What are the responsibilities and job description for the KITCHEN Specialist position at The Merc Co op?

Job Description

Job Summary

Co-op specialists work closely with department managers to consistently meet the needs of shoppers in a fast-paced service environment. Specialists are department leads. They assist the manager in reaching sales and profit goals established for the department and monitor all established quality standards.

Kitchen Specialists report to the Kitchen Manager and assist in guiding the daily operations of the department. They demonstrate exceptional communication skills, support staff through training and problem solving, prioritize and delegate tasks, and assist monitoring adherence to customer service standards, food quality, and equipment operation and safety standards.

Specialist Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Collaborate with department manager to guide daily operations within the department.
Provide exceptional, prompt, and friendly service in person and over the phone.
Calmly, courteously, and tactfully handle stressful situations and make a positive impression on staff and customers.
Observe, adjust, and delegate tasks based on customer flow and department priorities.
Work with Manager to achieve cost, margin, expense, and labor targets.
Collaborate with the Manager to provide coaching, training, and skills development within the team.
Support initiatives for improving department processes.
Act as point person when Manager is not on shift during severe weather, shoplifting and disruptive situations, troubleshooting or correcting mechanical failure of department equipment, and communicating maintenance needs.
Comply with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions; report all safety risks to store management (ex : items in need of repair, customer or employee accidents, safety risks or issues including robbery, theft, or fraud).
Gain and maintain knowledge of cooperative ownership and business model practices.
Gain and maintain knowledge of products sold within the store and be able to respond to questions and make suggestions about products.
Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special promotions, and ads.
Willing to work weekends and holidays.
Reports to work as scheduled and on time.

Kitchen Specialist - Duties

Prepare hot and ready-made foods according to department recipes, procedures, and portions maintaining and demonstrating the quality standards of the department.

Train staff on day to day duties, department recipes and procedures, and maintaining the quality standards of the department.

Serve and assist customers, explain products, ingredients, flavor, taste, and preparation.

Support training for Safe Food Handling practices and safe equipment use including knives, fryers, ovens, and production equipment.

Place and receive orders of ingredients and supplies.

Ensures that all production, inventory, and prep are properly stored, labeled, and rotated.

Assist with management of kitchen inventory and ensuring supplies are fresh and high quality.

Develop and maintain professional relationships with vendors.

Efficiently and accurately receive, record, code, and track invoices.

Ensure department staff maintain a neat and clean department, including coolers backstock and other storage spaces.

Physical Requirements, Working Conditions Equipment

Work requires standing / walking for 90% of a shift.

Work requires the following motions : lifting to 50 lbs., bending, twisting, squatting and reaching; hand use : single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, and pulling.

Exposure to temperatures :

90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ability to work in a wet and cold environment.

Ability to use tools and equipment, including box cutters, electric pallet jacks, and other heavy machinery.

Must be able to work with various cleaning solutions, safely use sharp tools, and carefully operate all production equipment.

Storewide Standards & Values

All co-op staff are expected to model and demonstrate the co-op's values of hospitality, inclusion, and accountability.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

Past work record reflects dependability and integrity.

Availability of 35 hours / week

Flexibility of schedule to adapt and respond to the needs of the department.

Exceptional customer service skills

Effective organization and time management skills

Proven ability to follow through on commitments, prioritize and reprioritize as necessary.

Excellent interpersonal, motivational, team building, and customer relationship skills

Must have the ability to read written and interpret verbal or demonstrated instructions; write identifying information and make requests verbally or in writing.

Must be able to solve practical problems and work towards solutions.

Must be able to perform simple addition and subtraction, as well as counting and recording.

Preferred Skills & Experience

The ideal candidate will have Lead or supervisory experience in a grocery / deli setting and the ability to use discretion to execute the daily operation of the department without direct supervision.

Familiarity with the best practices in the prepared foods and services industry

Demonstrated working knowledge of all stations and cooking procedures of the kitchen.

Knowledge of health and safety standards

Ability to multitask and work quickly under pressure.

Product knowledge

Intermediate skill with Microsoft Office Suite and digital communication

Salary & Benefits

16.32 - $20.00 / hour

20% employee discount

vacation and paid time off accrual

medical, dental, vision insurance (at 30 hours per week)

free life insurance (at 30 hours per week)

pet insurance

401(k) retirement plan with up to 3% match

birthday and service anniversary recognition

free community classes

About Us

Who says fresh, local, and organic has to be exclusive? Not us. At The Merc Co op, we think that all of us, every parent and caregiver, every coach, every friend, every teacher, and every kid are hungry for affordable, healthy, delicious food. Our co-op is on a mission to make sure that everyone in our community has access!

The Merc Co op is a grocery store owned by our community, not some corporate office 1,000 miles away. So, instead of focusing on Wall Street investors, we focus on what our neighbors want — nourishing everyone according to their budget and cooking style. We know how to get the best local food because we know our farmers by name. And we’re passionate about giving back to our community because we know that good food is just the beginning of what we can achieve by working together. So, if you want the neighborhood gathering place for fresh, healthy, and delicious food, our doors are wide open — to everyone.

Note : The purpose of this document is to provide a general summary of essential responsibilities for the position and is not meant as an exhaustive list. Requirements build as one progresses through the job levels, so any job duties required at a lower level may be required at the higher level in addition to the duties listed for that higher level.

Duties, assignments, and other responsibilities may differ for similar positions based on business conditions, departmental location, and / or needs for the position. An individual must demonstrate successful performance in their current position before being considered for promotion. In addition, in order to be promoted into a higher-level position, a business need for the promotion must exist and the candidate must be considered the most qualified person for the new position.

Salary : $16 - $20

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