Distribution Centre Assistant

Job description

The Role

This is a part-time role - 22.5 hours per week

The Distributions Centre Assistant will assist North London Hospice Retail's operations alongside the General Manager to oversee the day-to-day retail logistics and distribution operations, ensuring efficient stock flow, compliance with health & safety standards, and effective support to all North London Hospice shops, while actively engaging, supporting, and developing volunteers and promoting sustainable practices within the distribution environment.

The role will play a key part in driving operational excellence, leading teams and volunteers, and supporting the delivery of commercial targets through strong organisation, collaboration, and continuous improvement of distribution processes, fostering a positive and inclusive volunteer experience and embedding environmentally responsible and sustainable ways of working.

This is a key operational role, ensuring distributions are processed efficiently and safely, and that our shops and central teams are supported with the right stock in the right place at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Logistics

• Support the General Manager in the day-to-day running of the Distribution Centre, ensuring efficient intake, sorting, storage, and distribution of stock to shops
• Manage stock flow to maximise sales potential across the retail network
• Working with logistics teams for collections, and deliveries in line with operational priorities
• Ensure all processes are compliant with health & safety, manual handling, and legal requirements

Volunteer Engagement

• Recruit, induct, support, and retain volunteers within the Distribution Centre
• Create a positive, inclusive, and rewarding volunteer experience
• Identify opportunities to develop volunteer skills and increase engagement, including structured roles
• Promote a culture of appreciation and recognition for volunteer contributions

Commercial Focus

• Support the delivery of income targets by ensuring timely and effective stock distribution
• Identify opportunities to maximise value from donations through sorting, grading, and allocation
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and productivity

Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility

• Embed sustainable practices across all distribution activities, minimising waste and promoting reuse and recycling
• Maximise the value of donated goods by prioritising reuse pathways and reducing landfill
• Support and implement initiatives aligned with circular retail principles

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies, including health & safety, fire safety, and retail regulations
• Maintain a safe, clean, and well-organised working environment
• Monitor and support adherence to operational procedures across the team

General Responsibilities

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, efficiency, and environmental sustainability in both distribution and digital processes.
• Work closely with shop managers, volunteers, retail leaders, logistics teams and the central hospice staff to coordinate and ensure consistent DC operations.
• Maintain excellent records and reporting systems to support performance analysis and informed decision-making.
• Act as a member of the wider Retail Team, contributing to strategy, planning, and team development.
• Carry out ad-hoc projects as required.
• Carry out any other duties reasonably requested.

Infection Control

• Maintain the highest standards of infection control
• Familiarise with, and adhere to, North London Hospice Infection Control Processes, Policies and Procedures

Health and Safety

• Understand individual safety and security responsibilities
• Familiarise with, and adhere to, the relevant health, safety and security policies across North London Hospice
• Be aware and work to support own personal health and safety and the health and safety of others across the Hospice
• Maintain patient, personal and organisational confidentiality at all times. This includes patient medical and financial information; employee record; student records; financial

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: Director of Retail, Retail Development Manager, General Manager, Area Managers, Shop Managers, Facilities Lead, Commercial Analyst, People Business Partner, Logistics Team, Volunteers, Hospice Staff.
• External: Donors, corporate partners, community stakeholders, patients, carers, and external policymakers (as needed).

Confidentiality

• Maintain patient, personal and organisational confidentiality at all times. This includes patient medical and financial information; employee records; student records; financial and operating data of North London Hospice and any other information that is of a private or sensitive nature
• Familiarise with, and adhere to, the relevant confidentiality policies within North London Hospice

Person Specification

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven retail management experience, ideally within the charity or social enterprise sector - essential
• Knowledge of retail operations, including stock management, merchandising, and pricing - essential
• Passion for the charitable sector and a commitment to supporting North London Hospice's mission - essential
• Experience working in a charity shop or similar retail environment - desirable
• Knowledge of the local community and retail landscape in North London - desirable

Personal Qualities and Abilities

• Strong people management skills, with experience in recruiting, training, and managing volunteers or staff - essential
• Excellent customer service skills, with a focus on creating a positive shopping experience- essential
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment- essential
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider retail team, with a focus on delivering results- essential

Essential for all

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and understanding of how this applies to own area of work
• Commitment to the aims and charitable objectives of North London Hospice
• Committed to own continuing vocational/professional learning and development
• Enhanced DBS check (role specific) to be carried out by the employer

The Hospice

At North London Hospice, we've been caring for our community with compassion, dignity and respect since 1984. We empower people living with life limiting illnesses, supporting them to achieve the best quality of life possible.

As a registered charity, our mission is to provide the best of life, at the end of life, for everyone. From our Inpatient Unit in Woodside Avenue to our extensive work across the London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey, our care reaches throughout the local community. Our teams provide specialist palliative support through Living Well services, Community Specialist Palliative Care, and dedicated Patient and Family care that offers emotional, practical, and holistic support to those who need us most.

Joining our passionate clinical team means becoming part of a supportive, respectful, and collaborative service committed to delivering exceptional, person centred care in a truly meaningful role. If you're driven by compassion, value holistic and individualised care, and bring palliative care experience - or are ready for a fulfilling new challenge - we would love to hear from you.