Duty Manager - Retail (Internal only)
We’re looking for reliable, motivated and supportive members of our current Retail Team to step up and apply for a Duty Manager position. This is a busy, hands-on role where no two days are the same. You’ll play a key part in keeping the shop running smoothly while leading and supporting your team.
If you’re currently working as a Customer Service Assistant within our Trading Team (Co-op, Union Shop or Falmer Bar) and ready for your next step, this is a great opportunity to develop your skills. We’re proud to promote from within wherever possible.
We are looking for the following things in our Duty Manager:
A positive, proactive attitude
Confidence in leading and supporting others
Strong organisational skills
A passion for great customer service
Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment
Location and Roles
Co-op (5 roles available)
Union Shop, Falmer House (1 role available)
Start Date Options
The role start date is from September 2026, you’ll step into full Duty Manager responsibilities – with training starting as soon as you’re recruited to set you up for success.
Job Description
Job title: Duty Manager
Responsible to: Retail Managers
Rate of pay: DM Rate, £15.24 per hour (£13.60 + £1.64 holiday)
Location: Falmer House and Southern Coop, University of Sussex, BN1 9QF.
Hours of work: 12-15 hours per week in term time; including during Arrival Weekend, Welcome Week/Freshers’ period, teaching periods, private study periods, inter semester weeks, assessment preparation periods and assessment periods. Working variable shifts, including days, evenings, nights and weekends as required.
Applicants: University of Sussex Students’ Union Customer Service Assistants (CSA) who have been employed by the Union as a Retail/Venues/Reception CSA for a minimum of 1 term. Sussex Students’ Union looks to promote Customer Service Assistants to Duty Managers to support personal development and to retain valued knowledge and experience.
For full details please see the job description and person specification.
If you have any queries about the role, please email - hannah.w@sussexstudent.com or Tracey.d@sussexstudent.com
KEY DATES
Applications close: 13th April 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Shortlisting: 14th to 15th April 2026.
Interviews: 22nd April 2026.
COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION
We are really committed to maintaining a diverse workforce because we know how important it is to have decision makers and collaborators with varied lived experiences and backgrounds that reflect the range of needs from our diverse student community.
We welcome applications from everyone, and we want to strongly encourage applications from; people with an ethnic minority or Chinese background, people with a disability, people with dependants, and people who identify as LGBTQ+. We conduct anonymous shortlisting and all of our interview panels have Unconscious Bias Training in order to support the above. We also consider flexible working for those with care commitments. If you have any suggestions as to how we could improve our language or application process please let us know.
STAFF AND APPLICANTS WITH LONG TERM CONDITIONS
The Students’ Union aims to implement reasonable adjustments for all staff and applicants with disabilities, creating a culture of cooperation, shared responsibility and pro activeness to ensure equitable access to jobs. We want to make sure everyone is supported in our selection processes, and are equipped to work safely and get as much as possible out of their role as possible.
For more information about the support we have available follow this link
ABOUT US
We are looking for skilled, friendly and highly motivated people who share our vision and values.
With our vibrant environment and organisational culture, the Students Union is a dynamic workplace only a few places could match. Led by students we are all about working with students to help them get the most out of their time here at the University of Sussex or Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
Whilst being located on Sussex Campus - close to Brighton & Hove - we are separate from the University, something that is crucial to our campaigning and lobbying work.
According to last year's Staff Engagement Survey, the best things about working here is the supportive environment with great people who you can trust and respect as well as the ability to work flexibly for most roles.
Although we have different departments we think of ourselves as one big team and are often working all together on projects or helping each other out at big events such as Freshers week or Elections.
Whilst we cannot really brag about offering the most competitive pay, as is often the case in the third sector, we feel we have a lot of other things going for us, which more than make up for our less competitive salaries.
Working on Sussex Campus and for the SU has lots of perks: Our staff get access to enhanced time off, which normally amounts to an extra 6 days leave in addition to 20 days of annual leave per year, and bank holidays. We also organise regular staff socials and events throughout the year and pride ourselves on having numerous learning and development opportunities for all our roles and creating a supportive workplace with regular 1 to 1s, an employee assistance programme and professional health services. You can read up more about our benefits below or on our benefits package.
If this sounds like the workplace you’d like to join, we would love to receive your application and get to know you!
Due to legal regulations we have to ensure that everyone is eligible to work in the UK and this would be done by us checking and making a copy of the correct original identification/documentation before your first day of work. However, we do not ask for your eligibility to work during the application stage. You may also be limited in the number of hours you would be allowed to work.
GETTING PAID
Everyone working in the UK needs a National Insurance number in order to get paid. If you are a UK citizen you will automatically have this, however if you are an international student you might want to apply for an NI number at the same time as you apply for a job so there is no delay in your payments. You can do so using this link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number. Please note you cannot apply for a National Insurance Number until you're in the UK, but this should not stop you from completing your application for this role. If you need support in applying for a National Insurance Number you may find that Sussex University's International Support Team can help: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/international-students/international-student-support
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about working for the Students' Union go to: