Meat Department Lead

Job Details

Job Location:

HGI2 - Hagerstown, MD 21740

Position Type:
Full Time Salary Range: $16.00 - $18.00 Hourly Job Category:
Grocery

Job Summary:

The Meat Department Lead is responsible for the daily execution, ordering, inventory, merchandising, and food safety of the meat and seafood department. In this role, you focus on maintaining a high-quality  Case Ready  program—managing prepackaged inventory, ensuring premium presentation, and providing expert product knowledge to our customers. The Meat Department Lead is the  owner  of the floor, ensuring every product on the shelf is fresh, properly labeled, and enticing to shoppers.

• Receiving & Verification:
  Oversee the ordering, delivery and inventory of all prepackaged meat products; verify piece counts against invoices and inspect for temperature compliance and packaging integrity.
• Stocking & Rotation:
  Ensure the meat cases are fully stocked and strictly follow FIFO (First-In, First-Out) rotation to maximize freshness.
• Date Auditing:
  Perform daily  pull lists  to identify and mark down items approaching their sell-by date, ensuring no expired product reaches the customer.

• Case Design:
  Maintain clean, organized, and visually appealing displays according to seasonal trends and store promotions.
• Signage:
  Ensure all items have accurate pricing, clear  Use By  dates, and required nutritional/country of origin labeling.
• Cross-Merchandising:
  Work with the Store Manager to coordinate  bundle  displays (e.g., placing seasonings or sides near specific meat cuts).

• Sanitation:
  Maintain the cleanliness of the meat cases, walk-in coolers, and shelving units. Ensure all equipment (scales, carts, thermometers) is sanitized daily.
• Temperature Monitoring:
  Conduct and log regular temperature checks of refrigeration units to prevent product loss and ensure food safety.
• Safety Compliance:
  Adhere to all Maryland Health Department regulations for handling prepackaged meats.

• Act as the department expert, assisting customers with questions about different cuts, cooking methods, and meal planning.
• Monitor customer feedback regarding product variety and report trends or requests to the Store Manager for future ordering.

• Oral/Written Communication – Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms.
• Critical Thinking/Problem Solving – Obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data to make decisions and overcome problems. Proactively alerting the Store Manager to low stock levels or potential inventory shrink before it becomes a financial issue. Immediate reporting of any refrigeration equipment malfunctions to the Store Manager to prevent catastrophic inventory loss.
• Teamwork/Collaboration – Work within a team structure and can negotiate and manage conflict. Exhibit a positive workplace attitude that encourages advancement towards common goals.
• Digital Technology – Demonstrate personal accountability, effective work habits, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image. Demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly, and ability to learn from mistakes.
• Detail and Temperature Awareness – High attention to detail regarding expiration dates and origin labeling accuracy. Proactive management of the  cold chain  to ensure no product is lost to thawing or equipment failure.
• Merchandising – Freezer doors and shelves must be clean and  faced  (products pulled to the front) throughout the shift.
• Product Knowledge – Strong understanding of meat types (beef, poultry, pork, seafood) and basic cooking temperatures.
• Reliability – Punctuality is a must—our customers rely on us being open and ready.

• Age Requirement:
  Must be 18 or older (required for tobacco/lottery sales in this jurisdiction).
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Ability to lift to 50 lbs. and work comfortably in a refrigerated environment for extended periods.
• Experience:
  
  1–2 years of experience in a grocery or retail environment, specifically within a meat, deli, or perishable department.
• Certifications:
  
  Ability to obtain a Maryland Food Handler's card or equivalent local certification if required.

• Shift Manager
• Assistant Manager
• Store Manager