Clerk - Produce

Department: Produce

Job Title: Clerk

Classification: Level 2

Status: Reports to Produce Manager

Purpose: To keep Produce area fully stocked, well organized, eye appealing and clean while providing

prompt, courteous customer service to meet department objectives.

Why work for us?

We are 45 years strong in the community.

We give back to organizations with shared values.

We offer great benefits and competitive compensation.

We are continually innovating and investing in the future.

We offer opportunities for personal and professional growth; about half of our managers were promoted from within.

Tired of working for a company that leaves you feeling like you’re not appreciated? Would you like to join a team that actually enjoys what they do and believes in making a difference?

The Brattleboro Food Co-op is owned by thousands of local shareholders and is committed to improving the quality of life for our community, one meal at a time. We offer competitive wages, great benefits, and an excellent work-life balance.

Customer Service:

• Customer service: Demonstrate a willingness to provide outstanding customer service in all areas of the job with continual customer focus as outlined in customer service guide. Address questions about growing practices, Co-op buying criteria, etc. and report further need for action to the department manager. Help with nutritional info and cooking advice.
• Customer service orientation: Put the interests of the customers first, and demonstrate it in work activities. Ensure prompt, friendly, and courteous customer service. Follow through on all customer questions and requests. Anticipate customer needs and meet them. Continually learning to improve knowledge of products we can carry, correctly identifying items, being familiar with our buying criteria etc. Seek manager assistance when needed.

Product Knowledge:

• Knowledgeable about most products. Continue to learn about new products. Answer questions accurately.
• Financial: Keep abreast of produce financials in order to support the department’s goals through demos, customer service, signage, and display
• Produce guidelines: Uphold department procedures, examples include keeping up with produce communication amongst department employees, following opening and closing and produce prep guidelines etc.

Product Presentation and Quality:

• Product management: Maintain display areas for visual appeal, cleanliness, and signage. Promote quality control through receiving, stocking, and storage.
• Attend to detail: Complete all aspects of a task, even when pressured by time or conflicting demands. Follow or suggest procedures to ensure consistent results.

Maintenance and Conditioning:

• Work area: Maintain clean, orderly and safe work area. Assist with scheduled deep cleaning needs.

Safety:

• Co-op policies: Follow all established safety procedures including food safety and sanitation procedures. Follow personal policies.

Teamwork:

• Teamwork: Work cooperatively with other staff, both within department and other departments to achieve the best possible results. Be flexible and willing to assist others and give extra effort to meet department and co-op needs. Contribute to an environment of harmony in the workplace. Be positive and professional in all interactions. Attend departmental meetings and huddles.
• Reliability: Arrive at work on time and able to work each day. Perform duties assigned and seek help when appropriate. Work effectively in a variety of environments. Be dependable in the absence of immediate management. Take on extra responsibilities when needed. Prioritize throughout the day.
• Be flexible: Be able to cover extra shifts out of ordinary schedule including nights and weekends.
• Problem solving: Talk to people directly involved. Make sound decisions that benefit the customers, other workers and the business and the business in all situations including rush periods and unusual situations. Take initiative to identify and resolve problems.
• Communication: Present written and verbal information so that it is clear and easily understood. Exhibit good listening skills. Stay informed by attending huddles and ask questions.
• Be flexible: Be able to cover extra shifts out of ordinary schedule including nights and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the department and/or the overall operations of the

Brattleboro Food Co-op

Accountability:

• Accepts responsibility for own actions. Exemplifies honesty, integrity and ethics.

Qualifications

• Experience preferred: At least one year previous experience in retail customer service and previous work with food or farming.
• Physical skills required:
• Office environment
• Indoor work in store – work in and out of a 40 degree walk in cooler throughout a shift
• Lifting – ability to lift up to 80 lb. cases of product throughout a shift
• Bending, twisting, and reaching – sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, reaching above the produce case
• Standing and walking – ability to stand 8 hours a d
  ay several days a week
• Climbing stairs
• Pushing and pulling – pushing and pulling up to 300 lbs. on rolling carts
• Typing, writing, and similar activities
• Fine motor skills for cutting, mixing, stacking, and similar activities – cut, chop, and cull produce.

Repetitive use of hands throughout the shift to lift, handle, clean, cut, move, and package produce

• Operation of equipment and machinery

• Experience preferred: At least one year previous experience in retail customer service and previous work with food or farming.
• Physical skills required:
• Office environment
• Indoor work in store – work in and out of a 40 degree walk in cooler throughout a shift
• Lifting – ability to lift up to 80 lb. cases of product throughout a shift
• Bending, twisting, and reaching – sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, reaching above the produce case
• Standing and walking – ability to stand 8 hours a d ay several days a week
• Climbing stairs
• Pushing and pulling – pushing and pulling up to 300 lbs. on rolling carts
• Typing, writing, and similar activities
• Fine motor skills for cutting, mixing, stacking, and similar activities – cut, chop, and cull produce.

Repetitive use of hands throughout the shift to lift, handle, clean, cut, move, and package produce

• Operation of equipment and machinery

At Brattleboro Food Co-op, we do not just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Brattleboro Food Co-op is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.