Assistant Thrift Store Manager

Assistant Manager Job Description

Position: Assistant Manager

Department: Thrift Store
Reports to: Thrift Store Manager
FLSA Classification: Non-exempt

Summary

The Assistant Manager provides direct supervision of associates and operational support within the production and sales floor areas of the thrift store. This role helps ensure a positive shopping experience by supporting customer service standards and maintaining a clean, organized, and efficient store environment. The Assistant Manager works closely with the Thrift Store Manager and logistics team to maintain adequate inventory on the sales floor and provide guidance to Job Training Program guests, volunteers, and warehouse/truck associates as needed. 

The Assistant Manager will provide direct supervision within one of the two specialization areas listed below, with the ability to support the alternate area as operational needs require. 

Specialization Areas 

• Sales Floor: This role oversees daily sales floor operations, ensuring merchandise is well-stocked, organized, and presented to create a positive shopping experience. They support and guide team members, monitor floor coverage, and help maintain productivity and customer service standards. This role also serves as a subject matter expert in sales floor operations, helping ensure the store remains clean, organized, and fully stocked.

• Processing: This role oversees daily production operations, ensuring donated goods are processed, sorted, and prepared for the sales floor efficiently. They support and guide team members, monitor workflow, and help maintain productivity and organization. This role also serves as a subject matter expert in production processes, helping ensure quality standards are met and the store remains well stocked.

At New Life Center, our work is rooted in our Christian faith and driven by our mission to guide people experiencing homelessness or addiction toward holistic transformation through the love of Jesus. Every role contributes to this ministry and advances our shared vision. Our team members are followers of Jesus Christ, affirm our Statement of Faith, and demonstrate our BEACON values—Bring Your Best, Engage with Empathy, Act in Unity, Choose Humility, Offer Hope, and Never Stop Growing—in the way they serve guests, support one another, and represent New Life Center each day. 

Essential Functions

Essential Function 1: Team Leadership

• Lead: Provide clear vision, direction, and alignment for the South Thrift Store Team, modeling New Life Center’s core values, fostering a healthy, high-performing culture, and demonstrating a willingness and ability to lead teams in prayer. 

• Manage: Ensure the right people are in the right roles, set clear expectations, and consistently monitor performance through effective communication, coaching, and problem-solving. 

• Hold Accountable: Further our mission by holding self and others accountable to goals, priorities, and measurable outcomes, ensuring follow-through and continuous improvement. 

Essential Function 2: Team Management

• Supervise and manage all levels of employee lifecycle including hiring, reviewing, coaching, and terminating. 
• Model Christian values, store culture, and guest boundaries for entire team. 
• Uphold and support store policies. 
• Be willing and able to lead team in prayer. 
• Assist with training, coordination, communication and scheduling. 
• Direct, lead, and provide coaching to guests in the Job Training Program. 
• Coordinate with volunteers and help provide orientation and training. 

Essential Function 3: Thrift Store Operations

• Continuously observe and assess areas of responsibility and coordinate with team members to accomplish the mission. 
• Oversee merchandise flow, from donation receiving to merchandising the sales floor. 
• Help with inventory management and resolve production bottlenecks. 
• Coordinate staffing, workflows, and scheduling for maximum efficiency of space and time. 
• Provide pricing and system expertise and support, including hands-on production and assisting with processing transactions. 
• Resolve issues with the point of sale, customer needs, and staffing constraints.  
• Provide exceptional customer service on the sales floor and/or with donors. 

Essential Function 4: Other Duties

• Assist the Store Manager with all duties as assigned and fill in for the manager when not on site. 
• Provide support, advisement, and decision-making to store leadership team. 
• Assist in seasonal planning and the logistics of floor moves and storage needs. 
• Monitor and assist with store security and safety. 
• Participate in the on-call program to address Thrift Store questions or concerns. 
• Other duties as assigned.

ADA & Reasonable Accommodation

New Life Center complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Qualified individuals are considered for positions based on their ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable law unless doing so would cause undue hardship or pose a direct threat to safety.

Position Reports to Jeanna Beyer, Thrift Store Manager

This job description identifies the major responsibilities of this job. It does not include all aspects of the position such as the potential additional duties assigned by the Thrift Store Manager, the requirement for flexibility in helping others, or the highly valued team-oriented approach used for the overall benefit and success of New Life Center.

Personal:

• Must be engaged in a local church and exhibit a personal, evident, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  
• Compassionate heart for those in need. 
• Willingness to serve others. 
• Desire to see the lost transformed through the love of Christ. 

Required Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED. 

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Customer service experience. 

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check.  
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with the organization’s insurance carrier requirements, and provide proof of insurance, as required for the performance of job duties. 
• If an individual voluntarily identifies as being in recovery, a minimum of one year of sustained recovery with active participation in a 12-step program is required; two or more years is preferred. 

Skills:

• Ability to organize and prioritize duties. 
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written.  
• Demonstrated effective time management and organizational skills. 
• Ability to use independent judgment to accomplish goals. 
• Creative, positive, and passionate about work. 
• Adapts positively to change. 
• Ability to direct individuals when necessary. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.  
• Ability to set aside own feelings to meet the needs of the customer. 

Work Environment:

• Must be in good physical condition. 
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time as well as kneel, crouch, crawl, etc. 
• Ability to walk up and down flights of stairs multiple times during work shift. 
• Able to climb a ladder and work at heights of up to 20’.  
• Ability to safely lift 50 lbs. and up to 100 lbs. 
• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions, hot or cold. 
• Ability to frequently and safely enter and exit the rear of a box truck throughout a shift. 

Religious Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ)

New Life Center is a faith-based Christian ministry. Consistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, alignment with New Life Center's Statement of Faith and values may be considered a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) for this position. Employees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the organization's Christian mission, beliefs, and code of conduct.