Bakery/Dept Leader

Kroger; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger is seeking a Bakery Department Leader to direct and supervise the Bakery team, ensuring a safe, clean environment and high-quality products. You will train associates, manage performance, and coordinate with store management to meet sales and quality goals.

Ideal candidates have strong communication, math skills, and food-handling certification, with experience in bakery operations and customer service.

Qualifications

• Effective communication is required to interact with customers and staff.
• Basic math skills for cash handling and inventory calculations.
• Ability to remain calm and productive in busy, high-pressure environments.
• Current valid food handler permit required upon employment.

Responsibilities

• Direct, support and supervise all functions for the Bakery department.
• Ensure a safe, clean environment and quality standards throughout the department.
• Train and develop associates; monitor performance and provide feedback.
• Prepare bakery items per customer requests and maintain product quality.

Skills

Effective communication

Basic math

Stress management

Food handler permit

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

• Embrace the Customer 1st strategy to create an outstanding customer experience through exceptional service.
• Establish and maintain a safe and clean environment that encourages our customers to return.
• Achieve sales and profit goals established for the department, and monitor and control all established quality assurance standards.
• Direct, support and supervise all functions, duties and activities for the Bakery department.
• Role model and demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.
• Promote trust and respect among associates while communicating company, department, and job specific information.
• Collaborate with associates and promote teamwork to help achieve company/store goals.
• Establish performance goals for department and empower associates to meet or exceed targets.
• Develop adequate scheduling to manage customer volume throughout hours of operation.
• Train and develop associates on performance of their job and participate in the performance appraisal process.
• Adhere to all local, state and federal laws, and company guidelines.
• Create an environment that enables customers to feel welcome, important and appreciated. Inform customers of bakery specials and recommend bakery items to them to ensure they get the products they want and need.
• Gain and maintain knowledge of products sold within the department.
• Prepare bakery items per customer requests using proper bakery equipment and offer product samples to help customers discover new items or products they inquire about.
• Provide customers with fresh products the correct portion size to prevent shrink.
• Use all equipment in bakery such as the refrigerators, freezers, and ovens according to company guidelines.
• Partner with store management to develop and implement a department business plan to achieve desired results.
• Prepare and submit seasonal critiques for the sales and merchandising supervisor.
• Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special ads and inform associates of the same.
• Monitor and control expenses for the department.
• Assist store management in preparing the store/department budget, profit and loss reviews, and take appropriate action on all financial reports.
• Schedule routine price changes by updating shelf tags and promotional signs.
• Plan, organize and supervise the inventory process.
• Adhere to all food safety regulations and guidelines: prepare foods according to cooking instructions; ensure proper temperatures of food, cases and coolers are maintained and recorded.
• Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management.
• Practice preventive maintenance by properly inspecting equipment and notify appropriate personnel of any items in need of repair.
• Notify management of customer or employee accidents.
• Report all safety risk, or issues, and illegal activity, including: robbery, theft or fraud.
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information.
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Minimum

• Effective communication skills
• Knowledge of basic math
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Current food handlers permit once employed

Desired

• High school education or equivalent
• Management experience
• Bakery experience