Independence Sales Associate

About the role

This position reports to the Store Manager and operates within the mission, guiding principles, values, ethics, and strategic goals of Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa, Inc. The role focuses on assisting customers, handling register transactions, managing donations, merchandising, stocking, and performing light-duty maintenance and housekeeping to provide excellent service to both internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Greets customers immediately upon entering the store to ensure a positive shopping experience.
• Sorts and grades all donations and truck shipments efficiently to maintain well-stocked stores with high-quality merchandise.
• Operates the cash register, ensuring transactions are handled pleasantly and effectively. Customers should not wait more than 15 seconds when first in line, and assistance is called when more than 3 customers are in line.
• Identifies and processes appropriate merchandise for online sales according to established procedures.
• Marks and stocks new goods merchandise following defined processes.
• Greets donors at their car, unloads items promptly, and ensures a positive donating experience.
• Distributes donations to proper work or holding areas and records donation counts accurately.
• Offers a tax receipt form to each donor.
• Sorts material between donor engagements, ensuring 95% of unsaleable items are redirected to garbage or salvage.
• Prevents theft by remaining alert in all areas and immediately notifying management of suspicious activities.
• Assists with store upkeep, including shoveling snow, replacing light bulbs, washing windows, and other maintenance tasks.
• Trains and demonstrates job duties for new team members.
• Maintains the store and donation area in top condition, focusing on housekeeping and safety, and communicates repair or maintenance needs.
• Works collaboratively within the department to maximize service opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
• Assists in preparing outgoing truck loads, including baling, sorting, operating a forklift, and organizing shipments.
• Helps the truck driver with loading and unloading.
• Minimizes waste expense and maximizes salvage revenue by recycling products in the most resourceful way.
• Ensures equipment is in safe operating condition with all safeguards in place.
• Completes all job duties and work requirements while modeling Goodwill’s core values: Inspire Others, Mission First, People Matter, Align with Community, Create Opportunity, Tell our Stories (IMPACT).

Requirements

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred; a minimum of 2 years of any combination of military service, high school, or related full-time employment may substitute.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Positive attitude and ability to inspire enthusiasm in others.
• Must be able to lift, push, or pull fifty pounds with assistance.
• Loyalty to the agency, its mission, and policies.
• Reliable transportation.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule at multiple locations, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Willingness to obtain a forklift license if able.
• Ability to use good judgment, discretion, and initiative.