Job Description
Retail Area Support Manager (Southwest and Northwest London)
£29,500 - £31,500 (plus travel expenses & benefits)
Reports to: Area manager
Department: Trading
Contract: FTC September 2026
Hours: Full time 35 hours per week
Location: Home-based (travel required) (this role covers areas across London; from the Southwest to Northwest)
Closing date: 8th February 2026 23:55 This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications are received or once a suitable candidate is found
Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced retail manager to join our Southwest & Northwest trading team as an Area Support Manager.
You’ll bring your commercial awareness, experience in people management and customer service skills to act as an ambassador for Cancer Research UK. You’ll support the Area Manager and the area team to maximise income through people, resources and stock. This is a great opportunity to grow and development in role as you will have the chance to deputise and cover for the Area Manager.
This role will have a particular emphasis on our store closure programme, you will provide essential support to colleagues and operations throughout the process, acting with professionalism, empathy and
In return for doing an amazing job you will be rewarded with a competitive salary and multiple other benefits including access to discounts to many high street brands and leisure experiences, a flexible working culture, strong staff networks and an amazing learning and development hub where you can gain qualifications and enhance your skills and learn new one
What will I be doing?
* Playing an integral part in the achievement of key performance indicators across the area. These include income, expenditure budgets, processing targets, average selling price, sell through rates, fundraising and customer service.
* Supporting the commercial running of your area and making commercial decisions based on data.
* Being aware of trends on the high street, and amongst charity retailers, and applying that knowledge and learning to your area.
* Supporting the Area Manager and area teams in areas such as recruitment, development, retention, performance management, equality and diversity and fundraising.
* Managing stock management and stock initiatives across the area. This includes generating quality donated goods, stock selection and distribution and pricing to maximise income.
* Assisting with the implementation of national volunteer recruitment campaigns and supporting other divisional and national projects.
* Working closely with store teams to provide structured support during the store closure programme, ensuring clear communication and a consistent colleague experience.
* Deputising for the Area Manager as required.
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What are you looking for?
You could come from a multi-site management background, or have managed a large department start with multiple members of staff. Whatever your background you’ll also be able to show:
* A collaborative and successful retail manager.
* Comfort working within targets and motivating others to achieve those targets.
* Commercial awareness with great business judgement.
* The ability to build networks and influence.
* Adaptability in changing situations, including being able to work effectively independently.
* Experience of leading and performance managing a team of people.
* Locality, you’ll need to live within a reasonable distance from the region and have your own access to transport. Travel costs will be reimbursed in line with Cancer Research UK’s travel and expenses policy.
* Flexibility, our retail teams cover the needs of their stores by working on a rota basis. Whilst a level of flexibility is needed to meet the needs of the business, we don’t forget that you have a life outside of work too.
[Download the full role profile]
What will I gain?
We make sure you are supported by a generous salary and benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.
Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.
Our retail teams also have access to confidential wellbeing support from the Retail Trust.
How do I apply?
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.
Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.