Produce Manager

PRODUCE MANAGER

Job Description

JOB FUNCTION: To effectively direct and supervise all functions and activities of Produce Department personnel to achieve the sales and profit goals established for the department; to ensure that the work shifts of all department personnel contribute to the financial best interest of the store.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

General

• Observe all store rules and company policies;
• Maintain a neat, well-groomed personal appearance at all times and observe company dress regulations;
• Observe shift operating hours at all times as scheduled or assigned by store director;
• Adhere to all local, state and federal health and civil code regulations;
• Ensure compliance with all state, county and local weights and measures laws and labeling requirements;
• Must be thoroughly familiar with all products carried in the department including being fully knowledgeable in the differences (in price, taste, preparation or use) between the many varieties and types of produce in every family group (e.g., apples, squashes, etc.);
• Able to fully and efficiently perform all of the duties and job functions of an experienced Produce Clerk (see corresponding position description);
• Work out a department merchandising plan with the store director and establish goals;
• Follow approved procedures for receiving product, price marking and restocking cases to ensure quality protection, public image, accuracy and product rotation;
• Check and verify produce department receiving to ensure that items listed on vendor invoices are all delivered; check products for quality, count or weight, and condition;
• Take products to produce preparation or storage area including refrigerated storage boxes;
• Control department expenses and utilize energy conservation practices;
• Order and maintain inventory control to ensure freshness, product quality and turnover for maximum sales and return-on-investment;
• Handle damaged and spoiled products according to company policy and assist in controlling the level of damaged goods;
• Comply with safety policies and procedures and ensure that all department personnel do also; participate in store's Safety Committee;
• Responsible for ensuring that all department personnel are trained in the store's method of performing department activities and functions;
• Maintain good communications in the store and throughout the organization;
• Control excessive use of utilities and water and observe sound conservation practices;
• Perform other duties and assignments as directed;

• Greet all customers and provide them with prompt and courteous service or assistance.

• Bookkeeping

• Record all shift hours worked on time card according to company policy and verify by signature the accuracy of all time worked;
• Calculate product gross margins and the retail prices for produce merchandise based on targeted sales objectives and profit goals as prescribed in the Company's Operations Manual and the department projections worked out with the Store Director;
• Be familiar with invoice documents and confirm accuracy of item descriptions, sizes, quantities and prices during produce vendor product deliveries;
• Record invoice documents accurately on the department receiving log and place signed invoice in the designated secured area;

• Accurately record markups and markdowns, in-store use of merchandise, voids, refunds and bad merchandise/spoilage write-offs in accordance with company policies.

• Merchandising

• Carry out merchandising plans (including any merchandising programs issued by main office or the store's co-op merchandising/advertising group, if applicable);

• Follow approved Produce Department plans for effective space management and product allocation based on product movement, consumer demand and profitability;
• Ensure that all signs and prices are maintained, accurate and are positioned properly and correctly over each respective product;
• Keep refrigerated cases and display shelves properly stocked and faced at all times according to product movement, tag allocation and department standards, to ensure maximum sales, quality and freshness;
• Responsible for seeing that all applicable produce items are properly trimmed and attractively presented;
• Responsible for ensuring that wet racks are properly maintained and watered;
• Where applicable, ensure that pricing of shrink-wrapped or packaged products includes adequate allowances for tare weights and shrinkage;
• Implement a procedure for making regularly scheduled inspections of display racks and refrigerated cases to ensure product freshness and visual appeal; cull damaged or marginal products from racks and display cases hourly or more frequently as required;
• Keep perishable merchandise rotated in accordance with store policy and product code dates and pull all out-of-code merchandise;
• Order merchandise and maintain inventory control to minimize out-of-stocks and over-stocks and to maximize sales and turnover;
• Ensure a favorable department image with customers through a clean, attractive and friendly department;
• Stay abreast of local trading area conditions and competitive activity pertaining to the Produce Department and keep others informed;

Maintenance

• Maintain general housekeeping and sanitation standards in compliance with store policy and state and local health regulations on a regular, ongoing basis;
• Maintain full compliance with all state and county government weights and measures laws;
• Follow department sanitary procedures and work methods to extend product life cycles;
• Check refrigeration equipment for proper performance regularly;
• Use and maintain equipment in good working order;
• Immediately advise store director or the key person in charge of any maintenance or equipment problems;

• Follow planned program of maintenance on cases, back room coolers and all refrigeration equipment.

• Security

• Observe security standards by staying alert and being aware of customer actions and behavior; report to manager or security any abnormal behavior;
• Take positive action to control shrinkage and pilferage losses;

• Ensure that all department personnel comply with the company's Security Programs.

