Produce Manager

Why Work with Us?

For many people, it's the opportunity to work for an inclusive, local, values driven business that provides healthy, delicious, and sustainable foods to their community; it's also about people - the ability to work with a great team to create amazing customer experiences. Whatever your reason for joining us, know this, working with us makes a difference!

Position Summary:

The Produce Manager is accountable for achieving impactful results that exemplify integrity, foster trust, and uphold the mission, vision, and values of our cooperative. This position oversees the operations of the produce department to ensure excellent customer outcomes, effective team leadership, a positive and safe work environment, organized and efficient operations, a visually appealing space, and sound financial outcomes.

Specific areas of accountability include customer service, team leadership, food and staff safety, operations, purchasing and merchandising, and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for staff and customers. This position is also responsible for collaborating with Mississippi Markets administrative functions (HR, Finance, Marketing, Purchasing) to ensure strong organizational alignment and communications.

Location: 740 East 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106

Schedule: Current shifts available may vary and can include day, evening, weekend, and holiday hours to meet department needs. Flexibility required to meet business needs.

Qualifications:

• Customer Service: Proven ability to provide exceptional customer service and experience, utilizing feedback, and suggesting operational improvements to enhance customer satisfaction; proactively monitoring in-store customer needs and trends, with the ability to elevate issues as needed
• Produce Experience: Direct experience working with produce including oversight of quality and safe handling
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to ensure smooth and coordinated day-to-day operations, managing resources effectively, and utilizing processes to enhance productivity and ensure high quality product, services, customer interactions; strong prioritization skills to effectively manage competing demands and changing priorities; skilled in delegating tasks and responsibilities to team members as appropriate 
• Financial Acumen: Demonstrated experience working within a budget, limiting costs, managing inventory, and achieving product margins to maximize revenue and contribute to financial goals; proven ability to achieve outcomes that support departmental goals
• Team Leadership: Proven ability to foster and model a culture of inclusivity, professionalism, teamwork, and collaboration; a desire to grow and develop staff; experienced in hiring, training, coaching, and providing feedback to support team development
• Communication: Proven ability to actively listen and effectively express ideas, goals, policies, changes, and feedback; demonstrated self-awareness including understanding the impact of verbal and non-verbal communication on stakeholders; ability to remain calm, professional, and optimistic during challenging situations; proven ability to resolve conflict and disagreements in a constructive and positive manner
• Prioritization and Time Management: Proven ability to prioritize and effectively manage competing demands and changing priorities; skilled in delegating tasks and responsibilities to team members as appropriate; the ability to balance priorities and manage time to effectively lead and develop departmental staff 
• Adaptability and Resiliency: Proven ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and demands, ensuring department remains responsive to customer needs; the ability to remain calm under pressure in all situations, along with the resiliency to handle setbacks, learn from experiences, and foster an adaptable team 
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Proven ability to identify, seek, and implement effective solutions to task-based work or departmental problems; a history of choosing the best course of action based on the pros and cons, available resources, long term impact, and potential outcomes of a decision; demonstrates a problem-solving mindset and an innovative thinking; proven ability to make effective decisions during challenging situations
• Technical Skills: Basic to intermediate computer skills including web browsing and Microsoft Office and/or Office 365; proven ability to effectively use technology including email, message boards, etc. for communication; basic math skills including the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide

Preferred Qualifications:

• Retail Experience: Experience working in a fast-paced grocery retail setting
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with natural foods products and industry strongly preferred
• Multi-Department Oversight: Demonstrated ability to provide effective oversight and leadership for a store, departments, or units
• Safety Practices: Familiarity with food and staff safety practices 
• Technical Skills: Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize SharePoint and Teams; proficient in Microsoft Excel including ability to navigate spreadsheets and familiarity of basic functions, such as copy/paste, calculate sums 
• ServSafe Certification
• Multilingual 

Benefits: Our pay and benefits focus on meeting the financial, health, and wellness needs of our staff. They include:

• 20% employee discount
• Excellent paid time off and paid volunteering
• 401(k) matching
• Low-cost health insurance premium options, and FREE access to primary care and mental health counseling for those enrolled in our medical insurance

We offer exceptional perks including:

• Free food "buddies"
• Employee referral bonuses
• Dress code that allows for inclusivity and creativity

Physical and Working Requirements:

The position involves frequent stationary tasks, along with regular movement within the produce and storage areas. Occasional positioning is required to access both low and high shelving, equipment, and products. The job also entails the frequent movement of containers weighing up to 60 lbs. Produce Managers constantly sort, prepare, and handle produce items and may occasionally ascend/descend a ladder to reach high shelving. Produce Managers will utilize various equipment including but not limited to knives, pallet jack, baler, and shrink wrapper. This role requires exchanging accurate information in person, over the phone, and through email and other written communication. Produce Managers will frequently work in a walk-in cooler and be exposed to sanitizer, cleaning products, natural molds, and loud noises, and may be designated as staff to be contacted in emergency situations. Additionally, Managers must have the ability to travel between locations and must meet the Mississippi Market's safe driver requirements. This position requires an individual to be at least 18 years old.