Leader in Training

About Wakefern

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite®, Price Rite®, The Fresh Grocer®, Dearborn Markets®, Fairway® and Gourmet Garage® banners.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices. Together….We make Wakefern work!

Your contribution

The Leader in Training (LIT) Program has a rich history with Wakefern Food Corp. and was created to build a pipeline of talented individuals who have the potential to be top performing strategic leaders in our organization. Throughout the 12 to 18 month rotational program, trainees gain exposure to the diverse aspects of the retail and wholesale food industry through multiple business assignments. LITS engage in several rotations which are customized based on business need. These include: Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, Merchandising, Service, Logistics and Analytics. Every trainee will complete a rotation within our ShopRite/PriceRite/Fresh Grocer retail stores to gain a strong understanding of our commitment to helping small business compete in a big business world.

Wakefern capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge and experience from former LITS to act as coaches, mentors and advisors to the trainees currently in program. Competency development in core areas include Effective Communication, Driving for Results, Building Relationships, Developing You, Staying Competitive, and Embracing Change. Trainees participate in group projects designed to improve proficiency in these competencies while supporting our business operations.

What you’ll do

· Engage in a minimum of 3 rotations to gain valuable business experience within Wakefern

· Rotate in a retail assignment to gain exposure to store operations, customer service and merchandising concepts

· Develop and present a summary of learnings, best practices and recommendations for improvement to key leaders based on individual rotations

· Create a plan outlining important benchmarks for skill, knowledge and competency development while in program

What we’re looking for

· Completion of a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a business related field

· Academic achievement validated by a GPA of 3.0 or higher

· Minimum of one year of relevant work and/or internship experience is required

· Prior supermarket or retail/wholesale experience is strongly preferred

· Demonstrated leadership ability to include key positions in business clubs/affiliations, sororities/fraternities, sports teams, school ambassadorships, work study programs, etc.

· Technical proficiency with all MS Office Suite and Cisco WebEx programs

· Exceptional interpersonal, critical thinking, analytical and problem solving skills

· Valid driver’s license with the ability to drive to multiple locations within our trade area

How you’ll work

· Ability to sit for long periods of time while viewing multiple computer screens

· Ability to stand for long periods of time

· Ability to bend, stretch, push, pull and flex while on retail or logistics rotations

· Ability to drive for long periods of time and to multiple locations while on rotation

Company Perks

· Vibrant Food Centric and Learning Culture

· Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits

· Competitive Salary and Paid Time Off

· Fitness Reimbursement and Well-Being Programs

· Corporate Training and Development University

· Collaborative Team Environment

· Potential for Hybrid Work Schedule (Based on Rotation)

· Paid Parental Leave

· 401K

· Matching Gifts and Community Volunteer Involvement