CLIENT SUMMARY
Sozo Trading Co. is an upscale thrift marketplace located in Avondale, Alabama. Originally
opened in 2015, Sozo Trading Co. was designed to create sustainable income for Sozo
Children, a non-profit ministry caring for vulnerable children in Uganda, Africa. Sales from
Sozo Trading Co. help fund Sozo Children's mission. Sozo Trading Co. sells a large assortment
of upscale thrift items, global handmade goods, boutique clothing, and leases 11 booth
spaces to local vendors. They also partner with local agencies to provide clothing and
furniture to the marginalized who are in need and believe they are in their community to be
light and hope to their neighbors and customers.
Employees of Sozo Children choose to participate in their grace-based environment by:
● Modeling Christ-like attributes and values through actions, words, and attitudes
● Maintaining a safe, transparent, and healing environment that is based on grace, truth, love, trust, and authenticity without fear
● Embracing the accountability process that leads to personal self-evaluation
● Teaching and mentoring children, volunteers, and peers at every opportunity by using Biblical precepts
● Building healthy, loving, and compassionate relationships with children, volunteers, visitors, and staff while establishing healthy and safe boundaries
● Maintaining a personal lifestyle of integrity, honesty, and responsibility
● Praying with children, volunteers, guests, and staff
POSITION OBJECTIVE
Sozo Trading Co. is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Thrift Operations to expand their thrift store operations. This role will help grow their current thrift store through leadership development, creation of processes, and culture alignment. Longterm, this individual will help think strategically for the growth of the business as they look to expand to a second thrift store location. As a Christian thrift store, they are looking for someone who shares their values and mission, and who is committed to serving their local community. If you are passionate about retail management and want to make a difference in the lives of others while serving the Lord, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
POSITION KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
● Provide inspiring leadership to the Sozo Trading Co. staff that aligns with the mission, vision, and values of Sozo Children
● Oversee the collection, processing, and sales of donated goods in line with Sozo Trading Co's brand of upscale thrift
● Daily monitor KPIs and adjust as needed to continue to increase profits from Sozo Trading Co's sales and operations to reach budget goals while managing expenses
● Ensure customer service standards are at the forefront of daily operations and attention to telling the story of Sozo Children and the purpose of Sozo Trading Co.
● Lead a team of 10-15+ employees with attention to detail and an overall spirit of excellence
● Develop and maintain relationships with customers, providing excellent customer service and responding to customer feedback and concerns.
● Create weekly schedules in accordance with Sozo Trading Co labor needs and within payroll budget
● Generate and provide analysis and recommendations from multiple reports including monthly and quarterly sales analysis, sales per square foot, inventory, sell-through rate, and other key metrics
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE NEEDED
● Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience
● Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in retail management, preferably in a thrift store or similar environment. Non-profit experience is a plus
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with customers, volunteers, and staff.
● Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
● Proven ability to develop and implement effective merchandising strategies.
● Ability to analyze financial reports and implement cost-saving measures.
● Experience working with volunteers and donors.
● Willing to learn and be flexible in a fast-paced environment.
● Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Point of Sale (POS) systems.
● Sitting or standing for long periods of time to perform job functions
● Ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 60 pounds continuously throughout the day
LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS
The above responsibility description is meant to describe the general nature and level of
responsibilities being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of
responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. All responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate the individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant
risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This responsibility 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
responsibility-related instructions and to perform other responsibility-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform
this position successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.
