and in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Attend as required, or requested, all training events provided by the company and all store meetings as scheduled by the manager in order to keep current on any policy changes, new procedures, and other information essential to performing the job.

Key Result Area #2: Environment and Safety

• Work with store staff in maintaining the physical appearance of the store on every shift, including, but not limited to: communicating and restocking of janitorial and restroom supplies, removing safety hazards, picking up store merchandise and restoring to proper place, cleaning parking lot, sidewalks, windows and doors, store floors, break room(s), restrooms and other public areas, to ensure the safety and health of customers and employees.
• Maintain and clean out fitting rooms on a regular basis.
• Assist store staff, in stocking store shelves and clothing racks, in order to provide customers with maximum shopping opportunities.
• Under the direction of the Retail Management team, assist store staff, as needed, to set up or change store displays in order to provide a pleasant shopping environment and to entice customers to shop new areas or items within the store.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have a commitment to UGM’s mission.
• Must be a people person with a pleasant and willing attitude and have a servant’s heart.
• Experience in retail operations preferred.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written) with an excellent command of the English language.
• Excellent math and money handling skills.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to operate a cash register and credit card machine.
• Ability to operate general office machines, copier, fax, printers, scanners.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL FACTORS:

Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%

• Work is primarily indoors.  It requires climbing stairs, sitting, standing, bending, and reaching - continuously.
• Requires a sustained level of high energy, stamina, and the ability to move about the store on a regular and ongoing basis – continuously.
• Requires the ability to hear, see, and speak clearly – continuously.
   

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• High School diploma or GED required.

REQUIREMENT:

Union Gospel Mission is a privately funded 501(c)3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious, and we are a Christ-centered ministry which is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position to be essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and Statement of Purpose. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  All employees must:

• Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in all the ministry activities of Union Gospel Mission.
• Subscribe to Union Gospel Mission Statement of Faith and Qualifications for Employment upon hire and continuously while employed.
• Adhere to Union Gospel Mission Employee Handbook. 

DAILY DUTIES:

• Communicate with the Retail Manager at the beginning of the shift.
• Walk sales floor with Operations Manager, Retail Manager, when needed.
• Flex sales floor when needed.
• Prepare register and cashier work areas for the day.
• Sign up for daily huddles.
• Connect with community service and volunteer partners.
• Input data into Thrift Trac.
• Seek to resolve all customer service issues.
• Provide training when needed to ETO’s and volunteers.
• Fill out accident reports and submit them to HR.
• Assist the Operations Manager with building floor displays.
• Customer service all shoplifting issues.
• Run racks to the sales floor.
• Keep fitting rooms clean.

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Summary

We offer a comprehensive and mission-aligned benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our benefits include competitive health coverage, generous paid time off, retirement contributions after one-year of service, and opportunities for professional development - all within a collaborative, purpose-driven environment. 

Highlights:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (options for employees, their spouse and children)
• Generous PTO (20 days annually with carryover) and 7 additional paid holidays (carryover limits may apply)
• Retirement plan with employer matching contribution starting at year one and building on years 3, 5 and 7 matching employee contribution up to 5% at year 7)
• Professional development support
• Mission driven culture