FARA Charity & Shops
Area Manager
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Area Manager Role
Location: London (field-based with some home working)
Salary: £46,000
Contract: Full Time
Closing Date: 24 August 2026
Join FARA and Help Transform Lives Through Retail
Founded over 35 years ago, FARA Foundation is a UK registered charity and a successful charity retailer with a network of 39 vibrant shops across London. FARA raises vital funds to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families in Romania, providing services that help break the cycles of poverty and give young people a better start in life.
We are looking for an exceptional Area Manager to lead and develop a portfolio of 10+ charity shops, supporting Shop Managers to deliver outstanding commercial results while creating welcoming, community-focused spaces that embody FARA's values and mission.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially-minded and people-focused leader who enjoys developing others, driving performance, and contributing strategically to a charity retail operation.
The Role
Reporting to the Trading Director, you will be responsible for supporting and developing a group of Shop Managers, helping them maximise sales, donations, Gift Aid income and community engagement while ensuring shops operate safely, compliantly and efficiently.
As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will contribute to the wider development of the trading business, lead operational projects, and play a key role in delivering FARA's long-term retail strategy.
About You
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following competencies:
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- Values-led leadership: A strong commitment to FARA’s mission, vision and values, with the ability to lead, coach and develop Shop Managers in a supportive, accountable and collaborative way.
- Commercial focus: Experience of achieving results through others, using KPIs, budgets and financial reports to improve sales, contribution, Gift Aid, stock generation and controllable costs.
- People development: Strong line management skills, with experience of recruitment, induction, performance management, succession planning and handling employee relations matters.
- Retail operational excellence: A sound understanding of shop operations, including pricing, culling, density, curation, sales space, sorting, layout and the ability to coach managers to improve the retail proposition.
- Compliance and risk management: Working knowledge of health and safety, risk assessments, fire risk assessments, regulatory requirements and the ability to maintain safe, compliant shops.
- Project and planning skills: Experience supporting target setting, five-year plans, shop improvements, refits, relocations or other operational projects.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in an Area Manager, Regional Manager or equivalent multi-site retail role (or demonstrable desire to gain wider experience).
- Strong track record of leading teams to achieve and exceed commercial and operational KPIs.
- Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to analyse financial and operational data.
- Experience in coaching, developing and motivating staff.
- Experience handling employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary and grievance matters.
- Knowledge of health and safety, risk management and compliance requirements.
- Strong organisational, planning and project management skills.
- Ability to build effective working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
- Proficient IT skills to perform a range of professional functions on excel, word and other applications.
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Desirable
- Experience within charity retail or the not-for-profit sector.
- Experience recruiting and managing volunteers.
- Knowledge of retail refurbishment, relocation or property projects.
- Understanding of Gift Aid and donation-led retail operations.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Additional Information
- Travel across London will be required.
- Participation in an on-call rota approximately one weekend per month will be required.
- Occasional cover for colleagues during periods of annual leave/absence will be required.
How to Apply
If you are an inspiring retail leader who can combine commercial expertise with a passion for people development and social impact, we would love to hear from you.
To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) by email to jobsH@faracharity.org outlining how you meet the skills & experience required for the role and why the role excites you.
Join FARA and help us grow a retail operation that changes lives, strengthens communities and delivers lasting impact.
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