Natural Foods Sales Associate

Wage Range: $16.30 to $22.00 – based on experience with verifiable hours or work samples.

Benefits:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – Fully funded by the company
• DailyPay – Option for employees to receive pay on the same day they work
• 401K – Company matching up to 4% (if chosen)
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance (including no deductible medical option)
• Company-sponsored Life Insurance for full-time employees (30 hours)
• Optional Insurance Products
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid holidays
• Vacation Time
• Bereavement & Jury Duty compensation
• Paid Sick & Safe Leave – Employees earn 1 hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked
• Paid Family & Medical Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Position Overview

The role focuses on delivering a delightful and efficient experience in Natural Foods by actively engaging customers, ensuring they receive exceptional hospitality and professional service.

Shared Expectations for all positions within our organization include, but are not limited to:

• Fostering a welcoming environment for all.
• Embodying Yoke's Core Values and Mission Statement as a vital part of your contribution to our team.
• Supporting Yoke's sales and organizational growth by promoting Yoke's stores and conveying a positive message within the community.
• Participating with genuine enthusiasm for our collective success, always remembering that we are the owners of Yoke's.

Key Responsibilities

The following are fundamental and essential duties of this position. Associates are responsible for executing any and all tasks assigned to ensure the successful operation of our business. All associates are expected to perform their job duties in a manner that upholds the integrity and honesty of our organization.

• Arriving for scheduled shifts punctually and consistently, able to communicate clearly and demonstrate the physical capabilities necessary to safely perform assigned tasks and duties, ready to provide outstanding service.
• Driving sales through proactive conversations with customers, offering product suggestions, and sharing current promotions and service details. (Examples may include: placing special product orders, assisting customers in locating items throughout the store, presenting special offers on bulk orders upon request, and discussing Yoke's signature products, fresh selections, and special deal recommendations).
• Conducting inventory, sales, and other bookkeeping tasks as assigned.
• Delivering exceptional service by welcoming customers and informing them about special features, product details, and services available at Nature's Corner. Notable features include extensive gluten-free options, natural frozen goods, natural refrigerated items, and bulk selections.
• Being knowledgeable and capable of the following: handling freight, organizing products, tagging items, merchandising alongside other departments, pricing, greeting customers, updating promotional items, reading UPC codes, processing payments, constructing displays, ordering and arranging seasonal products, taking inventory, and utilizing promotional cards to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Safely operating (at minimum) the following equipment: communication devices, telephones, balers, trash compactors, box cutters, food handling units, ordering machines, pallet jacks, hand trucks, cash registers during busy periods, and any other equipment utilized in or by Nature's Corner.
• Effectively communicating customer requests with clear and complete instructions for special orders.
• Guiding new associates or those unfamiliar with the department or tasks, ensuring a positive learning atmosphere.
• Finding ways to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Ensuring all tasks performed in the department comply with local, state, federal, and company regulations regarding workplace safety, sanitation, and customer service.
• Actively participating in the Nature's Corner/GM Department's accident prevention initiatives, including monitoring displays for hazards, practicing safe lifting techniques, and understanding safety features of all machinery, evacuation procedures, and security policies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have formal supervisory duties; however, every associate at Yoke's has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in their role. The following quote reflects our belief in shared leadership:

"Whether you are the president of a company or the janitor, the moment you step from independence into interdependence in any capacity, you step into a leadership role. You are in a position of influencing other people." - Stephen Covey

Qualifications

To successfully perform this job, an individual must be able to fulfill each essential duty effectively.

The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or GED; or one to three months of relevant experience in natural products and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Capable of writing simple correspondence. Communicates effectively and pleasantly with customers, vendors, and fellow associates at all times.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to perform mathematical calculations using units of American currency and weight measurement, volume.

Reasoning Ability

Applies common sense understanding to carry out instructions provided in written or oral form. Manages problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Other Qualifications

Meets the state minimum requirements to operate equipment (baler, trash compactor).

Certificates & Licenses

Valid Driver's License or State I.D. Card

Training Provided by Yoke's

GM/Natural Foods Skills Training levels One, Two, and Three

Food Handler's Safety Training

HIPAA Training

Late Night Retail Safety Training

Yoke's Safety Orientation Training / Active Shooter

Yoke's Guest Service Training & Commitment

(Optional: Hepatitis A vaccination provided by Yoke's Pharmacy)

Physical Demands & Safety Expectations

Most positions at Yoke's require varying degrees of physical effort. Associates are expected to consistently practice Yoke's safety standards. This may include using personal protective equipment when necessary, understanding ergonomic safety, chemical hazards, safe lifting techniques, lockout/tag out procedures, and emergency protocols. All associates must report accidents within 24 hours.

No associate may pose a direct threat to the health and safety of themselves or others by engaging in unsafe behaviors.

The physical demands listed below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, associates are regularly required to stand for extended periods, walk, use hands and fingers, handle, feel, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste, smell, talk, and hear.

Associates must continuously lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those you may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, associates are frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate.