ReTails Associate

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is currently seeking to fill positions on our team at ReTails Thrift Store. There is a one full-time and two part-time, FLSA nonexempt opportunities.

Since 1897, The Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) has been caring for the animals of Southwest Washington and the surrounding area. We are a donor-supported non-profit with public contracts. Our mission is to rescue, return, restore, rehome, and reconnect one animal at a time. We also own and operate ReTails Thrift Store - the premiere Southwest Washington thrifting experience. Proceeds from ReTails support animal care and shelter operations.

Path Forward 2025 is an exciting and ambitious strategic plan focused on five strategic pillars: lifesaving pathways for animals, keeping people and pets together, thriving workforce, mission expansion and leveraging technology. Through these efforts we will build a community low-cost veterinary clinic, behavior and education center and improve animal spaces. We will expand programs and resources for the community allowing people and pets to stay together. People bring our mission to life each day. We are committed to a diverse, healthy, and engaged team of employees and volunteers who strive for excellence, treat one another with kindness, and provide quality and compassionate care for the pets and people we serve.

ReTails Associate

Customer service is what separates a good retail operation from a great one. The ReTails Associate position, through direct and indirect contact with the customer can make that great experience and help foster a long-term relationship with ReTails and the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. As an ambassador of the organization, the following traits and duties are critical to the on-going success of the business.

Position Summary

This position's primary responsibility is to efficiently and effectively receive, process, prepare, price and sell donated goods. The ReTails Associate will support the sales floor, cash register, back of house processing and receiving areas as required, depending on the needs of the store as determined by the supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities - ReTails Associate Level 1

• Provide excellent customer service, aiding customers within your scope of abilities and asking for back-up as needed.
• Answer phones and make store announcements in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintain work areas and store appearance in a neat, clean, and organized condition at all times.
• Follow all safety procedures and report all safety hazards and accidents immediately to supervisor.
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, workforce partner, client, animal, or the organization at risk.

Follow procedures in assigned areas:

Cashier

• Ring up sales transactions and maintain cash register with integrity and accuracy.
• Assist with customer service calls, keep the sales floor clean and safe.
• Greet customers with full attention and a smile.
• Conduct transactions with efficiency, accuracy and focus on adherence to policies.
• Maintain elevated level of customer service; request back up help in timely manner.

Donations

• Receive donations in a courteous and professional manner from our valued donors
• Provide excellent, friendly customer service to all donors.
• Provide tax receipts to donors and assist in completion as requested.

Production

• Ensure all donated goods are properly sorted, priced, and staged for sale in a timely manner.
• Work with a sense of urgency to consistently meet production goals while ensuring quality
• Assist with customer service calls on the sales floor, price already sorted items and stock the sales floor.
• Sort items by subcategory and/or price.
• Clean items and affix price labels.
• Stock items on sales floor.

Customer Service

• Warmly greet and treat all customers and donors with respect, fostering an exceptional experience of radical hospitality.
• Customer service includes product carry-outs, answering questions and assisting customers with pricing and inventory questions.
• Maintain a safe, clean work and shopping environment.
• Report opportunities to better serve the customer.

Duties and Responsibilities - ReTails Associate Level 2.

All tasks pertaining to a level 1 associate.

• Cross-trained; this includes at least two production departments, one production department and cashiering duties or production/cashier and donations.
• Able to work independently within assigned department.
• Cashier: Accurately and efficiently ring customers, answer questions, process returns and assist with training and directing workforce partners and volunteers in their duties on the sales floor.
• Production: accurately and efficiently manage the assigned department flow, possess the ability to price incoming items along with sorting and stocking. Make independent decisions regarding incoming department donations. Support and assist with directing workforce partners and volunteers in their production duties.

Duties and Responsibilities - ReTails Associate Level 3.

All tasks pertaining to level 1 and 2 associates.

