Job Vacancy: We Are Seeking an Operations Team Lead
Up to 17 hrs per week
£10.90/hour on a permanent contract
Deadline for Applications: 22nd September 2023
Start date for the role: 9th October 2023
'What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not fooling a soul'
Are you looking to break out of the mould and do you have a passion to make a real difference in your local community? If you are tired of not having a say in the business you work in and not having your voice heard. Or perhaps you are feeling frustrated you cannot see the benefit of the work you do and how it has a real impact on others peoples lives. We know there are a lot of jobs like this.
The good news is, working at October Books is the exact opposite!
October Books has been more than just a bookshop for over 40 years and we are as passionate today about supporting the community as we were back then. Our vision is to ‘to create a better now and ignite a passion for a better future in our local community, our High Street, and beyond through Storytelling, Social Change, Learning and Inclusion’. We work with participative approaches in the team, so this isn’t your usual retail or management role.
We are looking for someone with experience in retail and community and operational and business management who is inspired by all that we do. The role will require you to be a lead on all things operational in the shop from managing staff and rotas, maintaining our wonderful community owned building and being the ‘go to’ person for IT hardware and software needs. Part of this role will be customer facing and you would be expected to work some of your hours on the shop floor serving and interacting with our great community. Experience with or a passion for books less ordinary, radical and progressive as well as good knowledge of the classics and popular titles is preferred but not essential.
You will work closely with the existing team, sharing the responsibility for running the business as a whole. The role is perfect for someone who is looking for significant responsibility in an adaptive and flexible co-operative environment.
Formal interviews will be held the last week of September or before.
If you aren’t sure this role is right for you but want to know more, then please read on ……..
Required expertise or experience for this role:
Practical maintenance skills, an ability to make do and mend and share skills with others
Retail or customer service experience
Knowledge of IT solutions, software and hardware for business operation, hybrid meetings and events
Health and safety, risk assessment, policies and operating manuals
Desirable expertise or experience for this role:
Working in a community focussed role or an organisation at the forefront of social change
Some knowledge or understanding of co-operative, participative decision making processes and principles
Can plan ahead and think creatively should unexpected issues arise
Work as part of a team as well as take the initiative and work independently
Responsibilities of the role within the business
Book shop role
Shared oversight on book, food, gift and card ordering and stock management and keeping in line with budgets corresponding with business plan and purchasing and returns policies
Customer facing retail role
Occasional events hosting both in house and external as needed or desired
Operational Team lead
Oversee day-to-day operations, policies and procedures inclusive of: Stock management; Procurement; Buildings Maintenance and Health and Safety
Sales and other reporting to Committee and Team meetings. Facilitating decision making on proposed
Report to Committee on Strategic needs and decisions
IT oversight and management - ensure, improve and maintain all technological aspects of the business (internet, EPOS, card machines, etc)
HR (shared role)
Staff management including recruitment and reviews and team member annual work plans
Production of job descriptions and amendment of existing job descriptions including reporting arrangements
From time to time, you may be required to undertake other duties in accordance with the needs of the business. You will also be expected to participate in the general management and administration of the co-operative as well as undertaking some roles that are shared amongst the team.
Some of the shared roles include:
Participation in monthly book purchasing meetings
Managing and guiding volunteers in shop tasks
Liaising with local community groups, authors, organisations and venues. Coordinating stalls, hosting events.
Some weekend and evening working will be required
Please fill let us know if you would like an application form by email or ask for one instore and send to info@octoberbooks.org with 'Job application 2023B' in the subject line, or print out and return to October Books, 189 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NF.
