Grocery/Front End Lead

Common Market Co-op; Frederick, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Common Market Co-op in Frederick, MD seeks a Front End Operations & Customer Service lead to direct cashiers, manage tills, and ensure fast, friendly checkout. You’ll coordinate breaks and coverage, assist service desks, and uphold the co‑op’s proactive customer service model.

You’ll also supervise grocery tasks, train new staff, handle receiving and merchandising, drive sales through efficient labor use, and maintain strong communication with managers and front end teams.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 2 years in a retail environment.
• Minimum 1 year familiar with natural foods.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Supports co-op values and Code of Conduct.
• Remains composed in stressful situations.
• Proficient with MS Office.
• POS and receiving systems experience; Catapult a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction to cashiers regarding breaks and shift coverage; hold staff accountable for timeliness and performance.
• Ensure maximum service coverage at registers based on customer flow and assist in keeping lines to a minimum.
• Support cashiers with register overrides and service desk coverage as needed.
• Prepare and distribute cashiers' tills and ensure timely counting and reconciliation.
• Assist in monetary operations of the Front End and report discrepancies or concerns to management.
• Resolve customer service issues promptly and professionally.
• Maintain communication with Managers, Lead Cashiers, and Front End staff.
• Ensure consistent delivery of the co-op's proactive customer service model.
• Perform transactions accurately and efficiently.
• Facilitate front end cleaning duties, including registers, bathrooms, and supply areas.
• Invite shoppers to become Member-Owners year-round, with emphasis during Owner Drive months.
• Coordinate with Grocery Leadership to assign daily tasks for efficient use of labor.
• Train and support new grocery staff and provide ongoing coaching.
• Provide input for performance evaluations, document performance issues, and assist with disciplinary actions in accordance with policy.
• Direct and expedite back stock maintenance; rotate overstock appropriately into storage and onto the sales floor.
• Assist with receiving and unloading deliveries, verifying piece count and quality, and obtaining vendor credits when necessary.
• Direct staff to appropriate workstations to maximize efficiency and maintain department organization.
• Distribute invoices to appropriate parties.
• Assist with remerchandising plans to drive sales and improve labor efficiency.
• Provide backup purchasing assistance as needed.
• Maintain awareness of current stock levels and expedite out-of-stock items to the sales floor.
• Follow all procedures for proper product rotation and overstocking practices.
• Demonstrate leadership at all levels and lead by example.
• Uphold the Co-op Code of Conduct and ensure high customer service standards across departments.
• Support and promote co-op core values in daily work.
• Build and maintain customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the co-op.
• Find productive tasks during periods of downtime.
• Adapt to evolving co-op needs and respond constructively to feedback.
• Maintain composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

MS Office proficiency

POS systems

Team leadership

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Office Suite

POS/receiving systems

Job description

Description

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Front End Operations & Customer Service

• Provide direction to cashiers regarding breaks and shift coverage; hold staff accountable for timeliness and performance.
• Ensure maximum service coverage at registers based on customer flow and assist in keeping lines to a minimum.
• Support cashiers with register overrides and service desk coverage as needed.
• Prepare and distribute cashiers' tills and ensure timely counting and reconciliation.
• Assist in monetary operations of the Front End and report discrepancies or concerns to management.
• Resolve customer service issues promptly and professionally.
• Maintain exceptional communication with Managers, Lead Cashiers, and Front End staff.
• Ensure consistent delivery of the co-op's proactive customer service model.
• Perform transactions accurately and efficiently.
• Facilitate front end cleaning duties, including registers, bathrooms, and supply areas.
• Invite shoppers to become Member-Owners year-round, with emphasis during Owner Drive months.

Grocery Operations & Department Leadership

• Coordinate with Grocery Leadership to assign daily tasks for efficient use of labor.
• Train and support new grocery staff and provide ongoing coaching.
• Provide input for performance evaluations, document performance issues, and assist with disciplinary actions in accordance with policy.
• Direct and expedite back stock maintenance; rotate overstock appropriately into storage and onto the sales floor.
• Assist with receiving and unloading deliveries, verifying piece count and quality, and obtaining vendor credits when necessary.
• Direct staff to appropriate workstations to maximize efficiency and maintain department organization.

Distribute invoices to appropriate parties.

• Assist with remerchandising plans to drive sales and improve labor efficiency.
• Provide backup purchasing assistance as needed.
• Maintain awareness of current stock levels and expedite out-of-stock items to the sales floor.
• Follow all procedures for proper product rotation and overstocking practices.

Leadership & General Responsibilities

• Demonstrate leadership at all levels and lead by example.
• Uphold the Co-op Code of Conduct and ensure high customer service standards across departments.
• Support and promote co-op core values in daily work.
• Build and maintain customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the co-op.
• Find productive tasks during periods of downtime.
• Adapt to evolving co-op needs and respond constructively to feedback.
• Maintain composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• High School Diploma or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in a retail environment.
• A minimum of one (1) year’s experience and familiarity with natural foods.
• Strong Customer service and communication skills.
• Supports the co-op's core values and aligns with the Co-op Code of Conduct.
• Adapts readily based on evolving co-op needs or in response to feedback.
• Maintains composure in highly stressful or adverse situations.
• Computer proficiency and familiarity with MS Office Suite.
• POS and receiving systems experience strongly preferred. Catapult experience a strong plus.

ENVIRONMENTAL & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Flexibility to work any shift, including mornings, middays, evenings, weekends.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures (approximately 20°F - 90°F).
• Ability to stand or sit for long periods at a time.
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, kneel, twist, and climb.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted.
• Reliable access to transportation.