MEAT/DEPT LEADER

Kroger; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Flexible scheduling

Employee Assistance Program

Associate discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Career growth

Job summary

The Kroger Family of Companies are seeking a Meat Department leader at our Kent store to organize, train and direct associates, ensuring top customer service and adherence to company policies. You will manage pricing, merchandising and temperature controls while contributing to budgets and strategic goals.

Ideal candidates have meat or food-prep experience, strong communication, decision-making skills and a proven ability to lead teams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Willing to work weekends and holidays.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to make intelligent decisions quickly.
• Able to tactfully and calmly handle stressful situations and make a positive impression on associates and customers.
• Production, merchandising, and customer service related to preparation and sale of products.
• Understanding of department operations.
• Knowledge of employment practices, safety, and food handling regulations.
• Meat work experience or similar experience in food preparation.
• Past work record reflects dependability and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Develop maximum customer relations through friendliness and courtesy and implementation of all company policies.
• Keep department temperature logs accurately updated and maintained. Train and follow up with Meat department associates on temperature logs to guarantee accurately recorded temperatures.
• Perform and direct others in pricing and displaying of merchandise. Maintain proper signage, product rotation, freshness, quantity, quality and proper space allocation for merchandise.
• Provide input on department budgets, goals and results.
• Train and develop all Meat department employees, insuring that proper emphasis on customer courtesy and productivity is developed and that the technical skills learned are properly utilized.
• Implement company programs and adhere to company policies and procedures, particularly in the area of maintenance of a work environment free of unlawful harassment or discrimination.
• Make recommendations regarding the hiring, firing, disciplining, demoting, transferring and evaluating of all meat department associates.
• Demonstrate the ability and desire to promote, communicate and implement company initiatives and process improvements to direct reports in a positive manner.
• Demonstrate aptitude to manage people and organize workloads.
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports.
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information.
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and older adults.
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information.
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Decision making

Merchandising

Communication

Problem solving

Job description

Plan, organize, train and direct Meat department associates; perform production and customer service functions; maximize store sales and profits. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop maximum customer relations through friendliness and courtesy and implementation of all company policies. Be alert and assist in store security. Be perceptive and handle customer complaints.
• Keep department temperature logs accurately updated and maintained. Train and follow up with Meat department associates on temperature logs to guarantee accurately recorded temperatures.
• Perform and direct others in pricing and displaying of merchandise. Maintain proper signage, product rotation, freshness, quantity, quality and proper space allocation for merchandise.
• Provide input on department budgets, goals and results.
• Train and develop all Meat department employees, insuring that proper emphasis on customer courtesy and productivity is developed and that the technical skills learned are properly utilized.
• Implement company programs and adhere to company policies and procedures, particularly in the area of maintenance of a work environment free of unlawful harassment or discrimination.
• Make recommendations regarding the hiring, firing, disciplining, demoting, transferring and evaluating of all meat department associates.
• Demonstrate the ability and desire to promote, communicate and implement company initiatives and process improvements to direct reports in a positive manner.
• Demonstrate aptitude to manage people and organize workloads.
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports.
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information.
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and older adults.
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information.
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Willing to work weekends and holidays.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to make intelligent decisions quickly.
• Able to tactfully and calmly handle stressful situations and make a positive impression on associates and customers.
• Possess abilities and skills for effective production, merchandising, and customer services related to preparation and sale of products.
• Understanding of all key components of department operations.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations related to employment practices, safety, and food handling.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations related to employment practices, safety, food handling.
• Meat work experience or similar experience in food preparation.
• Past work record reflects dependability and integrity.

Job Info

• Job Identification 221747
• Job Category Store Operations
• Posting Date 08/22/2026, 09:49 PM
• Locations 13310 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042, US (On-site)

The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:

• A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
• Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching.
• Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
• Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.

From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we’ve grown into what today is the nation’s largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America’s grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.
Here, people matter. That’s why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you’re caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you’re seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we’ve got a fresh opportunity for you.