Director-In-Training - District II

Coborn's, Inc.; Town of Rice Lake (WI); On-site; USD 49,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Dental insurance

ESOP

401(k) with match

Paid Time Off

Employee discount

DailyPay

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Coborn’s, Inc. is a fast-growing, employee-owned grocery retailer seeking a Director in Training to gain hands-on experience leading total store operations and learning alongside an experienced Store Director.

You will develop skills to drive sales and profitability, build strong teams, and create a remarkable guest experience while learning how decisions impact the store’s success and ownership culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 3–5 years of related experience.
• Supervisory or management experience is preferred.
• A passion for developing people, serving guests, and achieving business results.
• Ability to set clear expectations, lead by example, and hold yourself and others accountable.
• Adaptability, sound judgment, and willingness to learn every area of store operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead total store performance toward sales, profit, expense, labor, and guest service goals.
• Coach department leaders, set expectations, and build employee confidence through feedback and development.
• Ensure departments meet standards for merchandising, inventory, pricing, rotation, and food safety.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Customer service

Accountability

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

Overview

At Coborn’s, we’re more than a grocery retailer. We’re an employee-owned company, and that ownership mindset is part of how we lead, serve our guests, and grow our business.

As a Director in Training, you’ll gain hands-on experience leading total store operations while learning alongside an experienced Store Director. You’ll develop the skills to make thoughtful business decisions, drive sales and profitability, build and develop strong teams, and create a remarkable experience for our guests.

As an employee owner and future store leader, you’ll learn how the decisions made every day impact your team, your store, and the long-term success of our company. You’ll be encouraged to take ownership, understand the business beyond day‑to‑day operations, and help create a culture where employees feel connected to the success they help build.

This high-visibility development opportunity is designed for a motivated leader who is ready to grow their business knowledge, take on increasing responsibility, and prepare to lead a store with an owner’s mindset.

What You’ll Learn and Lead

• Lead total store performance: Learn to organize and direct store activities while working toward sales, profit, expense, labor, and guest service goals.
• Develop strong teams: Coach department leaders, set clear expectations, reinforce accountability, and build employee confidence through ongoing feedback and development.
• Deliver operational excellence: Help ensure departments meet standards for merchandising, ordering, inventory, receiving, pricing, product rotation, freshness, sanitation, food safety, and workplace safety.
• Create a remarkable guest experience: Model personalized service, maintain an organized and inviting store, and inspire teams to put guests at the center of every decision.
• Drive merchandising and promotions: Lead store promotional activities and execute visually exciting displays that support sales and gross profit goals.
• Build leadership capability: Strengthen hiring, scheduling, retention, communication, training, succession planning, and positive employee relations across the store.
• Ensure compliance: Support adherence to company standards and applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
• Stay connected to the work: Regularly walk the store, identify opportunities, remove barriers, and assist departments when needed.

Why Join Coborn’s?

Coborn’s, Inc. is a fast‑growing, employee‑owned grocery retailer proudly serving communities across the Midwest. For more than 100 years, we’ve built our business around fresh thinking, meaningful community connections, and opportunities for our people to grow. Here, your ideas, leadership, and results can make a visible impact.

Our family of businesses includes Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods, Sullivan’s Foods, Kessler’s, and additional retail and service brands. Together, we’re guided by our vision to inspire happiness, healthy living, and simplicity.

What’s In It For Me?

• Medical & Dental insurance with Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) - yes, we’re employee‑owned! Our team members benefit from the success of the company through this company-sponsored benefit!
• 401(k) plan options - we also match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed
• Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation)
• 10% employee discount on grocery items, with additional franchise‑specific discounts available at company‑owned Ace Hardware, Caribou Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert’s, and Pet Supplies Plus locations.
• Additional Voluntary Benefits - such as vision, accident and critical illness insurances
• Adoption Reimbursement, Paid Family Caregiver Leave, as well as company‑sponsored Term Life Insurance
• Get Paid Daily with DailyPay - for employees who would like access to their pay before payday, we offer this great benefit!
• Paid Military Leave
• Employee recognition programs with monetary rewards, including in‑store vouchers, years of service, and employee of the month
• Employee Health & Wellness Programs, Challenges and Resources - to assist our team members in living a life of well‑being!
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - unlimited phone access to legal, financial, and work‑life services and up to five free in‑person counseling sessions, per situation/issue, per year
• Access to a national discount marketplace for travel, electronics, auto/home insurance, entertainment and more!
• Tools, resources and opportunities for career growth and development
• Education benefits including tuition discount and scholarship programs

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and three to five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Supervisory or management experience is preferred.
• A passion for developing people, serving guests, and achieving business results.
• The ability to set clear expectations, lead by example, and hold yourself and others accountable.
• Adaptability, sound judgment, and a willingness to learn every area of store operations.

We believe that building a team of people with different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences and perspectives inspires fresh thinking and opens us up to new possibilities. We are an EEO/AA Employer - All qualified individuals, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Pay Range

USD $49,200.00 - USD $74,000.00 /Yr.

Company Introduction

Are you friendly, dependable, and passionate about working with people? At Coborn’s, Inc., we love serving our guests, supporting our communities, and helping our team members grow their careers. If you’re looking for a place where you can build a future while making a positive impact every day, we’d love to talk to you about joining our team!

Coborn's, Inc. is a fast‑growing, employee‑owned grocery retailer proudly serving communities across the Midwest. Our family of grocery stores includes Coborn's, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher's, Tadych’s Marketplace Foods, Sullivan’s Foods, and Kessler’s. We offer our guests an elevated shopping experience - both in-store and online, focused on freshness, value, and convenience. Guided by our company vision to inspire happiness, healthy living, and simplicity, this principle has fueled our growth for more than 100 years and is at the heart of everything we do.

Coborn’s, Inc. also owns and operates liquor stores under the Coborn’s Liquor, Cash Wise Liquor, Andy’s Liquor, and Captain Jack’s brands. In addition, we operate fuel kiosks and convenience store locations under the Little Dukes and Coborn’s Express names. Many of our grocery stores also feature full‑service pharmacies to support the health and wellness of our guests. We manage a variety of other retail businesses in markets where the fit is right, including Ace Hardware, Country Floral Gifts & Greenhouse, Caribou Coffee, Dunn Brothers Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert’s, Godfather’s Pizza, and Pet Supplies Plus. To support our diverse retail operations, we operate our own central bakery, fresh foods commissary, and grocery warehouse and distribution center.