Entry Associate Jobs in Rhode Island (NOW HIRING)

Hourly Pay Range: $16.94 - $22.70
This position pays: $16.94/Hour
Why Work for Goodwill Southern New England?!

• Referral bonuses
• Retirement plan contributions
• Tuition and gym reimbursement
• Emergency assistance funds
• Paid time off
• And more depending on position!

SUMMARY
Goodwill Store Associate may be trained on all non-management aspects of store operations.
Under general supervision of the Store Manager or manager-in-charge, the Retail Store Associate is responsible for assisting in the overall store operations including receiving and processing donations from donors; completing sales transactions on the POS system; displaying items on and pulling items from the sales floor; and general maintenance and store operations to provide a safe, clean and welcoming environment for donors and shoppers.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Will typically be required to work regular weekend (i.e. Saturday, Sunday), holiday and evening hours customary to the retail trade.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
STORE OPERATIONS
Sort, price and display quality merchandise for sale in the store. Meet quality and quantity production standards, to maximize sales revenue.
Properly discard unsellable merchandise to appropriate containers, i.e. Outlet, Salvage, Trash, etc.
Maximize used goods processing through the proper application of Goodwill techniques, including sorting, preparing and pricing items for sale. Meet or exceed production goals on a consistent basis.
Follow store rotation schedule by completing pulls at scheduled times in assigned areas of the store.
Ensure that quality customer service is provided in a timely and courteous manner to all shoppers, donors and other employees. Be available for telephone customer relations activities.
Assist in maintaining sales floor appearance, cleanliness and shopping environment including, but not limited to, floor care, fitting rooms, cash register and customer service areas, aisles, trash receptacles, lights, restrooms, glass showcases, window ledges and doors and maintain an odor free environment.
May be required to assist with general light maintenance on immediate grounds such as building exterior and parking lot, including but not limited to, windows, doors, sidewalks, parking lot lights, dumpster area, landscape, stray shopping carts, store entry and signage.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Assist shoppers on the sales floor in locating and selecting merchandise.
Complete sales transactions on the POS system with accuracy and in a timely manner.
Accept donations from donors by greeting them at their vehicles and assisting to carry donated items into the store. Always offer a receipt for donated merchandise.
Assist shoppers by carrying larger, heavier items to their vehicles after sales transactions have been completed, as appropriate.
Demonstrate good judgment at cash wrap by protecting Agency assets such as cash, jewelry, etc.
SAFETY, SECURITY AND LOSS PREVENTION
Assist in maintaining store and surrounding premises to keep clean and free of safety hazards. Adhere to all safety, health and emergency procedures.
Utilize designated staging area for "Z" racks that are filled with merchandise to be hung on the sales floor. Keep aisles, corridors and production areas free of clutter and unobstructed to provide building occupants with a clear path to exit building in an emergency situation. Secure sharp objects such as knives in a secured area for display. Ensure that breakable objects are handled carefully and are properly displayed.
Utilize required PPE when completing assigned tasks.
Spread ice melt on all sidewalks and pathways used by customers and staff when weather conditions create potentially slippery conditions prior to the store opening and throughout the business day, as assigned. Shovel sidewalks, loading docks and donor area to keep clear of ice and snow, as assigned.
Report observations or suspicions of theft and other wrongdoing.
Assist with proper loading/unloading of trucks, use of seals and documentation on intra-office shipping memos for internal transfer of goods, in accordance with Agency procedures.
Perform other related essential duties as required or assigned by supervisor.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
High school diploma or general education degree (GED)** preferred, not required; and one to three months related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
** Students under the age of 18 years still enrolled in High School may be hired to fill part-time positions but may not operate the compactor, floor cleaning machine, straddle stacker or any other hazardous equipment and must abide by the CT DOL regulations regarding hours of work for minors in the workplace.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to communicate with customers in one-on-one situations.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to operate hand truck, straddle stacker, electric pallet jack, or other material handling equipment that may be available at the retail location.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. The employee is regularly required to push crates (on wheels) that may weigh up to 600 pounds. Crates may be moved on flat or sloped surfaces. Specific examples of requirements to lift and/or move heavy objects will include, but not be limited to, the duties described below.
The employee is regularly required to assist customers when unloading bags and boxes of donations from their vehicle and carrying purchases to their vehicle. Employee may also be required to assist customers with handling of donations or purchases of large and heavy items such as furniture and appliances (e.g. microwave oven, television, computer equipment, etc.). Additionally, employee is required to place large objects on the sales floor for display or in a crate or cart for disposal. A hand truck should be used whenever possible to move large/heavy objects. The assistance of additional staff must be sought when lifting such objects, whenever feasible, and proper lifting techniques must be applied.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Protective eyewear must be worn at all times while preparing cleaning solution for floor cleaning machine and while dispensing fluid into the machine. Protective gloves (cloth/leather) and eyewear must be worn at all times while using push-stick to propel material into trash compactor. Latex or Nitrile gloves are made available for any employee engaged in sorting credentials but are not required. Protective gloves must be worn when handling pallets and boards stacked between gaylords to prevent puncture or laceration from splintered wood.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and typical of a busy retail environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer