Prepared Foods Team Leader (Culinary & Deli Department Manager)

About the Role

Provides overall leadership to the Prepared Foods team. Responsible for all aspects of daily operations including profitability, expense control, buying, merchandising, labor, regulatory compliance, and special projects as assigned. Accountable for Team Member hiring, development, corrective actions, and separations.

All positions must ensure a positive company image by providing courteous, friendly, and efficient service to customers and Team Members at all times, in accordance with team and store Standard Operating Procedures. Team Members must be prepared to perform duties inherent in other roles and support Whole Foods Market core values and goals.

Responsibilities

• Holds Assistant Team Leaders (ATLs), supervisors, and Team Members accountable for delivering outstanding customer service.
• Builds a positive work environment of outstanding teamwork, mutual respect, and exceptional morale.
• Makes hiring and separation decisions.
• Monitors and achieves sales, purchasing, and labor targets.
• Maintains proper product assortment, merchandising, and inventory control.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative and productive working relationships with department leaders and vendors.
• Sustains exceptional knowledge of relevant competitors and industry trends.
• Sets and achieves the highest standards of retail execution.
• Directs Team Members to satisfy and delight customers, responding promptly to customer needs and questions.
• Selects, trains, develops, mentors, motivates, and counsels Team Members to sustain a high-performance team and minimize turnover.
• Provides timely, thorough, and thoughtful performance evaluations.
• Consistently communicates and models Whole Foods Market vision and goals.

Requirements

• 24+ months of retail experience, including 12+ months of team leadership experience.
• Advanced knowledge of products, buying, pricing, merchandising, and inventory management.
• Food safety certification (or commitment to complete within 6 months).
• Excellent interpersonal, motivational, team-building, and customer relationship skills.
• Capable of teaching others in a positive and constructive manner.
• Advanced knowledge of regulatory and safety policies and procedures.
• Proficient mathematical skills for assessing financial performance, monitoring profitability, and managing inventory.
• Demonstrated decision-making ability, leadership skills, and ability to prioritize and delegate.
• Proficiency with email, Microsoft Office, and operations-related applications.

Skills

• Sustains exceptional knowledge of relevant competitors and industry trends.
• Product knowledge.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Effective communication and mentoring abilities.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• In an 8-hour workday: standing/walking 6-8 hours.
• Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, and pulling.
• Work requires bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.
• Exposure to FDA-approved cleaning chemicals.
• Exposure to temperatures: <32°F (freezing), 32-40°F (refrigerators), >90°F.
• Ability to work in wet and dry conditions.
• Ability to use tools and equipment, including knives, box cutters, electric pallet jacks, and other heavy machinery.
• May require use of ladders.

Schedule

Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Pay

The wage range for this position is $22.40–$40.40 per hour.

Benefits

Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits" for Full and Part-Time Team Members, including:

• Store discount.
• Paid time off.
• Financial wellness programs.
• Health and wellness support programs.
• Access to other Team Member perks.

Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined by the applicable plan at the date of hire and may vary based on work location, length of service, and job type (regular or seasonal).