Job Details

Customer Experience

• Ensure an exceptional shopping experience and friendly and welcoming environment for all members, customers, and employees; greet and engage customers in your department and throughout the store
• Model, and ensure customers receive prompt, helpful, attentive, and authentically friendly service in accordance with the Co-op's customer service standards
• Ensure customers and staff are provided with product information and educational materials as needed
• Ensure customers receive appropriate assistance in locating products throughout the store; seek opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience
• Maintain a calm and friendly demeanor with all customers and employees/co-workers in all situations
• Investigate and respond to customer questions and requests; escalate to appropriate member of management if unable to resolve directly

Department Operations

• Ensure an organized, clean, smoothly run, and profitable cheese department
• Set daily priorities and expectations for department staff to ensure productive workflow
• Establish production and order pars to ensure highest level of product freshness and quality; set stocking priorities to ensure displays and shelves are clean and well maintained; product is fresh and aesthetically merchandised, stocked, rotated, faced
• Following established procedures, perform all functions of cheese production; cutting, wrapping, weighing, packaging, and pricing, using correct equipment safety and following proper sanitation and food handling procedures; ensure that all items are efficiently and accurately produced
• Perform and ensure compliance with internal and regulatory requirements regarding food safety, such as temp logs
• Ensure all department procedures follow/meet California Health and Safety Code requirements per the Retail Food Code
• Ensure department staff are properly trained on equipment safety, sanitation, and safe food handling, and receive Food Handlers Card and/or SERV Safe certification
• Ensure inventory levels meet turns goals and established days-on-hand; regularly review product sales movement to determine inventory needs; use sales movement data to determine if products will be discontinued
• Ensure that product conditions meet Co-op standards; including removing close-dated products before they expire; ensure that unsalable items are properly disposed of, following established procedures
• Continually evaluate department conditions, operations, and performance to determine areas for improvement; reinforce strengths while developing and implementing improved practices and procedures
• Ensure backstock and work areas are clean and organized with inventory properly stored and rotated
• Ensure equipment is maintained and properly serviced; advise Maintenance, Store Manager and/or Operations Director of equipment repair/replacement needs
• Work with the Store Manager and/or Operations Director to develop, revise and enforce department's standard operating procedures (SOP)
• Assist in keeping the store clean, orderly and organized, including but not limited to; retrieving carts and baskets, keeping floors, sidewalks and parking lot clear of debris, glass clean-up's, sweeping/spot mopping, dusting, wiping down dining tables, facing, parking lot cleaning, emptying trash and recycling as needed, and bathroom cleaning/restocking
• Participate in Open Book Management (OBM) and lead department in weekly huddles
• Conduct quarterly inventory
• Attend and actively participate in department head meetings, store-wide and org-wide meetings, and trainings
• Maintain the knowledge and ability to perform work activities of subordinates, including but not limited to production, cleaning, organizing, and selling merchandise
• Become familiar with the products we carry throughout all departments and where they are located throughout the store
• Assist in other departments/store, store-wide cleaning, and perform all other duties, as assigned

Purchasing & Pricing

• In coordination with Purchasing Director, negotiate with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality, and delivery
• Oversee all cheese product purchasing and inventory control, ensuring margin, turns and days-on-hand goals are met
• Ensure all cheese product and purchases are aligned with the Co-op Purchasing Policy
• Ensure adequate supply and selection of products with an emphasis on sourcing products locally, keeping out of stocks to a minimum
• Ensure proper product mix through category management
• Receive orders, verify, and process invoices, and obtain credits following established procedures; ensure staff is properly trained on these procedures
• Keep accurate records of department transfers, credits and spoilage/shrink as required by the accounting department; coordinate buying and use of spoilage/loss with other departments when possible
• Monitor and track spoilage; check sales movement to determine if products should be discontinued; submit spoilage monthly to Store Manager and IT Director, following established procedures
• Ensure accurate price labeling of product, working closely with Purchasing Department as needed
• Coordinate with Cheese Department Head in sister store/location to ensure consistency and alignment in pricing and product selection; coordinate joint buying whenever possible to reduce inventory
• Work with Purchasing Department to develop pricing structure to achieve margin goals
• Communicate ordering times, deadlines, and changes in delivery time to other departments with shared vendors
• Attend trade shows and trainings when requested

Merchandising & Promotions

• Ensure sales tags and signs are properly displayed, accurate, clean and in good condition and signs are requested from Purchasing Department and/or Marketing Department if needed
• In coordination with Purchasing Director, design promotional displays that are exciting and engaging for shoppers; cross merchandise products with other departments
• Ensure shelves and displays are aesthetically merchandised; stocked with fresh, attractive, high quality product; establish standards and ensure those standards are followed for culling close dated/unsatisfactory product
• Ensure products are merchandised in alignment with our Merchandising Policy
• Evaluate suppliers, products, and broker offerings to ensure that product selection is always interesting, follows trends, and relevant to our shoppers' desires
• Attend regular meetings with brokers and Purchasing Director to coordinate monthly specials
• Visit competitor stores at least once a month for price comparisons, product, and merchandising ideas
• Research industry trends

