Deli Clerk Lead

Description

The Moscow Food Co-op is seeking a Deli/Campus Lead to help manage operations at our downtown deli service counter and our location on the University of Idaho campus. This leadership role supports the Deli Manager by coordinating daily tasks, ensuring high food quality and cleanliness standards, and delivering outstanding customer service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and guide deli staff, delegate tasks, and maintain productivity.
• Assist with onboarding and training; provide feedback to the Deli Manager.
• Prepare and serve deli offerings including sandwiches, drinks, and hot/cold bar items.
• Offer samples and promote deli products.
• Uphold department cleanliness and food safety standards.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven leadership skills with a team-first attitude.
• Friendly, upbeat, and professional demeanor.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with diverse customers and coworkers.
• Self-motivated, reliable, and able to maintain a fast-paced work rhythm.
• Capable of lifting 50 lbs and standing for extended periods (up to 8 hours).
• Must obtain Idaho Health Department food safety certification.

Position Details:

• Full-time (38–40 hours/week).
• Shifts may include early mornings (starting at 5 AM) and evenings (until 9:30 PM).
• Weekend availability required.
• Must be available during university breaks, including summer and holidays.
• Preference given to applicants who can commit to 2 years.

Why Work With Us? Join a community-focused workplace that values collaboration, fair wages, and meaningful work. In recent staff surveys, employees overwhelmingly reported pride in working at the Co-op and a positive work environment.

Benefits Include:

• All employees: 20% store discount, PTO, 401(k) participation.
• Full-time employees: Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Accidental & Hospital Insurance, Telemedicine & Mental Health services.
• Part-time (20 hrs/week): Dental, Short-Term Disability, Accidental & Hospital Insurance, Telemedicine & Mental Health services.

We encourage you to be part of our supportive, community-driven team at the Moscow Food Co-op!

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Serving

• Serve customers in the deli station assigned by supervisor.
• Prepare excellent espresso drinks, smoothies, and sandwiches to order.
• Serve deli offerings from hot bar, salad and pastry case.
• Open or close server station using checklist.
• Operate scale and other equipment proficiently.
• Keep service area, service case and dining area neat and tidy.
• Keep supplies well stocked.
• Cut and display desserts in the AM, maintain service case display throughout day.
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of service area and equipment.
• Maintain Personal Hygiene through conscientious hand washing and clean appearance.
• Maintain the highest possible safety and sanitation for the preparation and serving of food under the guidelines set by the State of Idaho Health Department.
• Wash own knives and cutting boards, work with dishwasher to ensure clean dishes.
• Complete weekly and monthly deep cleaning chores.
• Ensure that the salad bar area is expertly stocked and has the freshest ingredients.

Barista

• Serve customers at the espresso bar; knows regular customers by name and drink.
• Prepare excellent espresso drinks, teas, smoothies, and other beverages to order.
• Provides quality beverages consistently for all customers by adhering to all recipe and presentation standards.
• Open or close coffee bar using check list.
• Operate espresso machines and other equipment proficiently.
• Keep coffee bar area, service case and dining area neat and tidy.
• Keep supplies well stocked.

Merchandising

• Keeps service case sparkling clean: glass is clean, case shelving is clear of spills and
  crumbs; keeps service ware clean.
• Keep service case stocked and attractively arranged at all times.
• Maintain the Salad Bar to the highest possible quality.
• Ensure products in service case and grab and go are properly labeled, attractively displayed and have proper date.
• Keep deli service counter clean, attractive and stocked.
• Keep all steam tables and soup containers clean of spills, soups filled as needed.
• Properly dispose of and record food waste in waste logs.

