Deli Manager

Pemberton Farms; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Employee discount

Health insurance

Paid time off

Paid training

Vision insurance

Job summary

Pemberton Farms Marketplace in Cambridge, MA seeks a hands-on Deli Operations Manager to lead the Deli and Prepared Foods Department, drive operational excellence, and oversee staffing, payroll, production planning, inventory, and customer service.

This role combines strategic leadership with day-to-day operations, requiring flexibility for varied shifts, weekend and holiday coverage, and a commitment to quality, food safety, and exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of management experience in deli, prepared foods, grocery, or food service operations.
• Proven leadership experience with hiring, scheduling, payroll, coaching, and team development.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, inventory management, and retail operations (ServSafe Certification).
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop department staff while fostering a positive, accountable, and customer-focused culture.
• Manage hiring, onboarding, scheduling, payroll, time-off requests, performance management, and employee development.
• Delegate responsibilities, communicate expectations, and ensure consistent execution of department standards.
• Partner with Store Leadership to improve operations, achieve department goals, and support overall store success.
• Lead daily deli operations: set up cases, prepare products, take orders, and deliver excellent customer service.
• Oversee inventory, sanitation, food safety, and quality control to maintain high standards.
• Monitor labor, scheduling, and budgets to optimize profitability and efficiency.
• Collaborate with Kitchen, Catering, and other departments for promotions and special orders.

Skills

Management experience

Leadership

Customer service

Food safety

ServSafe

Job description

Deli Operations Manager

Pemberton Farms Marketplace

Pemberton Farms Marketplace is a fourth-generation, family-owned specialty grocery store and garden center that has proudly served the Cambridge community since 1930. We are committed to exceptional quality, outstanding customer service, and creating a welcoming shopping experience. We're seeking an experienced, hands-on leader to oversee our Deli and Prepared Foods Department and help drive operational excellence.

Position Summary

The Deli Operations Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and daily operations of the Deli and Prepared Foods Department. This hands-on management position oversees staffing, scheduling, payroll, hiring, production planning, inventory, merchandising, customer service, and financial performance while working collaboratively with Kitchen, Catering, and Store Leadership.

This role is ideal for an experienced leader who enjoys balancing strategic department management with working alongside their team to deliver exceptional products and service.

This positions is typically scheduling from 8am-4pm (6am-2pm, 9am-5pm) but requires flexibility to learn night shift routines and willingness to shift your schedule based on department needs. Weekends and holidays are required.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop department staff while fostering a positive, accountable, and customer-focused culture.
• Manage hiring, onboarding, scheduling, payroll, time-off requests, performance management, and employee development.
• Delegate responsibilities, communicate expectations, and ensure consistent execution of department standards.
• Partner with Store Leadership to improve operations, achieve department goals, and support overall store success.

Hands-On Department Operations

• Lead by example by actively participating in daily operations, including setting and maintaining deli cases, preparing products, working the sandwich line, taking customer orders, and providing outstanding customer service.
• Oversee daily production, merchandising, inventory, sanitation, and food safety while ensuring quality, consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Step into any operational role as needed to support the team, maintain workflow, and deliver an exceptional customer experience.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and food-safe department that meets company and regulatory standards.

Operations & Business Performance

• Manage labor, scheduling, payroll, inventory, vendor relationships, ordering, and department budgets to support profitability.
• Analyze sales trends, labor costs, shrink, and operational metrics to optimize performance and drive sales growth.
• Collaborate with Kitchen, Catering, and other departments to coordinate production, special orders, promotions, and daily operations.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance department performance.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of management experience in deli, prepared foods, grocery, or food service operations.
• Proven leadership experience with hiring, scheduling, payroll, coaching, and team development.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and customer service skills.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, inventory management, and retail operations (ServSafe Certification).
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and lift up to 50 pounds.

Position Expectations

The Deli Operations Manager is a working leader who is expected to lead by example, support their team on the sales floor, and take ownership of all aspects of department operations. Success in this role is measured by operational excellence, employee engagement, sales growth, profitability, food quality, and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Key Certifications/Skills:

• Serve Safe
• Allergen

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid training
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

From the time he opened his fruit and vegetable shop in 1930, Granddad Tofic Saidnawey packed every order with only premium-quality fruit. And, he gave his customers far better service than they were used to receiving.
Today, more than 90 years and three generations later, we still maintain Granddad's unmatched levels of product quality and customer service.
Granddad's fruit and vegetable shop has evolved into today's Pemberton Farms Marketplace - a unique combination of premium gift business, specialty grocery store and garden center. Currently located in Cambridge, MA just up the street from the original store, Pemberton Farms Marketplace proudly serves the local community of Boston and maintains the standards of quality and service from generations past.
And even though we have old-fashioned values about quality and service, we embrace progress and are mindful of the future. We are excited to offer natural, organic and locally sourced products as well as foods that help our customers with special diets - gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, nut-free - and provide an array of products for people who are concerned about our planet - organic, sustainable, GMO-free, fair trade and more.
Whether you need a great gift, stop in for some groceries, a bottle of wine or new plants for your garden, we're here to help and are proud to be your friends and neighbor.