Thrift Store Sales Associate: part-time

Join the NVFS Family: As a Sales Associate with the Clock Tower Thrift Shop, you will play a key role in supporting our mission by creating a welcoming and enjoyable shopping experience for every customer and donor. In this role, you will provide quality customer service, support daily retail operations, perform cash register and front-of-store duties, process merchandise and donations, and help maximize sales by maintaining an attractive and organized sales floor.

You will work closely with the Store Manager, Assistant Manager, staff, and volunteers to support daily, weekly, and monthly sales goals while ensuring every interaction reflects the mission and values of NVFS. Timeliness, dependability, and reliability are essential to providing excellent customer service and supporting the successful day-to-day operation of the shop.

Why This Role Matters: The Clock Tower Thrift Shop is a unique retail program of NVFS that offers affordable, unique, high-quality merchandise while generating critical funding to support programs that strengthen the Northern Virginia community. For over 100 years, NVFS has helped individuals and families achieve stability and self-sufficiency, and every purchase and donation made through the Thrift Shop helps advance that mission.

Benefits and Compensation: We want you to be well, have work/life flexibility, grow your career with us, and have the resources and support you need. Check out our comprehensive benefit offerings here in support of various dimensions of your wellbeing.


This position has a pay of $15 per hour and is an on-site role.

Work hours: W eekends strongly preferred; Minimum commitment of 20 hours per week

In this role, you will:

• Accurately process customer purchases, returns when applicable, and other point-of-sale transactions while responsibly handling cash, credit, and electronic payments.
• Balance the cash drawer and follow established cash-handling procedures.
• Maintain the appearance and cleanliness of checkout and customer service spaces.
• Create a superior customer experience for shoppers, donors, and visitors.
• Engage customers, understand their needs, and identify sales and donation opportunities.
• Stock, organize, and replenish merchandise throughout the sales floor.
• Create visually appealing displays that showcase merchandise and encourage sales.
• Ensure shelves, racks, and displays remain organized, clean, safe, and stocked throughout the day.
• Rotate merchandise and assist with seasonal displays, promotions, and store resets as needed.
• Process merchandise and store donations according to established guidelines.
• Work collaboratively with the Store Manager, Assistant Manager, staff, and volunteers to achieve operational and sales goals.
• Foster a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for customers, donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Assist with annual inventories, special events, marketing efforts, and other operational projects as needed.
• Attend meetings and provide regular updates as requested by the Store Manager and/or Assistant Manager.
• Communicate customer feedback, concerns, and safety issues promptly to store leadership.
• Maintain current knowledge of NVFS programs and events to effectively engage customers and donors.
• As assigned, supervise, train, support, and/or collaborate with volunteers and interns.

Your Background: We understand that you may obtain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences.

• Ability to use a cash register, calculator, and credit card processing machine and make change accurately.
• Related work experience in retail sales and customer service preferred; familiarity with thrift store and aftermarket pricing is a plus.
• Marketing experience is a plus.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English and interact with English-speaking customers and donors; Spanish language fluency is a plus.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to communicate respectfully, clearly, effectively, tactfully, and patiently in person and on the phone.
• Ability to work collaboratively with thrift store staff and volunteers.
• Excellent multitasking skills with a solution-oriented and collaborative approach.
• Digital and technical proficiency, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to demonstrate a One-NVFS mindset by being mission-oriented, accountable to the organization, and supportive of colleagues across programs and departments.
• Team-oriented and willing to collaborate, support colleagues, and share responsibilities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including empathy and active listening.
• Ability to support, motivate, and develop others, including colleagues, interns, and/or volunteers as assigned.
• Flexibility and the ability to adapt and respond effectively to change.
• Strong accountability and the ability to reliably deliver high-quality work.
• A client service orientation focused on serving internal and external customers in support of the NVFS mission.
• Technical and functional expertise relevant to the role.
• Sensitivity to the diversity of NVFS’ client base.

Additional Requirements:

• Successful completion of background checks upon hire
• Must have reliable transportation
• Must be available to work occasional holidays, evenings, and/or weekends as needed, with scheduling arranged in advance with the Store Manager.
• Must be able to stand, walk, sit, bend/stoop, lift/carry, push/pull, reach, and perform other physical activities associated with a retail environment.
• Must possess the manual dexterity needed to fasten and unfasten buttons, snaps, and zippers and to operate cash registers and tagging guns.
• Must be able to lift, move, and bag up to 10 pounds of clothing, housewares, and other store inventory.
• Work is primarily performed in a thrift store environment, but occasional travel to community locations, Agency office sites, and meetings may be required.

Working at Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) means doing work that matters every day because of the difference you will make in the lives of children and families in Northern Virginia. NVFS’ breadth, depth and scope of services offer the resources and support to ensure that everyone in need, at every stage of life, maximizes their potential and fully contributes to a thriving community. At NVFS, we value every team member’s contribution and our collective impact on our clients and the community. NVFS is an equal opportunity employer, E-Verify participant and drug-free workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer


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