Meat Clerk

New Leaf Community Markets; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Amazing Benefits Package

Paid Parental Leave

30% discount at locations

Public Transport Benefits

Job summary

New Leaf Community Markets in Santa Cruz, CA is seeking a Meat & Seafood team member to support opening and closing duties, assist customers, and maintain product quality.

You will stock cases, apply pricing, and ensure accurate signage while upholding our values of community, integrity, sustainability, quality, and respect. This role offers learning about meat/seafood, teamwork, and growth in a local market focused on fresh, local foods.

Qualifications

• Experience in customer service, food service, or retail is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepares Meat and Seafood department for store opening and closing.
• Assists customers with product selection and makes recommendations based on needs.
• Maintains meat and seafood cases, stocks and rotates products, and ensures product quality.
• Communicates issues to management; handles damaged or spoiled items per policy.
• Maintains cleanliness and accurate pricing/signage according to merchandising standards.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Product knowledge

Hospitality

Tools

POS system

Job description

1213 - NL River Street, 650 River Street, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM | Expires Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 9:59 AM

Who is New Leaf Community Markets?

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.

Ingredients You’ll Bring to the Table:
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.
What’s on Your Plate:

Department:Meat & Seafood

Reports To:Meat Manager

FLSA Status:Non-Exempt

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Position Responsibilities:

• Prepares Meat and Seafood department for store opening and closing.
• Assists customers with product selection. Shares product knowledge with customers. Makes recommendations and suggestions based on customer needs.
• Prepares, cuts, wraps weighs, tares, prices, and presents Meat and Seafood department products.
• Stocks and maintains meat and seafood cases.
• Completes customer special orders thoroughly and provides follow-through as needed.
• Stocks, rotates, and faces products with attention to product quality and expiration dates.
• Handles damaged and spoiled products according to company policy.
• Receives and unloads merchandise; checks quality, count, and condition. Communicates any issues to management and the merchandising team.
• Maintains cleanliness, organization, and rotation of all areas, products, and supplies.
• Maintains accurate pricing and signage that meets merchandising standards.
• Understands and complies with specific shift guidelines, tasks, and responsibilities.
• Maintains awareness of current ads, promotions, holidays, and events.
• Demonstrates familiarity with products in the department, including terminology, cuts, recommended product uses, vendor/supplier information, and product labeling, with the ability to continue learning.
• Notifies the department manager or Manager on Duty of any situations relating to customer service, safety, productivity, security, or any other situation that may hurt the store.
• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

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.

Education and/or Experience

• Previous customer service, food service, retail, or grocery experience preferred.
• Knowledge of retail Meat and Seafood departments / prior meat/butcher industry-specific experience a bonus.

Physical Demands

This position works at a Heavy level. Required frequently and up to continuously to be on feet with a mix of standing and walking throughout the shift. Sitting is seldom required. Up to occasionally, dependent on location, required to climb stairs, step stools, and /or ladders. Continuously required to: lift 1-10 pounds; push/pull 1-10 pounds; use arms, hands, and wrists; grasping/squeezing. Frequently required to: lift 11-20 pounds; twist; reach at/above shoulder; reach below shoulder. Occasionally required to: carry 1-50 pounds; push/pull 11-20 pounds; bend/stoop; crouch/squat; reach at/above shoulder.

This position may require to use of the following tools and equipment: box knife, baler, scanner, hand truck, POS, conveyer belt, industrial kitchen equipment (i.e. blast chiller, grill, knives/blades, oven, grills, scales, etc.), basic housekeeping / janitorial and standard office equipment.

Work occurs in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that can be wet and slippery, moderate noise levels, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in the cooler and freezer, and depending on location, working outside in all temperatures. There may be exposure to certain allergens and/or chemicals. By the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local laws, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Why You’ll Love Working at New Leaf Community Markets

• 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