• Additional training/certification such as forklift, donations truck.
• Keyholder duties: opening/closing of the store, access to store alarm, access to the store safe, opening/closing of the cash registers, other duties as assigned.
• First-line trainer for store associates, workforce partners and volunteers.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Interest, enthusiasm, and affinity for working in retail sales and assisting people.
• Demonstrates an attitude of being in service to all stakeholders; using good judgment; maintaining a positive outlook; and, ideally, a sense of humor.
• Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration.
• Committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Ability to read, understand, comprehend, and follow instructions & SOPs.
• Flexible working schedule including days, evenings and weekends or long shifts, if needed.
• Goal Oriented: Work with a sense of urgency, striving for efficiency that consistently meets production goals.
• Organized: Maintain a neat, clean, and organized workspace that is safe, easy and enjoyable to work in.
• Self-Motivated: Ability and desire to become more proficient and efficient in meeting and exceeding daily production goals. General knowledge of the value of household items is a plus.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to see, distinguish color, hear, speak, bend, lift, and move up to 35 pounds on a regular basis.
• Stand on one's feet with appropriate breaks for an entire shift, often in a stationary position.
• Operate pallet jack and/or forklift safely as trained. Certification is required for this duty.
• Manipulate tagging and pricing guns in a repetitive manner.
• Ability to reach into the bottom of a Gaylord box.
• Able to go up and down stairs.
• Tolerant of changes in temperature and humidity

Work may be performed with exposure to animals and high noise levels, exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal bites and scratches, cleaning chemicals and allergens. Potential exposure of infectious diseases to owned animals.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Compensation

The hourly pay range for this position is $16.28 to $18.35 per hour. The starting pay within that range is dependent upon experience.

• ReTails Associate I - $16.28 to $16.80 per hour.
• ReTails Associate II - $16.80 to $17.31 per hour.
• ReTails Associate III - $17.31 to $18.35 per hour.

Full Time Employee Benefits

In addition to serving in an organization with a compassionate and strategic purpose; full-time employees currently enjoy the following benefits and employee perks.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance benefits that become effective the first of the month after hire.
• Matching percentage 401 (k) retirement plan that begins the first month after hire, has a 3-year graded vestment schedule and a ROTH contribution option.
• Employee assistance program for all household member access.
• Section 125 FSA Cafeteria Plan for out-of-pocket health and/or dependent day care expenses.
• Numerous employee discounts and discounts with partner organizations.
• Access to affordable life, disability, and accidental supplemental insurance.
• Floating Holidays.
• The ability to build a long-term sick-leave bank.
• As a 501c3 non-profit organization, full-time employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness with the potential to eliminate student loans within 10 years!

Part-time Employee Benefits

In addition to serving in an organization with a compassionate and strategic purpose, part time employees currently enjoy the following benefits and employee perks.

• Shared cost premium for dental and vision benefits that become effective the first of the month after hire.
• Matching percentage 401 (k) retirement plan that begins the first month after hire, has a 3-year graded vestment schedule and a ROTH contribution option.
• Employee assistance program for all household member access.
• Section 125 FSA Cafeteria Plan for out-of-pocket health and/or dependent day care expenses.
• Numerous employee discounts and discounts with partner organizations.

Paid Time Off (PTO)

This position accrues PTO at a rate of 1.6 hours for every 40 hours worked. Additional Paid time includes:

• Bereavement leave.
• Pet bereavement leave.
• Jury duty pay.

Culture

Vision: A community where everyone loves and cares for animals.

Mission: Rescue. Return. Restore. Rehome. Reconnect. One animal at a time

Values: Compassion. Collaboration. Excellence. Service. Integrity.

The ultimate team player:

• Displays interest, enthusiasm, and an affinity for working with people.
• Demonstrates an attitude in being of-service, using good judgment, maintaining a positive outlook, and ideally, a sense of humor.
• Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration with a sincere interest in helping others succeed.
• Is committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Exhibits adaptability, curiosity, flexibility to change, open to new ideas, and encourages others to recognize changes in work tasks, situations, and environment as an opportunity for transformation.
• Is committed to personal and professional development through life-long learning.

How to Apply

Does HSSW sound like the right place for you? Does this job sound like a great fit? Do you feel a dedication to HSSW’s mission, vision, and values? Then, if you meet the qualifications for this position, click the Apply button to begin your journey today. HSSW participates in E-Verify

For more information visit https://HSSW.org/careers/.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.