There is an opportunity for a person with strong retail skills and experience to join the U-turn team as Shop Manager thus giving them the opportunity to apply their professional retail skills in a development setting.

Reporting directly to the Retail Operations Manager, the candidate will apply their retail skills to run our retails store in Parow to grow sales and profitability. At the same time, the person will be managing a team of sales assistants who were formerly homeless and are currently on the U-turn work- rehabilitation programme.

The ideal candidate is someone who is happy to work in an organisation with strong Christian motivations, displays a passion to see people grow (i.e. to work developmentally) and is excellent at customer service. This is a full time position.

• Manage a U-turn charity store to meet sales targets, including motivating staff to do so.
• Provide excellent customer service, dealing effectively with complaints and queries, and encouraging customers to join the U-turn loyalty programme.
• Ensure cash and stock handling at the store is done as per instructions
• Preparing promotional materials and displays
• Ensure the store is a therapeutic space for those on the U-turn Life Change Programme.
• Provide training for and day to day management of store assistants, including task allocation, leave days, adherence to the disciplinary code, and supporting the unique growth journey of each person.
• Maintain, update, and enforce safety and security procedures.

• Previous experience in the retail sector (essential)
• Experience as a duty manager/ assistant manager or a manager in a retail setting (desirable)

• Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
• Well developed interpersonal skills
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise
• A collaborative team player – concerned with the team success as well as individual performance
• Ability to motivate, coach and develop people
• Commercial awareness

• Self-starter – high energy levels, able to self-direct their work to hit targets.
• Enthusiastic and confident
• Resourceful
• Trustworthy – works with integrity
• Good Listener – will challenge constructively and respond well to feedback

Candidates interested in this position should apply to recruitment@homeless.org.za. You must include a CV and a letter of motivation and a photo of yourself as part of the application. The letter of motivation should be approximately 1 page in length and include information on why you would like to work at U-turn and how you fulfil the required skills and attitudes outlined above. Applications without a letter of motivation will NOT be considered.

U-turn serves over 1,000 people every year with meals and clothing. This takes an enormous amount of manpower and is an essential service.

We are always in need of volunteers to assist with cooking particularly on for Saturday services, which is entirely run by volunteers (ingredients and instructions are provided) and serving meals – you don’t need to be a professional chef.

Skills needed:

• Apart from a friendly and welcoming disposition no formal skills are needed

Working with: U-turn staff, beneficiaries (predominantly first phase, eg. people who are still living on the streets), and volunteers

Frequency:  Weekly commitment (preferably on a Saturday but there may be a need on other days of the week)

Where: U-turn Service Centre, Claremont, corner of Claremont Boulevard and Hawthorne Rd

Commitment minimum: 1 day every week, ongoing

To apply: Please submit the volunteer application form and let us know your availability

• U-turn has  good stories to tell.  Both the people we serve, who overcome the odds and homelessness, and the community of people who support this transformation have stories that are inspiring and change the way we see our world and ourselves.

  We need you to help us tell these stories effectively.

  You’ll be joining an informal group, called the Media Team. It’s made up of U-turn staff, media professional volunteers and “Life Change champions” on our final phase skills development and rehabilitation programme.

  We meet once a month at our head office in Kenilworth on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon from around 4.30 to 5.30pm, where we share the previous months assignments, laughter and and learning/knowledge.

  In addition to the monthly meetings, there would be assignments and photo opportunities throughout the course of the month depending on your availability.

  U-turn has good relations with Cape Town’s media, and there are frequently publishing opportunities for relevant content.

  Skills needed:

  • A passion for or professional knowledge of photography and/or videography
  • Willingness to share you knowledge and collaborate

  Working with: Members of the public, U-turn Staff and U-turn beneficiaries in final phase of skills development

  Where: Apart from monthly meetings at U-turn Head Office (155 2nd Ave, Kenilworth), wherever the story is located

  Commitment minimum: 3 – 6 months

  Reason for minimum commitment: Working alongside U-turn beneficiaries you will be forming relationships that require time and effort to build.

  Line Manager: Rowen Ravera

  To apply: Please submit the volunteer application form (if possible please include links to or a portfolio of your work)