Prepared Foods Assistant Team Leader

Metropolitan Market; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Market seeks a Prepared Foods Assistant Team Leader to help manage PF&CD products, safety, quality, and merchandising. You will support the Team Leader, train staff, and drive guest satisfaction while monitoring costs and labor.

Responsibilities include inventory, vendor relations, and daily operations to ensure high standards of freshness and profitability. Previous leadership in prepared foods is preferred, Serve Safe certification is a plus.

Qualifications

• Serve Safe certification and knowledge of HACCP required.
• Proven leadership and staff development experience.
• Strong merchandising and display planning abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist Team Leader with product management, displays, and inventory control.
• Lead PF&C D team in daily operations, scheduling, and guest service.
• Educate team and guests on product selection, recipes, and meal ideas.
• Ensure food safety, portion control, and adherence to guidelines.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Guest service

Food safety

Merchandising

Job description

Position Description

Metropolitan Market

Position Title: Prepared Foods Assistant Team Leader

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Classification: Union

Department: Operations, Prepared Foods

Reports To: Prepared Foods Team Leader

Job Summary: As a key leader of our Prepared Foods & Cheese Departments (PF&CD), this position is responsible for assisting the Prepared Foods Team Leader with product management, food safety, quality control, merchandising, sales generation, gross margins, labor and general expense control, personnel development, guest service, and profitability within the PF&CD. This position is also responsible for the education of team members and guests in the areas of product selection, recipe ideas, and meal solutions. In partnership with the Prepared Foods Team Leader, provides leadership to PF&CD team members on a department wide basis.

Essential Functions

I. Product Management

• Develops and maintains product displays that create an exciting marketplace; strives to develop displays that pique guest interest and impact guest buying trends. Oversees the merchandising of product and ensures all department merchandising is consistent with company guidelines, expectations, and approved merchandising plans.

• Ensures effective ordering of all products for the PF&CD; maintains product inventory at a level that promotes effective sales merchandising and maximizes sales growth. Coordinates with Prepared Foods Team Leaders at alternate store locations to consolidate direct orders, thereby reducing out-of-stocks, excessive inventory, and freight costs.
• Participates in determining order quantities and verifying cost of goods. Assumes primary responsibility for store-level vendor relations, including in-store daily operations and meetings.
• Assists the Prepared Foods Team Leader with determining product selections; performs category management functions as assigned by the Prepared Foods Team Leader or as needed.
• Works with the Kitchen Manager to ensure ingredients and products are available and on-hand for daily and weekly production.
• Consistently achieves all food preparation guidelines, including full compliance with established recipe program; ensures prepared food consistency and portion control.
• Ensures all mis-picks, damaged goods, and credits are processed and managed within established guidelines.
• Demonstrates effective inventory control, thereby minimizing unnecessary cost associated with excessive inventory, including supplies.
• Verifies correct invoice billing, including confirmationthrough the weekly general ledger, and PF&CD receiving log sheets; ensures accurate receiving procedures are achieved; follows-up and resolves inaccurate billing; ensures the Accounts Payable Team Member is alerted to discrepancies between shipping document amount and invoice amount; ensures the Prepared Foods & Cheese Coordinator is alerted to variances from vendor quoted or anticipated product cost and invoiced amount.
• Assists the Prepared Foods Team Leader in achieving the lowest cost of goods for the highest quality products; assesses product quality and provides timely feedback; keeps the Prepared Foods Team Leader informed of vendor price increases on approved products.
• Ensures all outdated products are pulled, recorded, and discarded from PF&CD sales areas on a daily basis; determines proper replacement product quantities and promptly prepares in compliance within established guidelines.
• Assumes responsibility and management of shrink; reports shrink to Prepared Foods Team Leader.

• Ensures effective informational and price point signing is posted for all products; assists the Prepared Foods Team Leader in developing effective product descriptions and establishing correct verbiage for all related signs/materials.

• Establishes and manages stocking standards that ensure high product quality, including established rotation procedures. Incorporates cleaning with stocking and rotation requirements.
• Effectively plans and performs physical inventory on a quarterly basis, or as needed.

