Area Manager (Kent) (TRD4771)

About Us

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. That means we tackle the inequality that keeps people poor. Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. When disaster strikes, we help people build better lives for themselves, and for others. We take on issues like land rights, climate change and discrimination against women. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can enjoy life free from poverty.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

Oxfam Purpose

To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering 

Trading Purpose

To make as much money as possible to overcome poverty and suffering

About our Oxfam Shops

Open for business since 1948, Oxfam shops are at the heart of the charity and their community, raising vital funds and increasing public awareness of what we do. They are always guided by our values of empowerment, accountability and inclusiveness and focussed on making as much money as possible.

The Role of our Area Managers

In this role, you will directly manage and oversee all aspects of Oxfam shop management within a defined geographical remit and to be instrumental in the growth and development of the shops and our online business in line with our feminist principles and values. Through strong leadership you will lead and empower a team of staff (and volunteers) to deliver high levels of excellent customer service while offering support, direction and inspiration when needed. You will develop a strong sense of teamwork working together to deliver high levels of performance across the whole business. You will be responsible for the financial management of the area budgets and to be proactive in the overall strategic direction and development of the business and its people.

Please note: this is an Area Manager role covering Kent, from Gravesend to Tunbridge Wells across to Folkestone.  Candidates should live within or on the border of the area.  

Our Values and Commitment to Safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Key Skills and Competencies required

• Exceptional leadership qualities and experience of managing a large and diverse team.
• Evidence of strong drive to achieve results through others
• Ability to build, retain and develop an area team.
• Strong commercial awareness and judgement
• Experience of successful performance management and conflict management
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Ability to manage time and organise own workload under conflicting priorities.
• Highly organised, with the ability to adapt quickly to change.
• Ability to demonstrate resilience to the everyday pressures that come with the role.
• Ability to work in co-operation with support teams at peer level.
• Excellent communication skills in a variety of media and audiences.
• Strong IT, literacy and numeracy skills.
• A full, clean driving licence

How to apply 

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), as this role involves unsupervised access to the above-mentioned groups.

For full information surrounding DBS and the vacancy, please view the full job description. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.