Center Store and Wellness Lead

The Detroit People's Food Co-op -- a Black-led, community-owned grocery store that aims to promote Black food sovereignty through a storefront in Detroit's Historic North End -- is currently seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Center Store and Wellness Lead to join our team. As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our members and customers while supporting the smooth operation of our co-op.

The Center Store and Wellness Lead supports the Center Store Manager with maintenance of a clean, inviting, abundant, well stocked set of center store departments with special attention to Wellness items (body care, supplements, and bulk herbs). Provide outstanding customer service, including selection, ordering, receiving, pricing, stocking and promotion of items, working with local producers, and supporting other department and store staff to meet goals for sales, margin, inventory turns and labor costs. Center store departments include packaged grocery, bulk foods, beer/wine, frozen and wellness.  

Status

• Reports To: Center Store Manager
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt, full-time
• Pay rate: Starts at $16 per hour

Essential Responsibilities and Functions

• Exceed our customers' expectations for service and provide a clean, organized, inclusive store environment and store experience for all people, in accordance with the Co-op's customer service standards.
• Provide outstanding internal and external customer service: consistent, prompt, friendly, courteous and professional. 
• Ensure quick response to customer questions and concerns. Maintain communication through the customer comment box and other methods as directed.
• Maintain a calm and friendly attitude with all customers and in all situations, striving to deescalate challenging situations with the support of the store team.
• Inform customers of co-op information, for example new products, specials, educational materials, and upcoming events.
• Understand and communicate the 'cooperative difference' and the particulars of membership to shoppers and staff alike.
• Work to advance the mission of the Co-op through outstanding service to everyone we touch every day.
• Maintain a fresh, abundant, locally sourced, attractively priced center store department with excellent selection and customer service.
• Work with Center Store Manager to set priorities for department clerks.
• Support with purchasing needs are requested.
• Provide product selection, purchasing, receiving, pricing, signage, and service leadership for Wellness department, with guidance from Center Store Manager.
• Price to achieve margin and sales goals set by Center Store Manager and GM, while maintaining a competitive image.
• Select items for specials; mark down items as needed to reduce shrink and losses.
• Establish and maintain purchasing relationships with local producers to meet the goals of the co-op.
• Negotiate with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality, delivery.
• Plan attractive, seasonal displays that represent the mission and meet the goals and standards of DPFC.
• Research new or alternative sources of supply.
• Receive deliveries, following established receiving procedures.
• Enter new products and price changes promptly and accurately into POS system.
• Coordinate purchasing for special deals and promotions to ensure adequate and timely supply of promoted products. Liaison with Co-op Deals and other NCG and promotional programs.
• Coordinate periodic price surveys of identified competitors.
• Assist customers with questions and special orders. Offer samples and suggestions for purchase and preparation in a friendly, courteous manner. Make sure to represent opinions and suggestions as just that, not as medical advice.
• Provide clear, attractive, consistent signage.
• Plan and build attractive displays.
• Attend regular promotions meetings as requested with department buyers and managers to plan promotions and storewide merchandising.
• Plan product locations and resets with buyers and department staff, for sales and efficient shopping and stocking.

Find a complete job description here: DPFC Center Store & Wellness Lead Job Description 

Requirements

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. 

• Customer service experience serving the public
• Experience supervising a team
• Familiarity with natural foods
• Experience in developing systems and procedures  
• Ability to read and understand department financial statements
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs
• Communications skills: good listening, providing clear instructions, de-escalation
• Accuracy, attention to detail
• Ability to handle multiple demands and stay calm
• Willingness and ability to grow to meet the changing requirements of the job