Fish Counter Associate

Citarella - The Ultimate Gourmet Market; New York (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Employee discounts

Paid time off

Job summary

Citarella is seeking a friendly Fish Counter Associate for our Seafood Department in New York. You will help guests select seafood, share product knowledge, and uphold Citarella's standards for freshness and presentation.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with people, can handle raw seafood in refrigerated environments, and is eager to learn Citarella's preparation methods. Flexible availability, including weekends, is required; prior seafood or food-service experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in customer service, food retail, seafood handling, or a related food service environment preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a commitment to delivering exceptional guest service.
• Interest in seafood products and a willingness to learn Citarella's product selection, preparation methods, and quality standards.
• Basic understanding of food handling and sanitation practices, or willingness to learn.
• Ability to work efficiently and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong organizational skills, dependability, and a sense of urgency.
• Ability to follow instructions, work collaboratively, and support department operations.
• Comfortable handling raw seafood and working in refrigerated environments.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional guest service by assisting customers with seafood selections, answering product questions, and providing knowledgeable recommendations.
• Promote seafood products through suggestive selling, highlighting product features, preparation options, and complementary items.
• Maintain attractive, well-stocked seafood displays that reflect Citarella's standards for freshness, quality, and presentation.
• Receive, inspect, unload, and organize seafood deliveries, ensuring products meet established quality and freshness standards.
• Properly stock, rotate, and store seafood products while monitoring freshness, temperatures, and product quality.
• Assist with seafood preparation, including cleaning, portioning, and handling fish, shrimp, lobster, and other seafood products as needed.
• Apply basic knife skills and safely use seafood preparation tools and equipment.
• Assist with shrimp and lobster preparation and cooking according to established procedures.
• Monitor product waste and shrink while following proper handling, storage, and rotation practices.
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitized seafood counters, display cases, tools, and workstations.
• Follow all applicable Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DOA), OSHA, and company food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Safely handle cleaning and sanitizing chemicals in accordance with company guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with department leadership and fellow associates to support daily operations and guest satisfaction.
• Maintain a professional, courteous, and team-oriented attitude at all times.
• Perform additional department duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Seafood handling

Attention to detail

Organization

Guest engagement

Job description

Led by owner Joe Gurrera and his commitment to superior quality, Citarella has grown from a respected New York City fish market into a full-scale Ultimate Gourmet Market, with locations across New York City, the Hamptons, and Greenwich, Connecticut.

As a family-run business, we're driven by a passion for great food. We delight customers with an exceptional selection of fresh seafood, prime dry-aged beef, chef-prepared specialties, handcrafted pastries, international cheeses, imported groceries, and more. Join our team of dedicated food professionals and become part of the fabric of New York's vibrant food scene.

Role Overview

Citarella is seeking an enthusiastic, dependable, and guest-focused Fish Counter Associate to join our Seafood Department. As part of the team, you'll help deliver an exceptional shopping experience by assisting guests with our premium seafood selection, sharing product knowledge, and ensuring every item meets Citarella's high standards for freshness, quality, and presentation.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with people, takes pride in quality food, and thrives in a fast-paced retail environment. Whether you bring previous seafood experience or a strong background in food service and customer engagement, this role offers an opportunity to develop your seafood knowledge and contribute to one of Citarella's signature departments.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Deliver exceptional guest service by assisting customers with seafood selections, answering product questions, and providing knowledgeable recommendations.
• Promote seafood products through suggestive selling, highlighting product features, preparation options, and complementary items.
• Maintain attractive, well-stocked seafood displays that reflect Citarella's standards for freshness, quality, and presentation.
• Receive, inspect, unload, and organize seafood deliveries, ensuring products meet established quality and freshness standards.
• Properly stock, rotate, and store seafood products while monitoring freshness, temperatures, and product quality.
• Assist with seafood preparation, including cleaning, portioning, and handling fish, shrimp, lobster, and other seafood products as needed.
• Apply basic knife skills and safely use seafood preparation tools and equipment.
• Assist with shrimp and lobster preparation and cooking according to established procedures.
• Monitor product waste and shrink while following proper handling, storage, and rotation practices.
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitized seafood counters, display cases, tools, and workstations.
• Follow all applicable Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DOA), OSHA, and company food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Safely handle cleaning and sanitizing chemicals in accordance with company guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with department leadership and fellow associates to support daily operations and guest satisfaction.
• Maintain a professional, courteous, and team-oriented attitude at all times.
• Perform additional department duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Previous experience in customer service, food retail, seafood handling, or a related food service environment preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a commitment to delivering exceptional guest service.
• Interest in seafood products and a willingness to learn Citarella's product selection, preparation methods, and quality standards.
• Basic understanding of food handling and sanitation practices, or willingness to learn.
• Ability to work efficiently and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong organizational skills, dependability, and a sense of urgency.
• Ability to follow instructions, work collaboratively, and support department operations.
• Comfortable handling raw seafood and working in refrigerated environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six months to one year of experience in a seafood department, fish market, grocery store, restaurant, or specialty food retailer.
• Familiarity with seafood varieties, freshness indicators, handling, and storage procedures.
• Basic knife skills and experience cleaning or preparing fish and shellfish.
• Experience with seafood merchandising, inventory rotation, and waste reduction.
• Previous experience with suggestive selling and guest engagement.

Physical & Additional Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.
• Ability to bend, reach, lift, carry, push, and pull merchandise and equipment as required by the position.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks involving seafood handling, stocking, and preparation.
• Ability to work in refrigerated and temperature-controlled environments.
• Ability to safely operate seafood preparation tools and equipment.
• Maintain proper personal hygiene and follow established food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Report to work on time, neatly groomed, and wearing the appropriate uniform and required protective equipment.
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on business needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

In Return, We Offer!

Competitive wages, medical/dental/vision benefits, company-sponsored life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, employee discounts, paid time off, and a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match!

At Citarella, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.

Citarella will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.