Seward Community Coop - Franklin Store

Job Description

Assistant Grocery Manager

Purpose: Lead department staff, manage product and finances, and follow Seward Co-op processes in support of Seward Co-op Ends and department goals. Support the growth of the Co-op through participation on the Management team.

Status: Full time. Reports to Grocery Manager

Pay Level: VI

Responsibilities:

People Ensure all customers and employees in the Grocery department are treated with respect and dignity

• Customer Service
• Employ prompt, courteous customer service at all times
• Ensure department personnel are equipped to provide excellent customer service to all Seward customers
• Respond to all customer comments within required time-frame
• Maintain a department schedule that ensures adequate staff coverage to provide excellent customer service and meets department operational needs
• Personnel Management
• Uphold all store policies and procedures
• Hire staff following established processes
• Monitor employee performance and follow established disciplinary processes as appropriate
• Ensure staff performance evaluations are completed in a timely fashion
• Evaluate and propose staff pay changes during Department pay review months
• Schedule full department meetings at a minimum of every other month.
• Hold a department huddle, a short and frequent meeting, at least once per week
• Recommend and follow-through on development opportunities for staff
• Communicate storewide information, such as policy changes and all-staff meeting schedules, to department staff
• Develop and maintain training materials for all department positions that reflect current processes and procedures
• Develop a department succession plan
• Safety
• Run the department in a manner that allows for a safe shopping and working environment. Address or report all potential safety threats to appropriate party for correction
• Following established procedure, assist the department safety committee representative in the timely and regular participation on the Seward Co-op Safety Committee

Product Follow store and department product standards while merchandising a beautiful and well-stocked department

• Purchasing
• Oversee and create efficiencies in ordering, receiving and stocking procedures
• Manage broker and vendor relationships
• Negotiate price and terms with suppliers in-support of Co-op Ends
• Maintain a special order program in the department
• Lead a consistent and accurate quarterly inventory process
• Maintain product order histories
• Ensure product mix reflects trends in natural foods industry
• Follow or establish systems for the accurate and timely submission of product data to the Scanning department
• Limit out-of-stock products without allowing co-op resources to be tied up in slow turning inventory
• Handle samples and free products in a manner consistent with the Seward Co-op Free Product policy
• Follow store procedures and government regulation in managing product in a manner that does not compromise consumer health or safety
• Merchandising & Marketing
• Follow merchandising guidelines to create an excellent shopping experience in the department and the store
• Meet all deadlines associated with NCGA and Seward Co-op promotions programs
• Meet regularly with the Merchandising manager to set and monitor progress towards merchandising goals and plan department layout, fixtures, signage and promotions
• Facilitate category management process and maintain a category management calendar
• Ensure that product selection follows store and department product standards
• Support P6 and other priority products through purchasing and promotion
• Document all customer product requests and ensure appropriate follow-through in purchasing decisions
• Collaborate with Demo staff to provide samples to customers
• Provide content for the Sprout! newsletter, store sales flyer, and other merchandising and marketing materials including electronic media

Financial Performance Work with Store Manager and Finance Manager to project and achieve financial goals

• Ensure the accurate projection of labor in the quarterly budgeting process
• Following Seward Co-op's pricing strategy, implementing a pricing plan that allows the department to achieve margin goals while ensuring competitive pricing
• Complete quarterly Market Basket comparisons and price adjustments
• Manage department fun budget
• Manage department supply and small wares budget

Other duties as assigned

• Adhere to the Seward Co-op Code of Ethics
• Support the Seward Co-op Scorecard through initiatives and as requested
• Follow all co-op policies and procedures
• Participate as a member of the Store, Merchandising and Management Teams, and ad hoc committees as requested
• Cooperate with other departments to further the overall good of the store
• Attend appropriate national conferences or industry events as appropriate
• Contribute written articles to the Scoop and Sprout! publications as required
• Submit Monthly Manager Report to Store Manager
• Other tasks as assigned by Store Manager

Qualifications:

Essential

• Supervisory experience, including hiring, training and evaluations
• Excellent customer service skills
• Proven effective verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products
• Merchandising experience including product selection, display, pricing, and promotion of Grocery products
• Demonstrated success in financial management of product and labor
• Willingness to work with others in a team atmosphere
• English proficiency

Functional

• Ability to bend and stoop to grasp objects and climb ladders.
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, reach, squat and walk for extended periods of time per shift
• Ability to bend and lift loads, not to exceed 60 pounds. Push and pull carts weighing up to 300 pounds.
• Handle environmental exposure to extreme temperatures (coolers, ovens, freezer, outdoors, etc.)
• Ability to freely access all areas of the store including offices, sales floor, back stock areas, and walk-in coolers and freezers.
• Ability to move or handle merchandise throughout the store generally weighing up to 60 pounds

Preferred

• Multilingual is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to work with customers and co-workers from various cultural backgrounds
• Familiarity with co-operative business model and natural foods products