Retail Date Code Check Assistant at KSU Coop
£22, 376 Grade 4.2
35 hours per week
34 days annual leave (full-time equivalent)
Thank you for your interest in the position of Retail Date Code Check Assistant at Kent Union Trading Ltd (KUTL); KUTL is the commercial arm of Kent Union. We are a vibrant, student-led organisation with a bright future ahead of us. After a challenging few years, we are going from strength to strength with a renewed focus and energy to amplify the voice of our members and ensure they have a fantastic student experience. Our driving force is our new strategy, which sets out our priorities over the next two years. Students are the reason Kent Union exists.
We are there through their university journey. Our amazing staff and volunteers work towards improving their experience, whether it’s helping them with their studies, practicalities of life or to have fun.
The successful candidate will primarily be responsible for ensuring the Coop reductions and wastage routines are being correctly complete each day, food wastage is kept to a minimum, supporting the replenishment of the store, supporting serve at the checkouts and working afternoon to evening shifts (Monday to Friday 15:00-23:00 term time, 14:00-22:00 non-term time) in line with the reduction time periods. They will also be responsible for helping ensure we drive sales through great availability, customer service and store standards, ensuring that our stores remain safe and secure for all customers and staff. The post holder’s principal place of work will be the Kent Union’s Coop (also known as Union Plaza), however from time to time, they may be required to work in the Coop Park Wood, our other store on the campus.
The store is open 7 days a week, usually from 7am until midnight, providing everyday essentials you would find in any Coop store, primarily to students and university staff, but also to the wider community. We run two Coop stores on Canterbury campus as ‘franchise’ stores – this means we work in partnership with the Cooperative Group, using their brand, goods, and systems, but all our staff are employed by Kent Union Trading Ltd, and all profits go back into Kent Students’ Union. The service and offer to the customer, however, is the same as in any other Coop store, so our goods and services are recognisable, as Coop is the leading convenience retailer in the UK.
Please only apply for this role if you have the relevant experience. As this is a Full-time role it would not be suitable for students currently studying.
Information about the role
Job description: Retail Date Code Check Assistant
Reports to: Store Manager (Plaza), Duty Managers (Plaza)
Role purpose: To ensure Coop reductions and wastage routines are being correctly complete each day
Duties and Responsibilities
Operational Duties
To perform routines as per the designated process (Coop), ensuring the achievement of store accountable KPIs, including, but not limited to, IRTC (Intelligent Reduce to Clear), Wastage, Replenishment to support Availability for our customers and delivering great customer service on the shop floor and at the checkouts.
Support in protecting the store from stock losses by monitoring customer activity to reduce theft, investigating stock issues and reporting incidents.
People Responsibilities
Help to ensure that products on display are suitable for customer consumption and are not a risk to customer health and safety.
Delivering great customer service in keeping with the values of Kent Students’ Union and Coop
Work as part of a team to deliver the Retail departments KPI’s
Financial Responsibilities
Identify products that require a price reduction to help the store keep food wastage with budget.
To be responsible for the security of all resources including stock and cash, and to follow Kent Union’s financial procedures.
To ensure stock counts are completed to required timescales, and that practices and routines pertaining to minimising theft are in place while trading the shop floor
Expected Behaviours
To attend/complete training sessions and meetings, and complete training as required by KUTL/Kent Students’ Union and Coop
To contribute to the positive image of Kent Students’ Union with students, the University of Kent, and the local community
To lead by example and demonstrate a full understanding of the organisation’s democratic structures.
To encourage and promote the highest standards of ethical and environmental behaviour, ensuring that the Retail department minimises its environmental impact wherever possible.
To act as an ambassador for Kent Students’ Union and show loyalty to the organisation, abiding by the Union’s constitution, policies, and procedures at all times.
To undertake other tasks and responsibilities compatible with the level and nature of this post, as required by the Store Manager, Retail Group Manager, and Director of Commercial Services
This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. Please see our website for a full job and person spec.
About the role
Summary of terms
- This is a full-time, permanent position.
- The contracted hours are 35 hours per week
- Monday to Friday 15:00-23:00 shifts (including an hour unpaid break)
- This post will be based at University of Kent, Canterbury Campus.
Salary
The salary for this post is: £22, 376 Grade 4.2 plus, a Performance Related element based on targets and objectives.
Probationary arrangements
This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, with 1, 3 and 6-month reviews.
Notice Period
The notice period for this position is: 4 weeks
Annual Leave Entitlement
The post holder is entitled to 34 days’ leave; this is inclusive of 6 ‘customary’ days’, normally taken over Christmas, and the 8 statutory leave days for England. (full-time equivalent).
Pension
Staff who are ‘eligible jobholders’ (subject to the eligibility criteria as determined by the government from time to time) are automatically enrolled into the NEST Pension Scheme. NEST is a workplace pension scheme set up by the government but run independently as a trust. Your contribution to the scheme is 5% of the pensionable salary you receive each month, which is based upon your annual salary, and KUTL’s contribution is 3% of this pensionable salary.
Hours of Work
The contracted hours are 35 hours a week, with flexibility over work hours and times.
Work-Life Balance
Kent Union is committed to facilitating a healthy work-life balance and has cutting edge flexible working policies.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
We have recently implemented our new EDI strategy 2023-28 the Strategy is here to ensure equity and inclusion are a priority for Kent Union. Please see the full document here Link
Annually we review racial diversity within our workforce and it is a key priority for us to improve racial and ethnic diversity amongst our workforce, and as such we particularly welcome applications from Racially and Ethnically Marginalised People (REMP) and have introduced a REMP Priority Interview Scheme.
Pre-employment checks
All job offers are conditional on the receipt of two satisfactory references.
We are also obliged to check your identity and obtain proof of your right to work in the UK, which you will be asked to provide at interview if you are successfully shortlisted.
Induction and training
All new staff benefit from an induction from the HR Team and their own team, as well as ongoing support and personal development.
How to apply
Applications Close - 27th August 2025
Shortlisting - 28th August 2025
Interviews - 1st September 2025
Applications
To apply: Please submit your application on our recruitment portal at ksu.co.uk/careers, to include a copy of your CV.
Please ensure that you pay particular attention in your application to detailing how your experience meets the requirements of the person specification and why you are interested in the position. If you have any questions about using the recruitment portal, please email [email protected].
Website
Kent Student's Union's website contains further background information about KSU to help potential applicants. Potential applicants are encouraged to look at the website prior to applying; the website address is www.ksu.co.uk.
Further Information and Questions
If you require further information, please contact:
James Tee, Store Manager
01227 824223
More information is available at www.ksu.co.uk/careers
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From £22,376.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 27/08/2025
