Donation and Distribution Centre Manager

About the role

Ashgate Hospice is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means we are committed to inclusive hiring and encourage applicants from all backgrounds

Hours: 37.5 Hours per week worked over 7 days, including Weekends and Bank Holidays.

Join our team as the Donation and Distribution Centre Manager and make a difference!

Do you want a job where you can help others and have a positive impact on your community?  Then we’ve got the perfect role for you!

Our retail outlets are a vital part of what we do, generating essential income that directly supports the hospice. Every item sold in our shops or donated to us helps fund the compassionate end-of-life care we provide. With 15 retail shops across North Derbyshire, a dedicated Furniture Store, Donation Centre, two bustling Clearance Shops, and two welcoming Coffee Shops, our retail presence continues to grow. We also operate two successful eBay platforms - one for clothing and one for general goods - alongside a fully online furniture shop. Our shops not only raise vital funds, but also create social value by offering volunteering opportunities, affordable goods, and a welcoming space for people in our local communities. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced operation that’s making a real difference every day!

The Donation and Distribution Centre acts as the heart of our retail operation, serving as the main hub where donated and new goods are received, sorted, processed, and prepared for distribution across our network of charity shops throughout North Derbyshire. The Donation Centre ensures that all items are handled efficiently and safely, maintaining high standards that allow our shops to consistently offer quality stock to customers. By managing the flow of goods to our network of shops, the Donation Centre plays a crucial role in supporting the success of our retail operation.

Key responsibilities:

• Income Generation & Stock Management
  Manage the timely and efficient distribution of donated and new stock to retail shops and online platforms, prioritising high-value items to maximise income.
• Team Leadership & Development
  The post holder will lead, motivate, and develop a diverse team of staff and volunteers, fostering a positive, inclusive culture, overseeing recruitment, training, performance management, and rota planning to ensure smooth donation centre operations.
• Customer Experience
  The post holder will act as an ambassador for Ashgate Hospice, delivering a welcoming and respectful environment for donors, customers, and visitors, consistently reflecting the Ashgate Hospice values and commitment to compassionate care.
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  The post holder will ensure all Donation Centre activities comply with health and safety legislation and organisational policies. They will deliver training, promote safe working practices, and oversee safe vehicle use and waste management to maintain a secure environment.
• Gift Aid & Fundraising Support
  The post holder will manage the Gift Aid processes accurately to maximise income from eligible donations. They will also collaborate with the Fundraising team to lead donation drive initiatives that increase the volume and quality of stock.

For the full details, you can read the attached job description or email the recruiting manager on nicola.mann@ashgatehospice.org.uk  or call Nicola on 01246 229536.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience of motivating and developing staff and volunteers in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organisational abilities, able to manage stock distribution, Gift Aid processes, and operational efficiency to support income generation targets.
• Sound knowledge of health and safety regulations, with a commitment to promoting a safe and compliant workplace.
• Effective communication skills, capable of engaging with a variety of stakeholders including Retail Managers, donors, volunteers, and external partners.
• Proven ability to prioritise and multitask, balancing day-to-day operational demands with longer-term strategic goals.
• A values-driven approach, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and alignment with the Ashgate Hospice values.

Skills and experience required:

• Good organisational and time management skills. The ability to plan and prioritise workloads and delegate accordingly.
• Excellent people management and leadership skills with the proven ability to manage and motivate others to achieve exceptional results.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and volunteers at all levels and from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written communication) with the ability to summarise and present ideas and information to influence at all levels.
• Excellent numeracy skills, which will ensure clear understanding and control of budgets, procedures, processes and profitability.
• A full UK driving license.

About Ashgate:

Ashgate Hospice, based in North Derbyshire, offers free palliative and end of life care for adults with life-limiting or incurable illnesses, including cancer, neurological diseases, and advanced heart, kidney, and lung conditions. Last year, we cared for over 2,400 people. Our aim is to support our patients by keeping them informed, managing their symptoms, and improving their quality of life from diagnosis onwards.

