Produce Department Manager

Job Summary: Manages Produce department including ensuring excellence in customer experience; hiring, training, supervising, coaching and evaluating employees; achieving goals for sales, margin, inventory and labor. Upholds consistency of employee and customer experience across WFCs retail locations. Works closely with the Store Manager and members of the management team to develop and implement strategic goals to uphold and further WFCs ENDS statement. Conducts all work activities in a professional and confidential manner and in compliance with all applicable laws and with WFCs policies and practices.

Essential Job Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and Manage Produce Operations: Participate in WFC produce selection and merchandising to support consistency across WFC locations while offering a produce selection that meets the needs of shoppers at given location within established tolerances. Manage the receipt, pricing, display and promotion of designated products to achieve goals for sales, margin, inventory turns, local and regional purchases, and labor expense in compliance with WFC policies, department Organic Standards Handling Plan and established practices for safety, sanitation and customer service.
• Operational Alignment: Work in cooperation with other WFC Produce Manager to: ensure internal and external operational alignment between WFC retail locations; maximize value of vendor programs; and support local food economy and access to affordable products.
• Personnel Management: Hire, train, evaluate, coach, and supervise department employees in compliance with established practices, policies, and budget restrictions. Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and quality of all department work. Work proactively to create and sustain a healthy, positive, and inclusive culture that aligns with WFCs ENDS and supports an engaged workforce.
• Project Management: Research, analyze, present , implement and manage projects, within budget, to achieve positive progress on ENDS and strategic objectives.
• Sanitation and Safety Management: Ensure cleanliness and maintenance of department equipment and areas including office, storage, prep and merchandising in compliance with established practices. Document, report and resolve any equipment maintenance or safety concerns; incorporate equipment, sanitation and safety needs into budget requests or allocations
• Operations Management Team: Engage in the development and execution work of the operational leadership teams by furthering strategic planning for WFC, attending, and investing in required department and storewide meetings, and participating in the WFC Emergency Response Team including after hours on-call rotation for operational emergencies.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Store Manager.

Essential Organization Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Abide by all WFC policies and procedures
• Engage in creating and maintaining a positive, ethical, and productive workplace that contributes to achieving progress on WFC’s ENDS.
• Follow and ensure compliance with all safety practices and policies
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory guidance including but not limited to Minnesota Department of Agriculture and National Organic Standards

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Promote ownership and owner benefits consistently and positively.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience in Produce purchasing, merchandising, and pricing
• Experience in retail, Produce, natural foods and/or cooperative management
• Available to work evenings, weekends, holidays

Essential Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• At least 18 Years of Age
• Leadership experience
• Minimum three (3) years leadership experience in retail and/or project management
• Experience supervising employees and/or project teams including, but not limited to, interviewing, training, coaching, and evaluating
• Basic computer literacy including familiarity with using a web browser and email
• Ability to operate effectively within established systems and procedures
• Attention to detail and good organizational skills
• Ability to handle multiple demands, work under time pressures and meet department work objectives
• Ability to handle confidential information
• Willingness to learn and perform all aspects of the position
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to changing conditions
• Demonstrate objectivity and neutrality under pressure
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to effectively convey information
• Regular, predictable attendance

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Ability to frequently move up to 50 lbs. throughout shift
• Ability to occasionally move more than 50 lbs. throughout shift
• Ability to move around the premises throughout shift
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time
• Ability to operate position-required machinery
• Ability to do repetitive office tasks including, but not limited to filing, using a computer keyboard, understanding information from a computer screen/LCD monitor and written materials for the entirety of shift
• Ability to safely use sharp cutting instruments

Work Environment:

• Constant Exposure
  • Background music and in-store pages
  • Food odors, grain and spice dust, food allergens
• Frequent Exposure
  • Handling wet, hot, cold, and/or frozen product
  • Wet and/or humid conditions
  • Change in room temperatures
  • Carts, pallets and hand-trucks moving in and out of storage/retail areas
• Occasional Exposure
  • Outdoor weather conditions

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE

The essential duties and responsibilities and knowledge, skills and abilities 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.

Employees must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Any questions regarding accommodations should be directed to the Human Resources Manager.