• Personnel

• Effectively supervise other Produce Department personnel;
• Work out staff scheduling requirements based on weekly sales projections and submit required departmental staff scheduling recommendations to store director in a timely manner in accordance with established policies and procedures;
• Notify store director of personnel situations or policy violations having an adverse effect on department or store operating performance or of situations requiring disciplinary action or that may potentially require such action.

Requirements and Conditions (Essential Functions):

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all of the duties described in the preceding in an efficient and competent manner. The requirements and conditions listed below are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skill, experience, and/or ability required. Some requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

Education and/or Experience:

• Must be fully knowledgeable with all products carried in the department including differences between the many varieties and types of products in each produce family (e.g., apples, melons, squashes, etc.).

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• (None required)

Mathematical Skills:

• Must be able to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, gross margins, markup, percentages, ratios, ad loss and shrinkage;
• Must be able to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, gross margins, markup, Ability to handle sales transactions, tender correct change, verify vendor invoice charges and counts, and complete required accounting reports including inventory, receiving, and variations in cash or column totals.

Language Skills:

• Ability to hear, speak and understand the spoken word in order to respond promptly to pages for assistance, to accommodate verbal requests from customers for information or assistance, to answer telephones, and to be able to communicate effectively with department employees, the store's co-workers and customers;
• Ability to read, write, analyze, interpret and understand the English language with sufficient proficiency in order to read and understand:
• Instructions for operating electronic equipment and tools
• Company handbooks, policies and procedures and
• Other written job-related documents including postings on company bulletin boards;
• Ability to compose and write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals including effective departmental memos, employee corrective action notices, and customer signs or sales suggestions.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in circumstances where only limited standardization may exist;
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in diagram, oral, schedule, or written forms.

Other Skills or Requirements:

• Be fully knowledgeable and thoroughly familiar with the nature and duties of every staff position in the department including procedures, policies, and operations;
• Be able to pass a standard drug test and qualify as being drug-free under the legal and medical guidelines permitted by the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988;
• Be able to perform all duties and responsibilities in an efficient and satisfactory manner that meets the minimum standards for productivity, accuracy, cleanliness, harmony and safety established at the employer's individual site (normally measured but not necessarily limited to units of one or more of the following: total transaction throughput, unit time per task, sales per labor hour, and/or cases, units, tasks or pounds per labor hour.)

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Some requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; and use the hands to handle, finger, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• The employee must frequently walk, talk or hear, and reach with the hands and arms; occasionally, the employee must crouch or kneel;
• The employee must occasionally exert or lift up to 70 pounds carrying master cases of produce, barrels of produce trimmings, trash containers, etc.;
• Successful performance requires specific vision abilities that include close vision and the ability to adjust focus including having sufficient visual acuity to check and verify invoices and other written documents;
• The employee must be able to work in refrigerated coolers and high moisture content preparation rooms for extended periods of time;
• Be able to climb a ladder to retrieve items stored in overhead racks such as trays and wrapping material;
• Be able to sweep and mop floors and lift and carry out trash containers to be emptied in an outside bin;
• Have sufficient physical mobility or agility to be able to respond quickly to fire or other emergencies and sufficient dexterity to disassemble and clean produce department tools and other equipment;
• Be able to work in an environment with fresh fruits, vegetables, house plants and flowers without negative allergic consequences that adversely affect performance;
• Be able to tolerate moderate amounts of dust and chemical fumes from common household cleaning agents such as quaternary ammonia compounds during routine housekeeping duties.

Work Environment

The work environment conditions described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. It may be possible to modify some circumstances to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

• The work environment includes frequent exposure to, in, or around refrigerated storage areas and relatively damp and humid conditions including wet or slippery floor surfaces;
• Typically, the noise level in the work environment is moderate; however, on occasion, it can be extremely noisy when the employee must enter the compressor/machine room to check on refrigeration equipment;
• Access to break rooms, offices and all employees restrooms requires ascending/descending a flight of stairs; there are no restrooms at street level nor are there any public restrooms available elsewhere on the premises;
• The employee may be required to perform the duties of this job during the same time period when maintenance associates or outside janitorial services are concurrently performing their respective duties and services; under such circumstances, atmospheric conditions may contain moderate levels of airborne pollutants such as cleaning or floor finishing chemical vapors and odors;
• There are no other unusual environmental conditions.

Important Disclaimer Notice

The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, and the requirements and conditions 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 to require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations, or the work environment change.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person