Merchandising Team Member at Salt & Light in Urbana, IL

Merchandising Team Member

Work with a purpose as part of a team empowering people to change their lives.

Join a team dedicated to helping every person—participants, volunteers, donors, and staff—realize the fullness of who it is God created us to be as we fight poverty with dignity.

About Salt & Light (S&L)

We are a non-denominational, Christian nonprofit not affiliated with any one church, rather, working with many different individuals, churches, businesses, and organizations in fulfilling our mission and vision.

Our doors first opened January 2004 in Champaign, IL as we began handing out food and clothing to local families. Very quickly we became the largest “emergency food program” in Champaign County, and a leader in the community for providing access to basic resources. In addition to the weekly assistance provided through the food pantry and clothing closet, we partnered with area churches and businesses in large events designed to help families with school supplies in the fall, meals at Thanksgiving, and gifts at Christmas.

We later added financial education classes and a computer lab, both of which represented not just the addition of new programs but signaled a desire to move away from just providing things, to offering opportunities for people to grow. 

After wrestling with the theologies and ideologies found in the book When Helping Hurts, we felt led to design a more developmental approach to meeting basic needs. Our new model created opportunities for individuals to acquire the resources they needed through use of the skills, gifts, and abilities God had given them. Instead of being handed a preselected bag of groceries, our participants now shopped with store credit earned through volunteering. The stores we now operate in Urbana and Champaign are open to the entire community and generate revenue to support the store credit participants earn in addition to our other programs and services.

About the Position

Reporting to the Sales Floor Manager and Sales Floor Assistant Manager, the Merchandising Team Member helps fulfill our mission and vision by providing outstanding customer service to our customers, donors, volunteers, and all staff members.

Our Merchandising Team Member is someone who loves people and is a highly motivated self-starter comfortable being part of a team. The ideal candidate can multi-task and prioritize projects while providing excellent service to our customers.

Responsibilities

It is the primary responsibility of the Merchandising Team Member to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for every employee, volunteer, customer, and donor that reflects the grace and truth of Jesus.

· Greet customers with smiles, kind words, and honest customer service.

· Ensure the sales floor is clean and appropriately merchandised.

· Assist customers, volunteers, and employees with questions and help with needs.

Tasks

These are key components for the Merchandising Team Member. This is not a comprehensive list of tasks.

· Creates eye-catching shelf displays in home décor, kitchenware, and toys.

· Display furniture in an inspiring and cohesive manner.

· Communicate product needs and sales.

· Communicate with the department manager and assistant manager regarding any projects, questions, problems, or concerns.

· Cross merchandise throughout the sales floor.

· Instruct and supervise volunteers on how to complete tasks.

· Ensure all thrift stores' end caps are filled and merchandised.

· Keep the store clean and merchandised.

· Remove all outdated and unpriced merchandise from the floor.

· Clock in and out for shifts appropriately.

· Other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications & Skills

· Work well with diverse staff, customers, and volunteers.

· Self-starter and solution focused.

· Detailed oriented.

· Work efficiently in a team and independently.

· Strong time management abilities

· Ability to read and do basic math.

· Ability to read and understand planograms.

· Ability to stand, bend, and lift merchandise throughout a 8 hour shift.

· Ability to lift 50 lbs. or more with assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

S&L provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. As a religious organization, S&L is permitted and reserves the right to employ persons who have a philosophy similar to S&L and consistent with the Statement of Beliefs of the organization. S&L complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.