Director, Prepared Foods

About Us

Northgate Gonzalez Market has grown from one store in Anaheim in 1980 to over 40 locations across Southern California, and we’re looking for passionate, customer‑focused associates to join our family. We offer flexible schedules, opportunities for growth, and an associate discount of up to 20% for you and your household—all in a positive and fun work environment where you’ll feel valued and appreciated.

If you’re enthusiastic, team‑oriented, and ready to build a career with us, we’d love to meet you.

The Director of Prepared Foods is responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and continuous evolution of cocina prepared food programs. This leader owns culinary excellence, operational performance, team development, and cross‑functional integration across stores and commissary. This position requires strong visible leadership and is responsible for elevating quality, consistency, and innovation across the organization. This role carries full accountability for the financial performance of the department, including sales growth, margin, labor management, shrink control, and overall contribution for the organization’s profitability.

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Set a clear vision for prepared food excellence and operational discipline.
• Make principle decisions that protect quality, brand integrity, and profitability.
• Culinary and puesto evolution, continuous improvement
• Provide visionary leadership for the Prepared Foods division, setting clear strategic direction aligned with company growth objectives.
• Build, mentor, and develop high‑performing puesto leaders and cocina associates.
• Is fully responsible for implementation and utilization of our Fresh Item Management system.
• Drive cross‑functional alignment between Culinary, Procurement, Replenishment, Operations, and Puesto Leaders.
• Own food quality consistency and presentation standards.
• Support fresh delivery and just‑in‑time production strategy.
• Stay abreast of emerging industry trends and foster innovation.
• Perform frequent and regular store visits to monitor and adjust store strategies.
• Partner with Operations to review and constantly strive for improved processes that emphasize 5S cleanliness and sanitation, workplace organization, labor efficiency, delivery of exceptional customer service, consistency of product quality, provision and utilization of appropriate equipment, and attractiveness of displays.
• Work with Operations and Field Merchandising to set clear expectations and direction regarding business processes, service standards, and related labor requirements to achieve optimal in‑store execution.
• With Research & Development and Space Allocation teams to optimize innovation, modification, seasonal rotation, new and discontinued products, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Follow all local and state health and sanitation laws and regulations; adhere to all company policies.
• Set a positive example for the desired culture, values and philosophies of the organization, including high ethics, integrity, trust, respect, loyalty, humility, etc.
• Maintain a positive work environment and ensure fair and consistent treatment of all associates.
• Hire, coach, train and develop merchandising staff to meet business growth needs; help them achieve maximum personal potential and achieve company objectives.
• Set clear performance expectations for direct reports and follow‑up with timely performance evaluations; inspire, encourage, and lead staff to innovate in sourcing and finding ways to market both new and existing products to customers.

• Strategic mindset:
  Sees the big picture, constantly imagines future scenarios, and creates strategies to sustain a competitive advantage.
• Build effective teams:
  Recognizes that leveraging each team member is critical to achieving team goals. Places team goals ahead of own goals.
• Develops talent:
  Places a high priority on developing others. Develops others through coaching, feedback, exposure, and stretch assignments.
• Drives engagement:
  Creates a positive and motivating work…