Assistant Produce Manager

Brattleboro Food Cooperative, Inc; Brattleboro (VT); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading co-op is seeking an Assistant Produce Manager to support the operations and financial performance of the Produce Department. The role involves leading a team, managing inventory, and ensuring excellent customer service in a welcoming environment. Ideal candidates will have experience in management, a passion for produce, and strong interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Requires two years experience in a leadership role.
• Knowledge of produce and local seasonality necessary.
• Outstanding communication and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Support operations and financial performance of Produce and Floral Departments.
• Lead and supervise produce staff, providing training and guidance.
• Manage ordering and ensure product displays are replenished and appealing.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Attention to detail

Communication

Time management

Education

Experience in leadership or management role

Tools

POS systems

Spreadsheet software

Job description

Description

OVERVIEW

The Assistant Produce Manager reports to the Produce Manager and is a key individual contributor of the Brattleboro

Food Co-op (BFC) store leadership team. As a member of the leadership team managers are responsible for helping the

BFC meet our stated Ends and are expected to model the Cooperative Principles and Values.

Our Ends, as articulated by our Board of Directors are:

1. An open, inclusive and welcoming marketplace
2. Access to and education about goods and nutritious food that are ecologically sound and responsibly sourced
3. An organization that contributes to a just and resilient local economy
4. An enterprise that engages in sustainable and regenerative environmental practices

The Cooperative Principles are:

• Open and Voluntary Membership.
• Democratic Member Control.
• Members' Economic Participation.
• Autonomy and Independence.
• Education, Training, and Information.
• Cooperation Among Cooperatives.
• Concern for Community.

The BFC believes in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Cooperative

Values are:

• Self-help
• Self-responsibility
• Democracy
• Equality
• Equity
• Solidarity

The Assistant Produce Manager reports to the Produce Manager and is responsible for supporting the operations and

financial performance of the Produce and Floral Departments. This role provides leadership to department staff and

fosters a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for both internal and external customers at the Brattleboro Food Co-op. The

Assistant Produce Manager utilizes appropriate tools and technology to help develop, implement, and maintain core

retail processes that promote operational efficiency and financial stability. Additionally, this position plays a key role in

building strong customer relationships, cultivating a culture of engagement, creativity, and continuous improvement

through staff training and positive influence.

PEOPLE

• The Brattleboro Food Co-op is proud to be a Union workplace. All managers must be familiar with our Union Contract and abide by it at all times while maintaining a positive relationship with Union leadership
• Create an outstanding shopping experience for our shoppers
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders such as management team, staff, shareholders, community, and others as necessary
• Lead and supervise the produce team providing clear direction, training, and guidance to ensure adherence to BFC procedures and protocols in collaboration with the Produce Manager
• Work with the Produce Manager to interview, hire, train, schedule and assign tasks to produce staff, coordinating workloads effectively to meet operational needs. This includes reviewing and approving time sheets on a weekly basis
• Work with the Produce Manager to conduct performance evaluations, provide feedback, and address any performance or disciplinary issues as necessary
• Inspire department staff to deliver outstanding customer service, including product knowledge around taste, use, and storage, finding and selecting products, greeting customers
• Celebrate and recognize team member successes
• Keep staff up to date and informed of key business information, policies, and updates. Maintain departmental communication systems that encourages staff participation
• Be a present, engaged, and active participant in Leadership Team meetings and activities
• Rotate Manager on Duty responsibilities (along with other members of the leadership team) and support special and off-site events

PROCESSES

• Assist in daily ordering for the Produce and Floral Departments to optimize sales and minimize product loss
• Help ensure adequate product levels for displays, sale items, coolers, and regular stocked items
• Ensure displays are replenished, rotated, and culled several times daily
• Assist customers with product questions and special orders. Offer samples and suggestions for purchase and preparation in a friendly, courteous manner
• Partner with the Produce Manager to ensure damaged/spoiled products are stored and disposed of properly and swiftly, and credit is received from the supplier
• Partner with the Produce and Merchandising Managers to develop and implement compelling in store product merchandising and assortment including front and seasonal/holiday displays
• Partner with the Produce and Marketing Managers to coordinate promotional programs
• Negotiate with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality, and delivery
• Research new products and suppliers, rotate varieties seasonally with a focus on local and organic
• Coordinate with Produce and Pricing Managers to accurately process invoices and purchase orders, from Receiving to Accounting to POS system
• Responsible for ensuring all product information is entered in the POS system according to the item entry standards established by the Pricing Manager and that shelf tags, signage, and labeling are accurate and displayed properly
• Conducting regular audits to ensure correct shelf tags and price signs throughout the department
• Promptly and accurately entering new items into the system according to established procedures.
• Updating inventory records when necessary (new UPCs, supplier numbers, sizes, weight profiles, etc.).
• Promptly addressing and correcting scanned price discrepancies, including sale items.
• Promptly addressing and correcting issues with products that don’t scan.
• Partner with the Produce and Pricing Managers to set pricing to meet margin goals; mark-down items as needed to reduce losses
• Coordinate with the Produce and Pricing Manager to implement price changes, printing and hanging new shelf tags for all price changes
• Work with the Produce Manager to develop and oversee all relevant standard operating procedures and practices
• Ensure proper receiving by department staff according to established procedures. Store and oversee the storage of products to ensure FIFO is followed
• Ensure that shelves, displays, cooler, aisles and storage areas are in clean, orderly condition
• Manage the receipt and storage of special orders, ensuring prompt notification to customers
• Participate in quarterly inventory counts with support from the Produce and Store Managers

TECHNOLOGY

• Utilize software and tools necessary to perform the work of their department as defined by the Store or General Manager in accordance with BFC policies and procedures
• Department Managers are required to use Paylocity, POS (currently Catapult), and other tools at the direction of the Store or General Manager.

Requirements

• Two (2) years experience in a leadership or management role required
• Knowledge of and passion for produce, including an understanding of local production and seasonality required
• Co-op experience, or experience in the natural and organic grocery industry preferred
• Computer literate, with experience in word processing, spreadsheet usage, and POS systems preferred
• Experiencing merchandising product in a retail setting preferred
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to maintain a professional relationship with vendors and farmers
• Experience purchasing product in a grocery retail environment preferred
• Outstanding customer service skills
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and time management skills
• Flexible - willingness to be open, to learn, and to take on new responsibilities
• Ability to work as a collaborative team player
• Ability to manage time with consistent weekly deadlines for reporting and other time-sensitive assignments
• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds
• Requires open availability, including evenings and weekends