Would you like to be the next face of Hospice?

Apply today - download the Job Description here and Application form here or email annameredith@hospiceebop.org.nz for more info

From left: Iris, Wendy (current shop manager), Lyn and Jill have a blast on Thursdays.

Hospice EBoP are on the hunt for their next shops manager, the first time the position has been available for four years. “This is a very unique opportunity for an experienced retail manager to step up and add a deeper meaning to their job” says Peter Bassett, CEO. “It’s such a rewarding position, linking community with the service Hospice provides, and being a part of the cycle of community kindness, graced with the generosity of donors, volunteers and customers.”

The shops provide an accessible public window into Hospice, and allow people to stay connected with a service they appreciate. “People who choose to donate goods to our shop have often had a personal experience with our service and want to give back.” Says Wendy Wright, current Shops Manager. “Someone may be donating goods as their way of thanking us for our support of a loved one, and they share their story about how Hospice helped them. It’s such an honour to hear these stories, and really connects us with what we are working for.”

The Shops Manager position covers the oversight of the shops, management of staff and volunteers, and includes pricing, sorting and displaying items, building great relationships with over 70 retail volunteers and the community, while ensuring smooth efficient operations.

All sorts of donations come into the shops, from clothes and furniture, to rare collectibles, artwork and antiques. One recent generous donation was made up of 55 Toby jugs. For these rare and tricky items, local antiques expert Wayne Marriott, provides Hospice with free advice on such items, and some specialty goods may be sold online to help them find a home.

Mr Bassett says it’s very important to find the right person for the job. “Staff and volunteers are often the face of Hospice here at the shop, and our customers feel connected to the heart of what we do, so maintaining that is vital. The shops manager role is so broad and we have been very grateful to have had such wonderful managers including Wendy, with the range of skills needed to do everything well. To possess the empathy, the people skills, the technical skills, creativity and strategic vision is a very special thing but we are confident that there’s someone in this community who will come forward and make it their own”.

Wendy, who is going to take a well-earned break to focus on family, says while it’s a big job, every moment has been worth it. “I’ve had such a fantastic time and I’m beyond grateful for the support of management and the wider team. I feel very privileged to have played a small role in the big team effort it takes for the shops to operate. It has been an incredible journey and the shops have a community of their own, with fun times, laughter and memories all in support of a vital community service.”

The job will be listed on Trademe on the 3rd of June and applicants are encouraged to email annameredith@hospiceebop.org.nz for a full job description and application form.