Director of Seafood

Seafood Director

Established in 1929, Heinen's is a leading, family-owned grocery retailer known for its premium-quality products and outstanding customer service. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, Heinen's operates 24 locations – 19 in the Cleveland, Ohio area and 5 in the Chicago, Illinois market – supported by two distribution warehouses, a food production facility, and a corporate office located in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Our culture is rooted in an associate-first philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on the well-being, development, and quality of life of every team member. We offer competitive compensation, professional development and leadership training programs, paid time off, and flexible scheduling designed to promote a healthy work-life balance.

The Seafood Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of product procurement and operational excellence within Heinen's Seafood Department. This leadership role defines and drives the strategic vision while providing executional support across store operations, merchandising, product assortment, procurement, pricing, and promotional planning. The Seafood Director serves as a critical liaison between the external supplier network and Heinen's internal warehouses, ensuring seamless collaboration and strict adherence to the company's high-quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the strategic vision for Heinen's Seafood Department to drive innovation, growth, and operational excellence.
• Build strong partnerships with store operations leadership teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement strategic solutions.
• Maintain comprehensive product knowledge and support the development of associates' sales and merchandising skills.
• Achieve targeted sales and gross margin objectives through effective planning, execution, and performance optimization.
• Provide comprehensive oversight of department performance, including category management (assortment, pricing, margin, and promotional strategy), in-store operations, merchandising standards, and team development.
• Oversee, design and improve department processes.
• Partnering with Operations, assist in training of new Seafood Leads.
• Cultivate and manage direct relationships with fish suppliers and distributors to ensure adherence to Heinen's stringent quality standards.
• Partner with the Seafood Category Manager to provide the appropriate product mix and analytical support for the business.
• Design and support floor layouts, store sets, planograms, and new store openings or remodels.
• Maintain expertise in small wares and department equipment.
• Provide informal leadership and mentorship to store-level Seafood teams, engaging regularly with Market Managers to promote alignment, inspiration, and shared success.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in Seafood merchandising or retail operations.
• Extensive knowledge of Seafood department operations, including procurement, merchandising, and in-store execution.
• Proven ability to lead through ambiguity and drive successful organizational change.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of managing supplier relationships and contract execution.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, including written, verbal, and active listening capabilities.
• Highly collaborative, with a demonstrated ability to foster and sustain effective cross-functional partnerships.
• Analytical, data-driven thinker with significant experience in category management, including assortment planning, pricing strategy, and promotional execution.
• Results-oriented, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced retail environment while ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field a plus.

Heinen's, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Monday-Friday work week. 8am-5pm schedule Full-time, 40 hours per week.