Specialist, Retail Cheese

Full-time

Pay

$26.97/Hr. - $44.85/Hr.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (after 30 days)
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Overview

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others - and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

Responsibilities

• Support onsite customer employees with the initial establishment and continued support of an internal cheese shop, including ordering products for initial setup and product display, transmitting orders for delivery to the store, and setting up display cases by cutting, wrapping, pricing, and merchandising products.
• Provide customer support to store patrons, making recommendations for cheese pairings, portions, and other food compliments.
• Train and instruct customer employees on all cheese monger activities.
• Service an average of 10 stores per week; requires reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.
• Present, sell, and execute all promotional activity to maximize sales and achieve minimal residual quantities.
• Assist in planning and execution of all display programs as designated by the customer, both at store level and corporate headquarters.
• Educate customers on store needs based on trends.
• Support stocking of back stock in cheese and deli to review recommended order writing.
• Deliver exceptional customer service at all times when communicating with store management, personnel, and the public; adhere to customer policies and procedures in compliance with KeHE's standards.
• Refill, reset, and merchandise cheese products for display and placement in a way that attracts sales at customer stores and secondary/perimeter locations following “best practices guidelines,” including re/wrapping and packaging cheese products.
• Provide instruction to customer personnel in all cheese monger activities.
• Provide sales support and training to customer sales teams, assisting clients with product recommendations, pairing suggestions, and specialized cheese knowledge.
• Comply with established health, sanitation, and safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Handle knives and cutters to resize cheese products for repackaging or trim products for appearance.
• Inspect products for quality using visual and olfactory senses.
• Transport products using carts, U-boats, L-boats, or pallet jacks.
• Communicate with KeHE personnel and Account Executive regarding product discrepancies, merchandising needs, and customer requirements/issues.
• Plan and carry out daily schedules according to assigned customer locations.
• Travel throughout assigned territory, manage timelines to ensure completion of assigned customer and KeHE requirements, and respond to fluctuations in workload to deliver quality customer service according to KeHE standards.
• Unbox vendor goods and disassemble boxes for recycling.
• Operate field-based electronic equipment for communications with KeHE team members and others; use cell phones for communication and electronic timekeeping.
• Operate a motor vehicle to travel to and from customer locations throughout assigned territory.
• Attend training and meetings as required to meet customer and KeHE standards.
• Create and transmit orders for product replenishment and other corresponding paperwork in a timely manner, meeting KeHE order deadlines.
• Verify accuracy of transmission by confirming receipt with KeHE personnel.
• Apply knowledge of product and temperature-sensitive protocols when transporting cheese products (cold chain).
• Maintain a clean personal work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned to fulfill company objectives.

Requirements

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and basic math skills.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Basic skill in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Must become Siebel literate within 90 days of hire.
• Minimum of two years of experience in service deli knowledge—cheese, deli, perishable goods.
• Valid driver’s license and maintenance of a driving record that meets KeHE's standards.
• Reliable transportation; if using a personal vehicle, must maintain automobile liability coverage adequate to meet the financial responsibility laws of the state(s) in which the employee operates.
• Ability to work independently or in tandem with customer employees, applying excellent communication and customer service skills to all interactions.

Work Environment

The work environment is primarily indoors. The employee may be exposed to variable temperatures from different product climates (dry, cold) and temperature variations during travel throughout the assigned geographical territory. Vinyl floor covering is typical when working at a customer site.

Schedule

The work schedule is 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. Start times vary. Work hours and shifts are subject to change depending on operating business conditions and needs. The employee may be required to work overtime, holidays, or weekends.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Medium physical demand: Exerts 10-20 pounds of force occasionally to move objects and product.
• Constant standing and walking with frequent use of upper extremities to reach, handle, grasp, and use cutting and wrapping tools, and handle product.
• Must know and follow proper health and safety protocols, including KeHE's grooming, hygiene, and dress code standards.
• Must apply temperature-sensitive protocols when transporting products.
• Ability to manage time and multiple competing demands, adhering to schedules and deadlines while maintaining composure in pressure situations.