Produce Department Manager Trainee

About Us

At WinCo Foods, we're more than just a grocery retailer - we're a growing family of over 140 supermarkets in 10 states with over 22,000 employee owners. Our purpose is to make the lives of our customers and employee owners better by offering the lowest possible prices to feed their families. Currently, WinCo is the second largest Employee-Owned company in the United States. With more than 500 millionaire employee-owners in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Our benefits, including top-tier medical plans and tuition support, set us apart. In your role, you'll be instrumental in making a real impact in the communities we serve, embodying our purpose every day.

Job Summary

This position has been posted for multiple locations. If selected, you need to be prepared to work at any of the locations listed. As a Produce Department Manager Trainee, you will assist the Produce Department Manager in directing and controlling the operation of the Produce Department. You will supervise produce department personnel, plan and order merchandise, ensure customer service and product quality, freshness, and selection, and assist in coordinating and managing department operations to control costs, meet targeted labor, maintain projected profit margins, and meet or exceed sales goals.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist Produce Department Manager in meeting departmental projected sales and gross margin objectives.
• Create effective promotional and seasonal displays.
• Prepare, proof, stage, and package products.
• Prevent shrink and oversee cost/quality control.
• Order necessary products and ingredients.
• Prepare department sales/production guides.
• Prepare, chart, and record sales dollars/percentages.
• Compute gross profit.
• Process and maintain accurate department records.
• Control expenses.
• Maintain and encourage an atmosphere of fast, friendly, courteous customer service.
• Ensure adequate product quantity, quality, and freshness.
• Order, check, receive, and control inventory.
• Build, maintain, and organize product display and storage areas.
• Stock and rotate products.
• Inspect displays daily for substandard and outdated product and discard outdated or spoiled products.
• Ensure proper temperatures are maintained in all phases of product handling and preparation.
• Follow retail labeling laws and company code dating policy.
• Follow company policy on processing re-work or reduced-to-clear items, damage, and spoilage of product.
• Trim, cut, wrap, trays, display, and water products as needed.
• Ensure proper pricing and signing.
• Conduct inventories of all department items.
• Prepare food items as needed.
• Learns and assists Produce Department Manager in supervising, motivating, coaching, training, and hiring of Department personnel.
• Learns and assists Produce Department Manager in monitoring employee performance and recommending personnel action (hiring, firing, layoff, and disciplinary action).
• Learns and assists Produce Department Manager in scheduling personnel according to coverage needs and service level.
• Perform customer relation duties and engage in suggestive selling and other sales techniques.
• Ensure proper merchandising of product by understanding schematics, merchandising of advertised and special items, proper signing procedures, analyzing cutting tests, and meeting customer demand.
• Maintain cleanliness and eye-appeal of work area, storage area, equipment, and retail displays according to company policy and legal regulations.
• Clean work area by mopping, sweeping, taking out garbage, etc.
• Maintain a safe/secure work environment and ensure compliance with security policies.
• Perform receiving duties. Verify orders against invoices; report shortages and claims to ensure proper billing; break down loads and date product; cut cases; stack, price, and mark merchandise; etc.
• Break down freight by moving product, placing it in inventory, operating fork lift, etc.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities with honesty and integrity.
• Perform other duties as assigned or needed.
• Complete the Manager in Training classroom and on-the-job training program.

Requirements

• Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Experience: Effective communication with co-workers and customers and following written instructions. Demonstrating an understanding of overall company practices through previous experience in the produce department or equivalent. Providing leadership through skills in communication, management of people, customer relations, employee relations, analysis, planning orders, judgment, reaction to business activity, etc.
• Ability to: Perform all duties and responsibilities of produce department clerk at a fully competent and independent level. Perform supervisory skills (e.g., interviewing, scheduling, hiring, counseling, training, disciplining, etc.). Effectively utilize excellent verbal, written, electronic, and interpersonal communication skills. Perform duties with mental alertness involving potential hazards with respect to related procedures, equipment (e.g., knives, cookers), and work aides. Work with hands exposed to moisture, fruits, and vegetables. Work around machinery emitting heat and cold conditions. Have knowledge of all areas of department production. Learn product variability, perishability, safety, and sanitation procedures and department policies. Learn taste, content, and perishability of products; Conduct visual inspections and read reports, manuals, etc. Calculate inventory. Stand for long periods of time, walk, and move rapidly, bend, stoop, twist, and turn frequently. Perform repetitious arm and hand movements frequently. Reach, lift, stack, and maneuver objects of varying dimensions and weights up to 50 lbs. within the range of floor level to overhead frequently. Push and pull fully loaded hand trucks and pallet jacks containing product of substantial weight. Proper use cleaning chemicals in accordance with manufacture's guidelines and instructions. Proper handling of related food products per State and County laws, and WinCo standards. Perform primary duties efficiently and accurately.

Additional Requirements

• Food Handlers Certification – current per State and County Laws and WinCo standards.

Machines and Equipment Operated

• Computer terminal and office machines.
• Order/scan gun.
• All department-specific equipment which could include any of the following: kitchen utensils, knives, appliances, automatic slicers, grinders, stuffers, tumblers, smokehouse, vacuum sealers, overwrappers, scales, band saws, meat tenderizers, meat slicers, bone dusters, bulkers, bailers, cubers, mixers, dough machines, shrink wrappers, cash registers, trash compactors, garbage disposals, cardboard bailers, pallet jacks, hand trucks, and/or fork lifts.

Preferred Education, Experience, and/or Credentials

• Experience in a role with formal supervision responsibilities managing performance and/or completion of supervisory training, coursework, or education.
• Experience in a role with product management responsibilities including all aspects of inventory, display, and maintenance of products within the department.

As a WinCo Foods employee, you will be part of a dynamic and growing company that values its employees and provides opportunities for growth and development. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees feel valued and respected. If you are a motivated and customer-focused individual who is passionate about delivering exceptional service, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

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