We also provide vital support to the people who are important to them, offering practical assistance and emotional support, including bereavement services.

We’re more than a care provider. We’re a campaigner for sustainable end of life care funding in the UK, and we continually invest in our services and workforce.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do:

• We are compassionate.
• We are a team.
• We are respectful, open, and inclusive.

We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

We strive to create a workplace that’s happy, safe, and supportive – and our team seems to agree! In fact, 89% of staff would recommend Ashgate Hospice as an employer.

We know how important wellbeing and work-life balance are, which is why we’re open to flexible work arrangements, including job-sharing.

As part of our team, you’ll have access to training opportunities to help you grow, both personally and professionally. Whether you want to develop in your current role or explore new career paths, we’ll support you every step of the way.

Want to know more about what it’s like to work with us? Visit our website, check out our social media channels, or listen to our podcast, The Life and Death Podcast. It’s a great way to get a sense of the Ashgate team and the difference we make.

Benefits of joining us

At Ashgate, we take care of the people who take care of others. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• Generous holiday entitlement, with the option to increase it through our Annual Buy and Sell Leave Scheme.
• A flexible working approach to help meet your needs and ours, including options like job-sharing.
• A Cycle to Work scheme and a Tech Benefit scheme to help spread the cost of your next bike or gadget.
• The Westfield Health Cash Plan, giving you money back on treatments like physiotherapy, dental care, and eye tests.
• Free access to Westfield Rewards, with discounts at hundreds of high-street retailers.
• A confidential Employee Assistance Programme, offering free, round-the-clock support when you need it.
• A pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution, helping you save for the future.
• A life assurance scheme, giving peace of mind for you and those important to you, up to age 65.
• A commitment to your personal and professional development, with training opportunities to help you grow.
• Free, on-site parking whenever you're working at the hospice.
• Discounted, onsite café at our Old Brampton site, available to all staff
• A wide range of initiatives to support your wellbeing, and the time out to practice self-care

Ready to make a difference?

To learn more about the role, please contact our Furniture Store Manager  nicola.mann@ashgatehospice.org.uk or by calling 01246 229536.

Please note: Applications must be submitted via the ‘Apply Now’ button on our website. Applications sent directly to HR or the recruiting manager will not be accepted.

Proposed interview date: TBC

Additional information:

• If you're successful, you'll need to complete a DBS check as part of our pre-employment process. You can find more details in the candidate assistant notes.
• As a healthcare provider, we prioritise the safety of our patients, staff, and visitors. That's why we encourage and recommend all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive the flu jab—unless there's a compelling reason not too
• If you need any help with the recruitment process, our HR team is here to assist. You can reach them at hr@ashgatehospice.org.uk or call 01246 568 801.

Additional support for candidates

• We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive, fair, and accessible to everyone.
• Reasonable adjustments: We are pleased to offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process for individuals with disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, or long-term health needs.
• Shortlisting commitment: In line with our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, we guarantee to shortlist any disabled candidate who meets the essential criteria for the role.
• Interview preparation: All shortlisted candidates will receive their interview questions in advance to help you feel fully prepared.

Accessibility resources:

• If you need assistance completing your online application, you can contact the Disability Employment Service/Youth Employment Service by emailing ASCH.Disability.EmploymentProject@derbyshire.gov.uk.
• We encourage you to complete and share your Health Adjustment Passport. This helps us understand any adjustments or support you might need. Even if you choose not to share it, the passport can be a valuable tool for your own benefit.
• You can also access support through the Access to Work scheme. a government initiative designed to help you start or remain in work if you have a health condition or disability. This includes support for the recruitment process. Learn more on the Access to Work webpage

For further guidance or information, these resources may also be helpful:

• Looking for work if you are disabled
• Reed in Partnership, Chesterfield Office: Call 0124 695 6275
• Disability Employment Service, Derbyshire County Council

If you have any questions about adjustments or the recruitment process, please contact our HR team at hr@ashgatehospice.org.uk or call 01246 568 801.