Lead Responsibilities

• Ensure customers are served in a prompt, friendly courteous manner by greeting every customer, smiling and making eye contact.
• Assisting customers with questions, in a prompt, friendly, courteous manner, referring them to others when necessary. Above all, making difficult situations right with the customer
• Offer suggestions for purchases and ways to prepare products.
• Ensure proper production and storage of all prepared food; including proper rotation and dating of deli, bakery, and sandwich items.
• Lead shift production and assign duties for Deli and Campus Staff
• Maintain cleanliness, including routine daily cleaning and regularly scheduled deep cleaning.
• Ensure proper labeling for ingredient and allergen information.
• Set and maintain expectations for employees on waste and efficiency.
• Place replenishment orders to ensure adequate inventory.
• Ensure displays are fully stocked and rotated to ensure freshness.
• Ensure that all items are accurately labeled with price and ingredients.
• Ensure that out-of-date or damaged items are properly disposed of and recorded in waste logs.
• Assist in scheduling staff as needed/ helping to fill holes and find subs.
• When there is no supervisor or manager on duty, make appropriate decisions as necessary and communicate actions taken.
• Assist manager in creating agendas and facilitating department meetings and huddles, ensuring information documented in the log book.
• Complete duties and tasks as assigned by the Service Manager

Co-op Performance Standards

Customer Service

• Demonstrate excellent customer skills, both internally and externally; Follows the 10-4 service rule
• Make yourself available to customers; greet each customer promptly with a smile.
• Handle customer complaints and questions courteously.
• Coordinate with all supervisors and leads to address customer concerns, questions or thoughts. i.e., refunds, oops coupons, angry customers, broken machinery etc.
• Help customers place special orders.
• Accurately and completely record special orders and ensure the forms are delivered for processing.
• Offer tastes, samples, suggestions for purchase and ways to prepare food.

Communication

• Communicate directly and professionally, following the Moscow Food Co-op Coworker Conduct Commitment.
• Stay up to date on information in department log books.
• Answer and route phone calls according to Moscow Food Co-op procedures.
• Keep a working phone and personal email address for necessary communication from the Co-op.
• Report customer suggestions, comments, and complaints to Mod and Department Manager.

Other Duties

• Work cooperatively with others in the department and throughout store
• Maintain excellent attendance and punctuality.
• Take breaks according to department and store policy.
• Requests time-off according to department and store policy, arranges subs for scheduled shifts and subs when needed.
• Follows the direction of the Manager on Duty (MOD).
• Maintain accurate use of the time system, substitute for other staff as needed
• Ensure a safe working environment for all staff and customers.
• Assist with training new staff when appropriate
• Carry out established opening and closing procedures.
• Complete Co-op-wide trainings as required.
• Attend all inventories, dept. meetings, and all-staff meetings.
• Participate in department and store-wide initiatives such as Open Book Management and others as they occur.
• Offer suggestions and information about products.

Qualifications

Required

• Commitment to the mission and goals of the Moscow Food Co-op.
• High School diploma or equivalent with a minimum of one year retail or restaurant supervisor experience in a fast-paced, high volume deli, coffee shop, or retail environment; or an acceptable combination of education and experience.
• Proven knowledge of natural, organic, vegetarian and other specialty cuisines including various dietary restrictions.
• Familiarity with the natural foods industry and the co-operative business model.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with an outgoing, friendly, and positive attitude.
• Ability to positively lead, motivates, and coordinates people to gain cooperation.
• Highly motivated with a sense of urgency and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment at all times with all levels of employees.
• Organized and able to handle multiple demands.
• Competency with computers and ability to learn applicable software programs. Basic math skills.
• Ability to listen, and give and receive feedback without defensiveness.
• Willingness and ability to meet the changing requirements of the job.
• Demonstrate regular, predictable attendance; adapt to a flexible scheduled as needed.
• Must be 19 years or older.

Physical Requirements

• Remain in a stationary standing or sitting position for long periods of time.
• Must be able to move about the store and surrounding co-op properties.
• Ascend/Descend ladders.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; Push/pull hand cart, racks up to 200 pounds.
• Frequent kneeling, stooping, squatting, bending, reaching (overhead/front/side/back).
• Ability to tolerate varying temperatures.
• Manual dexterity with kitchen equipment including, oven, mixer, stove, knife, etc
• Ability to stand for long periods and to work in close quarters with other people.
• Visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; viewing a computer terminal; frequent reading of financial reports, spreadsheets, contracts, invoices, and other detailed documents.

The job duties, responsibilities, skills, and the requirements and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that an employee may be required to perform. The employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations or the work environment change.

Salary : $17 - $19