Produce Plants Specialist

Honest Weight Food Co-op

Plants Specialist

Overview:

Support the Plants Manager in operation of the department to meet objectives for sales, margin, and customer service. Lead and support Plants member owner workers in performance of daily tasks.

Wage & Status:

$20/Hour

Full Time, Regular (32 Hours/Week)

Flexible schedule including early morning, late evening, and weekend shifts. Hours will be greater during peak season (April August) and less during the off season (September March). This may include work shifts in Produce during the off season, at the discretion of the Produce Manager in consultation with the Plants Manager.

Supervisor:

Plants Manager with direction from the Produce Manager

Job Responsibilities:

Purchasing:

• Oversee the purchasing of cut flowers along with creations of bouquets to maintain a vibrant floral display

• Oversee the birdseed, outside soils/straw bales/mulch purchasing and displays

• Assist with Menands market runs as needed, driving truck and picking up orders when necessary

• Assume buying duties when necessary, including both market plants and houseplants
• Review all incoming Plants department invoices in a timely fashion; properly record, code and submit invoices
• Work with Plants Manager to update prices and signage for all Plants department products both as staged for sale and in the POS
• Work with Plants Manager to design outside store displays as well as front of store displays, paying special attention to seasonality and upcoming holidays

Customer Service:

• Assist customers with product questions in a prompt, friendly, courteous manner, referring them to other staff when necessary
• Offer customers suggestions for product purchases
• Help customers place Special Orders

Personnel:

• Assist manager in selection and hiring of qualified applicants for seasonal Plants staff
• Assist in training of Plants staff and member owner workers
• Be the primary scheduler for member owner workers, and aid the Plants Manager on scheduling of staff.
• Work with the Plants Manager to identify and resolve work performance problems and offer feedback, both negative and positive, to staff and member owner workers
• Report personnel concerns to Plants Manager as necessary
• Set and maintain work priorities for staff and member owner workers

Receiving:

• Assist with receiving deliveries, including: checking product for quality, verifying counts, helping with unloading as needed, assisting with storage of back stock

Merchandising/Stocking:

• Coordinate replenishment and rotation of displays, and daily culling, ensuring that staff are following established stocking priorities
• Coordinate prep of product for display, including fresh bouquets
• Dispose of/reduce damaged products promptly and with care to composting. Notify Plants Manager of losses.
• Keep plants retail areas in clean and orderly condition. This includes, but is not limited to: removing trash, cleaning surfaces, and sweeping as needed
• Assist with morning set-up or evening closings
• Maintain stocking of floral bouquets

Department Maintenance:

• Oversee maintenance and proper plant signage in accordance with the Department of Agriculture
• Ensure the weekly houseplant watering schedule, labelling and inventorying needs are covered
• Assist in all aspects concerning bouquets: purchasing floral products, creating bouquet prototypes, pricing, and the scheduling of member owner worker bouquet teams
• Note and advise Plants Manager of any repairs, replacements, and/or additions needed to maintain equipment and supplies

Safety:

• Consistently practice (and model for others) safe and proper lifting procedures

• Be mindful of potential hazards to customers and employees. Correct hazards as they occur

• Use all equipment (including box cutters, ladders, and step stools) in accordance with department safety procedures

Additional:

• Attend department and store meetings, as appropriate
• Help complete inventories, including counting and calculation
• Assist Plants Manager in establishing goals for labor and department
• Perform other tasks assigned by supervisor