Department Manager - Produce

Job Summary

To ensure an attractive, organized and smoothly run produce department. To motivate and provide produce staff with the tools required to ensure the highest level of service possible to our shoppers. To meet departmental goals for sales and sales growth, margin, and labor.

To ensure an attractive, organized and smoothly run produce department. To motivate and provide produce staff with the tools required to ensure the highest level of service possible to our shoppers. To meet departmental goals for sales and sales growth, margin, and labor.

• Offer consistent, fair, and respectful customer interactions (includes internal teams, suppliers and external customers).
• Ensure a high standard to customer service by produce personnel according to established customer service vision and expectations. Every decision should be made with a focus on the customer experience our shoppers deserve and expect.
• Understand and communicate the “cooperative advantage”, and the value of ownership.
• Advance the PFC mission through outstanding customer service.

• Negotiate with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality, and delivery.
• Purchase produce considering store goals for local product, organic product, and using co‑op suppliers.
• Evaluate suppliers, as necessary, and investigate new sources of supply.
• Ensure adequate supply and selection of products keeping out‑of‑stocks to a minimum.
• Receive and process orders. Check product condition and invoice accuracy on all deliveries. Ensure correct product rotation.
• Coordinate returns and credit from suppliers where applicable and ensure that staff understands how to do the same.
• Review invoices for accuracy, price changes, and product additions. Process according to store procedures.
• Establish prices based on margin goals as set with the Store Manager.
• Ensure accurate up‑to‑date price labeling and PLU records for department items.
• Communicate ordering times and deadlines to other departments when that vendor is a shared vendor.
• Communicate changes in usual delivery time to other departments when that vendor is a shared vendor.

• Ensure that department display units, coolers, storage areas and aisles are in a clean and orderly condition and meet all Health Department requirements.
• See that unsellable items are properly disposed.
• Ensure produce equipment is maintained and properly serviced. Advise store manager of equipment repair and/or replacement needs.
• Ensure produce staff is aware of:
  • How to lift properly
  • How to safely operate lift jack and pallet jacks
  • Location of accident reports and the first aid kit
  • Procedure for taking injured employees to receive urgent medical treatment
  • Dress code requirements
  • Location of safety manuals
• Set daily priorities for supervisory staff to ensure productive workflow.
• Develop and revise department's standard operating procedures (SOP) as needed. Ensure staff is aware of and trained in department SOP's.
• Coordinate quarterly inventory of produce items.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the Store Manager.

• Ensure proper orientation and for staff through established procedures and policies
• Ensure on the job training, and re‑training as necessary, for all production staff.
• Schedule produce staff according to labor budget and margin‑minus‑labor goals.
• Arrange for coverage of vacant shifts and fill in as needed.
• Conduct evaluations of production staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Hold staff accountable for defined expectations, using coaching and disciplinary tools.
• Provide effective communication of operational issues through written and face‑to‑face communication.

• Ensure that production levels are sufficient to achieve sales goals
• Coordinate daily packaging, stocking, and rotation

• Work with other team managers to achieve PFC brand standards and qualify standards
• Attend management team meetings and co‑op staff meetings
• Participate in development of sales, margin and labor budgets in coordination with the Store Manager.

• Perform other tasks assigned by the Store Manager