Sarah Lamb

Experienced and driven Retail Assistant Manager with over four years management experience within charity retail and high street environments. Skilled in supporting full shop operations, leading and developing teams, managing volunteers, driving KPI performance, and delivering high standards of visual merchandising and customer service. Confident in cash handling, rota management, recruitment, training, and regional store support.

Organised, adaptable, and committed to creating welcoming and high performing retail environments.

Assistant Manager - PDSA Retail - Hartlepool

(2025-09)

• Support the Store Manager in the day to day running of the shop
• Open and close the store including cash reconciliation
• Lead and motivate a team of staff and volunteers
• Create rotas and delegate daily tasks effectively
• Maintain strong visual merchandising standards to maximise sales
• Monitor KPIs and support performance improvement strategies
• Handle customer queries and escalated complaints professionally
• Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures

Lead Shop Volunteer - PDSA - Middlesbrough

(2024-01 - 2025-08)

• Supported shop operations and customer service delivery
• Assisted with stock management and merchandising
• Helped coordinate volunteer tasks and daily priorities

Assistant Manager - Mind Retail - Middlesbrough

(2017-11 - 2021-06)

• Mentored staff and volunteers and conducted performance reviews
• Led recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members
• Managed rotas, absence cover, and employee scheduling
• Tracked KPIs and implemented sales improvement initiatives
• Covered Store Manager duties across the region when required
• Managed escalated complaints and conflict resolution
• Conducted spot check audits and ensured compliance standards

Temporary Manager - Mind Retail - Durham

(2017-04 - 2017-11)

• Managed full shop operations during store transition
• Completed rotas and managed overtime allocation
• Reported to the Regional Manager on shop performance
• Trained and interviewed new staff members
• Oversaw stock control and shop floor management
• Managed cash handling and till operations

Sunday Supervisor - Mind Retail - Guisborough

(2016-10 - 2017-04)

• Supervised volunteers and daily operations
• Managed till systems and cash handling
• Maintained shop floor presentation and pricing

Volunteer Shop Assistant - Mind Retail and British Heart Foundation - Middlesbrough

(2016 - 2016)

• Assisted customers with purchases
• Replenished stock and maintained shop floor standards
• Supported volunteer team and till operations

Diploma of Higher Education - Crime and Investigation - Teesside University (2012 - 2017)

Access to Higher Education Diploma - Humanities and Social Sciences - Middlesbrough College (2011 - 2012)

BTEC National Diploma Level 3 - Children's Care, Learning and Development - Middlesbrough College (2008 - 2010)

GCSEs - Maths, English, Science and Art - Newlands School FCJ (2003 - 2008)