Produce Manager-Cheney, WA.

About the role

To direct the operation of the produce department, including supervising and training personnel. Ensures customer service and product quality, freshness, safety and selection.

Key responsibilities

• Champions Company and Division customer service programs to meet or exceed Division customer service goals; handles customer relations in a positive manner, including effective resolution of customer complaints
• Promotes personalized service in the produce department
• Supervises the day-to-day functions of the produce department to achieve customer service, sales and profit objectives
• Supervises, motivates, directs, trains and participates in the hiring of produce personnel
• Monitors associate performance and recommends personnel actions such as hiring, firing, layoff and disciplinary actions
• Schedules personnel to ensure adequate coverage and service levels and to meet department budgetary objectives
• Conducts daily inspections of all produce sections and initiates corrective measures to ensure compliance with product freshness and quality; rotates products, discards outdated or spoiled product and maintains in-stock conditions, sanitation and safety requirements
• Assists with all produce duties such as receiving, cleaning, trimming, cutting, watering and displaying
• Implements effective promotional and seasonal displays; controls shrink and expenses
• Accurately completes and monitors daily log sheet, purchase report, sales and labor reports and other required paperwork and logs; maintains records on ad items movement
• Orders, checks, receives and controls inventory to ensure adequate proper inventory level, product quality, eye appeal and freshness; checks for and prevents the sale of outdated or spoiled products
• Takes periodic inventories, processes administrative paperwork and maintains accurate department records
• Maintains and organizes Produce Department work area and cooler; ensures produce quality, freshness and quantity standards are met
• Ensures proper merchandising of product by understanding and implementing schematics, merchandising of advertised items, proper signing procedures and monitoring product flow
• Complies with retail labeling laws, federal and state regulations and Company policies; complies with all federal, state and local health and food safety standards
• Checks competitors for comparisons on prices, product variety and merchandising procedures
• Assists customers by making product suggestions and engages in suggestive selling; makes intercom announcements
• Ensures cleanliness and sanitation of sales floor and work area, cooler, equipment, wet boxes and cases
• Assists with answering and responding to incoming calls appropriately
• Receives and appropriately resolves customer complaints and reports to the Store Director as appropriate
• Assists with implementing emergency procedures in the event of equipment and computer software malfunctions
• Ensures that all associates are trained and instructed in the proper performance of work duties
• Monitors associate performance and reports observations to the Store Director; resolves associate complaints and reports to the Store Director as appropriate
• Maintains confidentiality concerning associates, store sales and other Company information
• Performs all job duties and responsibilities safely, accurately and with honesty and integrity
• Performs other necessary and required duties

Requirements & skills

• Requires working knowledge of all job duties within the Produce Department including trimming, cutting, displaying, watering, building produce displays, rotating and discarding outdated or spoiled product
• Requires strong communication skills, good leadership and interpersonal skills, the proven ability to manage people and the ability to maintain composure in dealing with customers and co-workers
• Requires knowledge of employment laws and workplace practices
• Requires a good understanding of overall company practices and Produce Department policies and procedures
• Requires the ability to judge and react to business activity
• Must have knowledge of produce variety, standards, perishability, food safety, food handling and sanitation procedures and department policies and procedures
• Frequently reaches, lifts, stacks and maneuvers objects of varying dimensions and weights up to approximately 75 lbs; bends, stoops and reaches frequently and occasionally climbs ladders; pushes and pulls fully loaded hand trucks, six-wheel carts and pallet jacks
• Performs repetitious arm movement to prepare and package products; manual dexterity and good eye-hand coordination are necessary
• Mental alertness is necessary to ensure safe and accurate completion of work activities
• Requires knowledge of basic mathematics and weights and measures
• Must have knowledge of produce variety, standards, perishability, food safety, food handling, sanitation, labeling and department policies and procedures
• Operates computer software and electronic ordering devices to order products, plan sales, input inventory and schedules, and print labels
• Operates scales, wrappers, compactors and garbage disposals; utilizes cleaning supplies and equipment; utilizes knives and safety cutters; requires use of latex gloves
• Extensive knowledge of profit and loss statements
• May be required to work nights, weekends and holidays; scheduled hours will vary; good attendance is required
• Exposure to potential hazards exists with respect to equipment and work aids necessary to perform job duties
• Hands are frequently exposed to water, ice and cleaning agents; exposure to 35˚ Fahrenheit while handling products in cold cases and 28˚ Fahrenheit while handling products in cooler
• Working conditions consist of a temperature-controlled store environment
• Safety–Sensitive Position: job responsibilities include tasks or duties that could affect the safety or health of the employee performing the task or others

Pay & benefits

• Pay range: $17.38 to $25.01 per hour, but no less than the local minimum wage; starting rates will vary based on things like location, experience, qualifications and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay (accrued based on hours worked), PTO/Vacation pay (accrued based on hours worked), paid holidays (9 days annually), bereavement pay, and retirement benefits (pension and/or 401k eligibility)