Budgeting and Planning

• Work with Store Manager and/or Operations Director in setting sales, margin, COGs, and labor goals for department
• Jointly with Store Manager and/or Operations Director develop annual operating budget

Sanitation & Safety

• Be familiar with and enforce all safety, health, and security rules - per Safety Manual, federal and state regulations
• Ensure department staff are properly trained on sanitation and safe food handling, per California Health and Safety Cde requirements - Retail Food Code, and receive Food Handlers Card and/or SERV Safe certification
• Ensure use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required for position; understand and ensure safe use of equipment, safe lifting procedures and proper ergonomics

Positions supervised: Cheese Clerks

Responsibilities:

• Organize workflow and ensure that employees understand their duties or delegated tasks
• Ensure efficient and friendly service from department staff; including engaging customers, offering product suggestions, and assisting customers in locating products throughout the store
• Model supportive and participatory leadership qualities, actively promote team building and motivate staff to achieve their stated objectives: lead regular huddles and meetings, ensure department teamwork and communication is efficient and effective, and support all team members in achieving department goals
• Establish clear performance, productivity, and service expectations for all department staff; coach and discipline employees as needed, in coordination with Store Manager and/or Operations Director and HR, to ensure department standards are met
• Ensure on the job training for department staff utilizing training checklists
• Work with Store Manager and/or Operations Director to develop and implement training materials and systems; communicating ongoing operational issues
• In coordination with HR and the Store Manager, interview, hire and train new employees
• Ensure adherence to legal and company policies and procedures and undertake disciplinary actions if the need arises
• Work with Store Manager, and/or Assistant Store Managers to develop and implement weekly schedules according to established labor budget; reallocate labor as needed to meet needs of operations; arrange for coverage of vacant shifts and fill in as needed
• Receive complaints and resolve problems
• Maintain timekeeping and personnel records in coordination with HR
• Act as liaison between upper management and employees and share relevant information with/between parties as appropriate
• Foster a productive working environment, ensuring high levels of productivity and quality are maintained

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Outstanding customer service skills, proactively looks for ways to help customers
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to work as part of a team; ability to communicate effectively and be an active listener
• Strong attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills
• Ability to follow instructions and procedures, work without direct supervision on a variety of tasks simultaneously, prioritize while remaining flexible in a fast-paced environment, and delegate tasks and objectives to subordinates
• Knowledge of management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and sales control systems; ability to plan, develop and implement efficient and productive systems
• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
• Ability to develop and implement effective budgets and adhere to cost, margin, and labor requirements
• Can identify the development needs of others and coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills
• Able to sensibly handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve conflicts, or otherwise negotiate with others
• Ability to motivate and inspire self and staff
• Must be honest, ethical, and able to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction
• Is pleasant with others on the job and displays a good-natured, cooperative attitude
• Can accept feedback openly without defensiveness
• Accepts direction willingly and follow through with delegated tasks
• Willingly to accept and adapt to change
• Able to maintain strong relationships and act as liaison with outside professionals and vendors
• Provides a positive example for co-workers by maintaining a positive attitude
• Disseminates ideas, proposals, feedback, and other information in a clear, respectful, effective, and timely manner
• Ensures understanding and compliance by self and staff of all organizational and department rules, policies, and procedures, including but not limited to those listed in the employee handbook, CBA, and Health and Safety guidelines
• Approaches all decision making with environmental and social impact in mind, actively seek ways to improve sustainability efforts in day-to-day duties and assist in implementing applicable sustainability initiatives
• Able to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job
• Knowledge of the natural foods industry
• Knowledge and familiarity of Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, & Outlook)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of experience in the retail meat industry including, cutting, production and safe food handling; at least three years of progressive purchasing and supervisory experience
• SERV Safe or Food Handlers certification required

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Requirements

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Bend and stoop to grasp objects and climb ladders
• Bend and twist neck and waist, reach above and below shoulders and squat
• Bend and lift loads, not to exceed 75 pounds
• Repetitive use of hands for grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation

Work Environment

Fast paced retail floor and environment. At times may work with or near moving mechanical parts (i.e. baler, dock equipment), in high precarious places (i.e. ladder work) and in cold/hot climate conditions. Ability to work in moderate and loud noise environments including, but not limited to; computers, paging, telephones, human voices, sound system and machinery. Occasional job-related travel within Arcata and Eureka.

Customary Work Schedule

This position customarily works Monday through Friday, with the appropriate meal and rest breaks. Occasional evening, and/or weekend shifts, and occasional overtime may be required to meet business needs. The position requires reliable dependable performance and punctuality, anything less places a hardship on other employees and store operations, therefore, regular and prompt attendance is essential to this position. Employees are expected to report for work on time and appropriately uniformed and to accurately report all time worked using the timeclock and break sheet procedures.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE: The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, requirements, and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that the employee may be required to perform. The employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations, or a work environment change.

EEO STATEMENT: North Coast Co-op is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.