Produce Specialist

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide ultimate customer service to members to support increasing same‑store sales and profits.
• Make regular planned store calls to support the growth of profitable sales while serving as a liaison and communicator between the customer and the company.
• Interpret store departmental financial and operating statements and advise members on strengths and weaknesses within the operation.
• Perform analysis and planning to assure that produce merchandising goals, objectives, and priorities for assigned members are established and met within time limits.
• Assist in the development of produce allocation programs (e.g., plan‑o‑grams).
• Work as a member of the AWG sales team, emphasizing cooperation, integrity, tact, and consideration with members, associates, and division management.
• Conduct market analysis of competitors’ produce merchandising strategies, analyze impact, and provide advice on counter‑measures.
• Utilize strong communication and computer skills, learn new technology, and apply the Flawless Execution method in all planning and communication; keep management informed and submit complete, accurate records on time.
• May be responsible for development of the weekly ad, collaborating with members, vendors, department managers, and buyers to select items based on member needs.
• Ensure assigned stores utilize warehouse programs.
• Monitor potential sales opportunities, out‑buying, inventory control, and quality control of members.
• Read and comprehend all essential documentation, AWG programs, policies, sanitation, FDA, C.O.O.L. legislation, and other state and federal requirements.
• Establish and monitor a retailer timetable for all store openings and remodels involving the produce department.
• Coordinate new‑member transitions, store openings, and remodels.
• Coordinate initial and follow‑up training, including hands‑on training within the produce department on essential equipment and techniques.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and ability required. A reasonable accommodation will be considered according to the ADA if it does not impose an undue hardship.

Education and/or Experience

• Retail grocery store experience preferred.
• Degree not required, but equivalent work experience in retail preferred; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience must be in produce.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and speak fluent English and comprehend operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to make presentations effectively before small and large groups.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to read and interpret departmental financial and operating statements.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to reason with members and gain mutual respect toward the common goal of increasing sales and profitability.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid driver’s license.

Physical Demands

The employee is regularly required to drive, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. Frequently required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. Occasionally must lift and/or move up to 70 pounds. Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment is usually moderate in noise level but can be loud during remodeling, promotional activities, and open houses. The position works in or around freezers, coolers, and refrigerated areas, as well as around meat‑cutting, packing, and heavy machinery. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions, provided they do not impose an undue hardship.