Activities Associate Jobs in Lancaster, CA (NOW HIRING)

Hope Mission Statement

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions.

Position Purpose and Summary 

Hope the Mission's thrift stores generate revenue that funds the mission. That revenue depends on customers having a good experience and choosing to come back.

A store that is disorganized, unwelcoming, or poorly maintained loses sales. A store that is clean, well-stocked, and staffed by people who treat customers with warmth keeps them. The Floor Associate is the person customers interact with most. This role is most directly responsible for what the store looks and feels like on any given shift.

Reporting to the Thrift Store Manager, the Floor Associate serves as the primary point of contact on the sales floor. This includes greeting and assisting customers, operating the cash register, helping shoppers find items, stocking and returning merchandise, and keeping the store clean and organized. Daily tasks include sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, taking out trash, cleaning windows and display cases, zoning shelves, and facing merchandise to keep the floor full and accessible.

Hope the Mission's thrift stores are social enterprise, and they are also community spaces. The experience inside them communicates something about who we are as an organization. A customer who feels welcomed and finds what they need is more likely to return, donate, and tell others. The Floor Associate shapes that experience directly, one transaction and one interaction at a time.

Responsibilities

Customer Service and Cashiering

• Greet and assist customers throughout the store

• Operate the cash register accurately and efficiently

• Help customers locate items and answer questions about the store

• Thank customers for shopping and supporting Hope the Mission

Merchandising and Stocking

• Stock merchandise and return items to their proper location

• Zone shelves by straightening and reorganizing to increase item visibility

• Face shelves by pulling items forward to create the appearance of a full display

Cleaning and Facility Maintenance

• Sweep, mop, and vacuum the sales floor daily

• Take out trash and maintain clean common areas throughout the shift

• Clean windows and glass display cases

• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized store environment at all times

Teamwork and Communication

• Communicate consistently and respectfully with staff, volunteers, and the public

• Foster a warm, courteous, and professional atmosphere in all interactions

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Thrift Store Manager

Required Skills & Core Competencies

• Provide courteous, patient, and helpful service to customers and community members

• Operate a cash register and handle basic transactions accurately

• Follow directions and complete tasks independently with minimal supervision

• Maintain attention to detail in merchandising, cleaning, and stocking tasks

• Manage multiple assignments and adapt to shifting priorities throughout a shift

• Communicate clearly and professionally with staff, volunteers, and the public

• Work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences

• Maintain confidentiality regarding participants, customers, staff, and the organization

• Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, and consistent follow-through on assigned work

• Act with integrity, kindness, and professionalism in all interactions

Qualifications 

• High School Diploma/GED 

Mandatory Requirements: 

• Background Screening – Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

• Drug and Alcohol Testing – Candidates must pass pre-employment and, if applicable, ongoing drug and alcohol screenings in accordance with company policy.

• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check – For roles requiring driving, employment is contingent upon an acceptable driving record.

• Legal Eligibility to Work – Candidates must provide proof of legal authorization to work in the United States.

• Compliance with Company Policies – All employees must comply with company policies, including safety, confidentiality, and conduct standards.

Physical, Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The employee is required to: walk and climb stairs; stand, bend,  squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis; grasp, push, pull objects such as  files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead; handle, finger, grasp and feel objects and equipment; reach with  hands and arms; be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; repeat various motions with  the wrists, hands, and fingers; be able to perform visual activities for (including, but not limited to) administrative  and clerical tasks; ability to lift up to 25 lbs.; communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of  the spoken and written word; drive vehicles in and around Los Angeles County; be able to enter various buildings  that may require climbing stairs; be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. The employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals; use a desktop and/or laptop computer; copy, postage, and fax machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. 

Work Environment: