Volunteer Online Intern (Pinner)

Since 2007, Oxfam has been selling online through its Online Shop. Since launch, the shop has grown and Oxfam now has several offices across the UK that sell purely online. Operating from behind the Oxfam Shop in Bridge Street, Pinner, the Hub is one of these offices. The Hub brings in donations through corporate relationships and from the local Oxfam shops. These donations are then sorted, steamed and photographed before being listed to sell on the Oxfam Online Shop. Once sold, these items are dispatched to our customers using Royal Mail. The office has a manager and a highly effective volunteer team. The successful applicant will Intern at the office for 4 months, learning all aspects of the manager's role and by the end of the 4 month period the intern will have been trained to the level of a deputy office manager in core retail skills, volunteer management and recruitment, inventory control, dispatching control and stock selection. They will have been trained in the financial aspects of the office including analysing the sales/listing relationship and budget forecasting for the next financial year. This will be a great stepping stone for anyone wishing to gain experience in online retail or in people management.

Frequency: Up to 3 days per week for 4 months.

• Getting to know a team of volunteers from varying socio/economic demographics and learning to successfully communicate with them in a professional retail environment
• Being trained in on-line retail management, stock control and dispatch control with the goal of managing the on-line hub environment to increase sales and profitability
• Being trained in analysing the Income & Expenditure report and the sales/listing budget in order to make the office as profitable as possible and to measure results of own decisions in the office
• By the end of the 4 months, after full training, the intern will have had the opportunity to manage the office during the manager's absence

• The successful applicant will enjoy working with people and will be able to confidently and empathetically communicate with a diverse workforce of varying ages, experience and abilities
• The successful applicant will want to gain experience in online retail and will understand the importance of excellent customer service
• The successful applicant will understand that the ultimate aim of the internship is for them to be trained to a level where they are confident to be left to run the office in the manager's absence. This they will be expected to do after full training
• The successful applicant will be able to commit to at least 24 hours per week

• A great chance to meet and work with a diverse team of people
• A chance to gain valuable experience in the online retail environment and with men's and women's fashion
• A chance to be given real responsibility for managing an office in the manager's absence
• A chance to enhance communication and delegation skills managing a team of diverse people with various levels of experience and ability
•  The intern will be reimbursed reasonable travel expenses to and from the shop and reasonable lunch expenses each day

Kim Bishop

Email: Oxfamshopf3628@oxfam.org.uk

Please complete Internship Application Form and return it to the email address above.

 31^st January 2013

 8^th February 2013

 TBC