Store Associate (For Future Opportunities)

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has served people in need in communities across Canada and Bermuda. Building on our roots as a world-wide Christian church, each year we help more than 2 million people, providing necessities such as food, clothing and shelter. In addition, we support people experiencing unemployment, addiction and family challenges. We continually adapt and innovate to meet emerging needs and live out our mission, vision and values of hope, service, dignity and stewardship. As a faith- and values-based organization, we hire and serve people of all backgrounds and walks of life - there is a place for everyone to belong here.

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Job Description:

This is an evergreen posting used to build a talent pipeline for future “Store Associate” vacancies. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates may be contacted as positions become available.

This position is located at 230 Sage Hill Blvd. NW Unit 600 Calgary, AB.

Why Work for our National Recycling Operations?

As a Store Associate with National Recycling Operations, you’ll play an important role in giving donated goods a second life while supporting sustainability efforts and generating funds that help deliver vital programs and services in communities across Canada. Working alongside a dedicated team of employees and volunteers, you’ll help create a welcoming shopping and donation experience through outstanding customer service, teamwork, and effective merchandising.

This role provides valuable experience in retail operations, donation processing, inventory management, and customer service within a supportive and purpose-driven environment. Every donation processed, customer assisted, and sale completed contributes to helping individuals and families in need, making this a rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact while growing professionally.

We are hiring for a variety of shifts, part-time, full-time, and casual opportunities.

Position Purpose Summary:

The Store Associate plays a key role in supporting the success of operations by delivering exceptional customer service, processing donations, and maintaining an inviting, organized, and efficient retail environment. Working collaboratively with team members and volunteers, this position receives, sorts, prices, and prepares donated goods for sale while ensuring quality standards are met and merchandise is available to meet customer needs. Through positive interactions with guests and donors, the Store Associate helps foster strong community connections and creates a welcoming shopping and donation experience. By contributing to retail operations, donation processing, sales performance, and sustainability initiatives, this role helps maximize the value of donated goods and helps to generate vital funding for programs and services that strengthen communities across Canada.

This is a physically demanding role.

What We Offer

We offer competitive compensation and benefits, including 3 weeks’ vacation, paid sick time, and employer-paid RRSP contributions. Full-time positions also include health and dental coverage.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive and process donations by assisting donors, expressing appreciation for contributions, and ensuring donated items are directed to the appropriate processing areas.
• Sort, assess, price, tag, and prepare donated merchandise for sale, ensuring production targets and quality standards are consistently met.
• Display, replenish, and organize inventory across all departments, including clothing, jewelry, footwear, accessories, housewares, and seasonal products.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant work environment by performing housekeeping duties, following health and safety procedures, using protective equipment appropriately, and reporting hazards, injuries, or unsafe conditions.
• Support store operations by assisting with inventory flow, stock movement, seasonal product management, and other operational activities as required.
• Maintain an attractive and organized sales floor by restocking merchandise, recovering departments, monitoring fitting rooms, and supporting product displays and promotions.
• Collaborate effectively with team members and volunteers to support daily store operations, achieve operational goals, and maintain a positive, team-oriented work environment.
• Deliver exceptional customer service by welcoming guests and donors, responding to inquiries, answering phones, and providing a positive and engaging shopping and donation experience.
• Process customer transactions accurately, including cash, debit, credit, gift cards, and vouchers, while completing float counts and end-of-day cash reconciliation.
• Promote store sales, fundraising events, customer programs, and store policies through professional communication and customer engagement.

Education & Experience

Education & Certifications:

• Minimum grade 10 education or equivalent; some high school coursework preferred. Alternative combinations of Education and experience may be considered.

Experience, Skills, & Capabilities:

• Physically capable of lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs on a frequent basis with no assistance from others, which includes bending, twisting, pulling, pushing of products. Ability to lift or move furniture pieces.
• Apply product handling, sorting, pricing, and merchandising knowledge to support inventory management and sales performance.
• Collaborate effectively with team members while contributing to a cooperative and customer-focused work environment.
• Maintain strong attention to detail, organization, and time management when prioritizing tasks and completing responsibilities.
• Adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating initiative, reliability, and the ability to learn new retail procedures.
• Approaches retail responsibilities with a positive attitude, professionalism, and a strong service focus.
• Deliver exceptional customer service and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills through positive interactions with customers, donors, and community members.
• Utilize computerized systems and retail technology to support efficient daily operations.
• Demonstrate experience in customer service, retail operations, merchandise processing, or distribution activities.
• Process cash, debit, and credit transactions accurately while following established cash handling and reconciliation procedures.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to undergo applicable screening and background checks successfully that are satisfactory to The Salvation Army, in its sole discretion.

Working Conditions, Health & Safety:

• Consistent physical exertion required for lifting and movement of heavy boxes and bags of donations. Frequent physical exertions in lifting furniture. Constant lifting, standing, walking, bending, and twisting.
• This is a permanent full-time position.
• Backroom sorting and stock warehousing with consideration for health & safety practices
• Engages in a range of activities, balancing repetitive duties with varied retail and customer service responsibilities.
• Willingness to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required.
• Standing for long periods of time.
• Flexibility in personal work hours is required.
• Comfortable with occasional interpersonal conflict dealing with customers, donors and/or volunteers.
• Retail selling floor environment
• Occasional exposure to fumes, dust, and temperature changes.

The compensation rate for this position is the starting rate of $17.45 per hour.

Compensation:

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

The Salvation Army will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email if you have a need for any accommodation and we will be pleased to discuss this with you.