Cheese Manager
New Leaf Community Markets, Inc.
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
New Leaf Community Markets in Santa Cruz, CA seeks a Cheese Manager to lead the Cheese Department, supervise staff, and ensure quality, cost control, and customer satisfaction.
Ideal candidates bring strong leadership and communication, with a passion for high‑quality cheese. You’ll train teammates, uphold safety standards, and collaborate with the Store Director to meet department goals.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Experience leading a food retail team preferred.
- Strong communication and customer service skills are essential.
Responsibilities
- Lead and schedule Cheese Department staff.
- Ensure product quality, pricing, and inventory accuracy.
- Uphold food safety and sanitation standards across the department.
- Train staff on proper handling, cleaning chemicals, and customer service.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
1213 - NL River Street, 650 River Street, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
New Leaf Community Markets opened its doors as a small cooperative in 1985 on the Westside of Santa Cruz. We learned early on, that the well-being of our guests, staff, and community starts with sustainable, locally-produced food. Farm-to-table all the way! We’ve partnered with open-minded producers who care as deeply about our people, the planet, and social justice as we do, from day one.
Our mission is to be a purveyor of good – from offering the best local and natural foods to taking care of our staff, community, and environment. We love what we do, and we know that it’s our passionate staff who make it all possible. We’re committed to taking care of our people by leading the way with progressive employment practices.
Every day, we work to create an atmosphere of openness, caring, trust, and fairness – a place where staff can thrive, and differences are celebrated. As a member of the New Leaf Community Markets team, you can count on an inclusive, friendly environment and a welcoming group of inspired individuals who love people, great food, and being a part of a community gathering place.
You love food and have the ability to create an experience that is beyond the everyday. You have a positive attitude and work well in a team environment. You can connect with people and reach a level of hospitality that exceeds guests’ expectations. You are warm, outgoing, authentically amazing, and want to be inspired, challenged, and proud of where you work.
You embody the spirit of New Leaf Community Market's core values: Community, Integrity, Sustainability, Quality, and Respect; and you are driven by our mission to nourish and sustain our community by using business as a force for change.
Job Title: Cheese Manager
Department: Cheese
Reports To: Store Director
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
The Cheese Manager is a leadership position responsible for driving success in the Cheese department. This role requires strong communication skills, effective leadership, and a commitment to motivating and developing staff. Key traits for success include excellent communication, attentive listening, strong leadership abilities, self-motivation, observation, decisiveness, flexibility, patience, and a sense of urgency. The Cheese Manager plays a pivotal role in maintaining positive team morale and fostering a productive working environment.
- Engages customers in a friendly manner, shares product information, and assists in locating products throughout the store. Seeks opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience.
- Demonstrates ability to manage own time and models a flexible work style. Shifts tasks as priorities and circumstances change based on the needs and conditions of the department.
- Represents company values. Works cooperatively and positively with fellow team members.
- Gives and receives feedback in a constructive manner demonstrating the company’s Speak Up culture.
- Conserves company resources. Works in a manner consistent with the company’s mission, vision, values, and sustainability program.
- Adheres to work and food safety policies set forth by the company and all local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. Contributes to store cleanliness, maintains equipment, and informs store/department management of any problems.
- Observe all company rules and policies. Understands and complies with specific department or location guidelines, tasks, and responsibilities.
- Leads by example; models correct behavior and adherence to company policies and procedures
- Prepares daily schedule and directs activities of Cheese Department employees
- Maintains high profit margin by approved pre-set budget, which entails, but is not limited to sales goals, cost of goods, expenses, price changes, and waste management (shrink).
- Assures high quality and proper quantity through accurate ordering and receiving
- Examines products bought for resale or received for storage maintaining theCompany's highest quality standards
- Monitors pull dates on all Cheese merchandise
- Manages costs by controlling shrink and theft
- Implements and maintains all marketing programs
- Manages and assures proper displaying and selling of all cheese products to customers and advises customers on quality, method of handling, and other factors affecting preparing, freezing, and storage
- Engages and teaches others in suggestive selling techniques
- Assures consistency in Cheese Department policies and procedures by observing employee work habits
- Responsible for communication with the Food Service Manager & Store Director on all Cheese Department related issues
- Accurately prices all merchandise by weighing, stamping, marking, or placing shelf tags/signs. Applies proper tares as mandated by CA Weights & Measures
- Assures daily price changes are done accurately & completed before the store opens; maintaining price integrity at all times
- Documents all meetings & distribution of company memos and obtains employee’s signatures as required
- Assures all staff members receive monthly Safety News and other required communications
- Maintains a clean and sanitary work area at all times
- Knows all cleaning chemicals authorized in the Cheese department and understands proper usage
- Trains all Cheese Department employees on the proper use of cleaning chemicals
- Assures in-service training for all employees and documents all training
- Trains all opening and closing procedures for the department
- Follows the FIFO rotation system (First-in, First-out). Covers, labels, and dates all leftover foods. Utilizes leftover foods before opening new product
- Inspects Cheese during preparation; including measuring temperatures throughout the preparation process, to maintain quality and sanitation by the FDA and local health departmental codes and Company stringent standards
- Follows safety work standards and reports any safety hazards to the Store Director
- Arrange for all equipment to be fixed and cleaned (with the approval of the Store Director)
- Reports on and investigates all accidents which occur in the Cheese department
- Assures that all reports and investigations comply with the Cal-Osha SB198 rules and regulations
- Responsible for using the tools provided by management to ensure the success of the department
- Handles all customer complaints in such a manner to assure repeat business regardless of the complaint
- Serves customers with a smile and a willing attitude. Assures high sales by establishing relationships with customers to ensure repeat business
- Meets and exceeds Company standards in food, service, quality, and cleanliness.
- Follows the employee handbook at all times, emphasizing service standards and appearance
This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities, and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Leaf Community Markets reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.
The Cheese Manager holds overall responsibility for supervising their respective department teams. This includes training, assigning tasks, evaluating performance, addressing employee concerns, and maintaining a positive work environment.
The Cheese Manager is expected to consistently deliver exceptional customer service, going beyond simple greetings to ensure customer satisfaction. They will embody a positive and respectful attitude, adapting to changes while fostering an atmosphere of respect and flexibility.
A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required. Previous experience and/or training in a related role for six months to one year, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is preferred.
Strong reading and interpretation skills for documents such as safety rules, instructions, and correspondence are necessary. Effective communication with customers and employees, including public speaking to groups, is essential.
Proficiency in basic calculations such as discounts, percentages, and volume is required, along with the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
The Cheese Manager should demonstrate the ability to analyze instructions, resolve conflicts, and make effective decisions. They must adapt to varying situations, think critically, and implement viable solutions.
This role involves standing for extended periods, walking, frequent use of hands and wrists, manual dexterity, talking, hearing, and occasional lifting of up to 75 pounds. Close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment are necessary for the job's visual demands.
The work environment typically has a moderate noise level.
- Amazing Benefits Package – Including comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and 401k at 28 hours a week.
- Great earning potential with the opportunity for growth within our family of brands
- Paid Parental Leave available
- Lifestyle Scheduling
- Public Transport Benefits
- Paid Community Service Hours
- 30% discount at all New Leaf Community Markets, Bristol Farms, and Lazy Acres Natural Market locations
1213 - NL River Street, 650 River Street, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
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