Produce Department Manager

Department: Produce

Reports To: Store Operations Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Level: $33.00 to $46.00 / hr.

Summary: Responsible to select, price and merchandise products to meet objectives for sales, margin, inventory turns and customer service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Include the following: Other duties may be assigned.

Purchasing -

• Negotiate with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality and delivery;
• Coordinate sale specials, demos, and utilize available advertising (co-op ads);
• Evaluate suppliers and investigate new sources of supply;
• Receive orders, or ensure proper receiving by other staff in accordance with established procedures. Keep accurate receiving records;
• Coordinate returns and credit from suppliers where applicable. Keep accurate accounting of credit requests;
• Review invoices for accuracy, break into account codes, and pass on to the Finance department.

Merchandising -

• Ensure displays and shelves are fully stocked and rotated. Set stocking priorities for clerks assisting in Perishable department. Stock items as needed;
• Plan attractive displays;
• Conduct periodic comparisons with competitors;
• Set prices to meet margin goals as set by Management team. Mark down items as needed to reduce losses;
• Ensure accurate, up-to-date price labeling of department items;
• Solicit suppliers for promotional offerings in coordination with Ad/Core plans;
• Provide product information to newsletter, customers and staff;
• Provide prompt, friendly, courteous customer service;
• Make decisions regarding product mix based on product movement reports.

Department Maintenance -

• Coordinate storage of items to be returned to suppliers. See that unsalable items are properly disposed of. Keep accurate shrinkage records;
• Ensure that department shelves, displays, aisles and storage areas are in clean, orderly condition, meeting health department standards;
• Participate in inventory counts ensuring inventorying of department is accurate;
• Maintain department equipment in working order. Advise Operations Manager of equipment repair, replacement needs, and desired equipment purchases.

Management -

• Attend Ad/Core meetings to develop marketing plan, plan promotions and ad campaigns, revise store layout, set store policies and procedures, etc.
• Participate in setting buyer goals (margins and sales), add or drop product lines;
• Participate in the compliation of the annual Capital Expenditures Budget;
• Review daily and monthly sales reports; look for trends, problem areas, and possible actions to be taken;
• Train, schedule and supervise member workers in department;
• Act as an integral part of our participatory management system;
• Maintain professional standards; i.e., punctuality, neatness, pleasant helpful manner;
• Act as Shift Leader;
• Attend industry trade shows as appropriate;
• Keep up on industry trends, news and legislation.

Staff Relations -

• Maintain good working relations with department and other department staff;
• Follow store wide policies and procedures;
• Encourage team dynamics.

Store Security and Safety -

• Know proper procedures for handling shoplifting and robbery;
• Know how to avoid injury;
• Know what to do in the event of injury or an emergency.
• Co-op Knowledge -
• Know what makes a co-op different;
• Know the difference between members and member workers and how the member worker program operates;
• Know the structure of BriarPatch Community Market and promote membership to our customers.

Product Knowledge -

• Develop a good working knowledge of all products in our store;
• Know where to locate information about products.

Responsibilities to Safety -

• Protect the safety of self, co-worker's, and BriarPatch Co-op patrons at all times.
• Report any potentially harmful equipment or situations to the immediate supervisor without delay.
• Report safety-related accidents and incidents at once to supervisor.
• Follow all company and safety policies and procedures.
• Operate equipment in a safe manner that will not lead to injury of self or others.

Supervisory Responsibilities -

• Manages Produce department clerks.
• Responsible for the overall direction, coordination and evaluation of the Produce department staff.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with BriarPatch Co-op's policies and applicable laws.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience -

• High school diploma or GED certificate.
• Must have prior retail experience including purchasing (buying).
• Experience with natural/health foods highly desirable.
• Must be familiar with products with a short shelf life.
• Prefer knowledge of co-ops and member owned organizations.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to solve practical and complex problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or electronic form.
• Computer Skills:
• An individual should have knowledge of:
• Internet software
• Inventory software
• Order processing systems
• Spreadsheet software
• Word Processing software

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand for long periods of time
• Walk
• Sit
• Use hands and fingers
• Handle or feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Stoop
• Kneel
• Crouch or crawl
• Talk or hear
• Taste or smell
• Be regularly exposed to natural oils, chemicals and odors/fragrances, including perfumes, colognes and scented lotions.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds safely.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a moderate to high level of noise and extreme variations in temperature and humidity levels.

Responsibilities to Sustainability:

• Contribute to sustainability efforts at BriarPatch that support a sustainable community through:
• Minimizing waste by reducing and reusing materials and resources when possible.
• Proper recycling and composting.
• Water & energy conservation.
• Seeking methods to make departmental functions more sustainable and taking an active role to implement them.

Responsibilities to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Value and support a work environment that includes people of different identities from diverse backgrounds