Store Associate

About The Salvation Army

For over 130 years, The Salvation Army has been dedicated to serving people in need throughout Canada and Bermuda. Rooted in its origins as a global Christian church, the organization supports more than 2 million individuals annually by providing essential needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. It also offers support for those facing unemployment, addiction, and family difficulties. The organization embraces diversity and fosters a welcoming environment.

Our mission is to share the love of Jesus Christ, address human needs, and positively transform communities worldwide.

Position Purpose

This role involves assisting customers, sorting incoming donations, and supporting the daily operations of The Salvation Army Thrift Store located at 774 Historic Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome and engage with customers and donors warmly and professionally.
• Help achieve store sales goals by providing courteous and effective customer service, including tactful interactions with challenging customers.
• Understand product pricing and promotional items while safeguarding the quality of donated goods.
• Follow store opening and closing procedures diligently.
• Handle customer transactions accurately, including cash and debit payments, minimizing errors like voids or overages.
• Comply with store policies on payment methods such as cheques, credit cards, refunds, and transaction holds.
• Process donations by unloading, sorting, packing, hanging, pricing, and organizing items.
• Maintain awareness of stock to assist customers in person or by phone.
• Monitor the store environment to ensure security.
• Contribute to attractive store layouts and displays, including window and merchandise arrangements, ensuring the store appears neat and inviting.
• Support inventory control by organizing merchandise according to directives and maintaining stock levels on the sales floor.
• Handle merchandise safely and assist with recycling processes such as bagging textiles and sorting metals.
• Aid donors with unloading donations and proper placement of stock.
• Ensure all donations are processed and priced in line with quality standards and store policies.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Health and Safety Duties

• Help maintain a safe environment by removing hazards such as snow, clearing fire exits, cleaning spills, and removing obstacles inside and outside the store.
• Keep the store clean and orderly through activities such as restocking shelves, sweeping, dusting, mopping, and cleaning communal areas on a rotational basis.
• Follow the Occupational Health and Safety Act, regulations, and The Salvation Army’s health and safety protocols.
• Perform additional work-related tasks as required.

Reporting and Relationships

• Report directly to the Store Manager.
• Work collaboratively with store management, corps officers, volunteers, staff, guests, and vendors.

Working Conditions and Schedule

• This is a full-time position based onsite at New Westminster, BC.
• Work hours may vary weekly and can include weekdays and Saturdays.
• The role demands prolonged standing and frequent movements such as twisting, bending, crouching, and reaching, with the ability to lift and move items weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Adherence to safety precautions, including wearing gloves when handling unknown materials, is required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Completion of some high school coursework; alternative combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Several months of prior experience in goods processing, distribution, or customer service.
• Cash handling experience and familiarity with cash registers and related procedures including bank deposits and reports.
• Knowledge of safe lifting techniques.
• Product brand awareness is an asset.
• Experience working with computerized systems.

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail.
• Self-motivated and disciplined with the ability to work independently as well as cooperatively in a team setting.
• Effective oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Physical capability to regularly lift and carry up to 29 pounds using safe handling techniques.
• Ability to successfully complete required background and screening checks as per organizational standards.

Compensation

The expected salary range for this role is from $18.25 to $21.74 per hour, with a maximum pay rate of $25.23 per hour. Placement within this range depends on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate qualifications including experience and skills.

Additional Information

The Salvation Army is committed to providing reasonable accommodations upon request to support all candidates throughout the recruitment process. Applicants needing accommodations are encouraged to reach out for assistance.