II. Operations

• In the absence of the Prepared Foods Team Leader, assumes primary responsibility of PF&CD.
• Determines daily projects and activities of department team members; ensures daily tasks and assignments are accomplished correctly and in a timely manner.

• Effectively manages department operations to achieve sales goals and general expense budgets; assists Prepared Foods Team Leader with maintaining pricing to achieve budgeted gross profit goals.
• In the absence of the Prepared Foods Team Leader, writes Prepared Foods work schedule; effectively allocates labor to accomplish operational goals, best service guests, and achieve labor budget.

• Adheres to an established supply budget; obtains spending approval from the Prepared Foods Team Leader and Store Director Team for expenses outside of normal parameters.
• Adheres to company guidelines regarding prevention of internal and external loss, including risk management, accident prevention/safety awareness, and loss prevention.

• Maintains sales floor, cooler, and freezer in a safe, clean, and organized manner; stores products in a manner that allows easy access to back stock.

• Participates in Prepared Foods staff meetings and store staff meetings as required.
• Effectively uses telephone, paging, and voice mail systems in a professional manner.
• Uses work-related equipment correctly under manufacturer guidelines.

• Ensures the safety, cleanliness, and proper working order of equipment in Prepared Foods.

• Adheres to all food safety and sanitation requirements. Consistently demonstrates knowledge of HACCP and Department of Health provisions, shares knowledge with team members for the purpose of training.

• Serve Safe Certified.

III. Leadership

• Effectively builds and maintains morale, provides motivation and feedback, foster a cohesive, productive team.
• Assists the Prepared Foods Team Leader with recruitment and hiring of PF&CD non-supervisory team members, including active recruitment of potential department team members (e.g., communicates with local schools, businesses, and organizations, and networks within the community and industry). At all times, ensures an ample qualified group of candidates is identified, available, and interested in joining our team.
• Assists the Prepared Foods Team Leader with department team member relations, including team member training, performance appraisals, coaching, counseling, and corrective action; leads succession planning and actively participates in staff recognition and retention programs.
• Oversees PF&CD team member productivity and subsequent benchmarks.
• In partnership with the Prepared Foods Team Leader, conducts PF&CD training and team member performance evaluations.
• Leads by example, provides team members with clear expectations and timely feedback.
• Effectively delegates and follows-up with team members.
• Actively leads and participates in product promotions/focuses and community events.
• Provides team members with information necessary to their positions; actively communicates; works to involve and educate all team members.

• Contributes to a productive, enjoyable work environment; foster working relationships that promote positive team morale. Effectively utilizes the Company’s Open Door and Conflict Resolution programs as needed. Gives and receives input/feedback in a solution-based manner.
• Successfully manages team member conflict and resolution; provides coaching and counseling.

• Actively shares our company’s vision with team members and guests.
• Actively develops team members; leads team members in career pathing and personal development; prepares team members for advancement/promotion.

IV. Guest Service

• Immediately greets all guests; demonstrates genuine enthusiasm and sincerity; customizes approach to meet guest needs and build rapport. Works to create guest loyalty through individualized service.
• Anticipates guest needs and questions related to products; completes industry-related reading and self-education activities required to remain knowledgeable and current in areas of responsibility, including product knowledge (e.g., product tasting, cutting-edge trends, product use research, and vocabulary development). Effectively follows through with guests, including item requests, questions, and concerns.
• Actively seeks out product knowledge and adheres to approved product sampling methods and expectations; presents product knowledge in a positive, appealing manner that promotes increased sales and best serves the guest.
• Effectively shifts-gears to meet guest needs; moves with ease from greeting to providing product information, up-selling, closing the sale, thanking guests and inviting them back. Effectively assesses guests’ needs and appropriately suggests products. Offers guests opportunities to interact with products.

• Develops customer base by providing excellent guest service throughout the store; effectively secures the assistance of other store personnel as needed.

• Readily provides guests information on store layout, services, and activities (e.g., promotions and special products).
• Ensures all guest and other phone inquiries are handled with appropriate telephone etiquette, effectively providing consistent, friendly, and efficient service.
• Trains PF&CD team members on guest service expectations and techniques; ensures guest service expectations are consistently achieved on a department-wide basis.

• Maintains PF&CD area in a clean, organized, guest-friendly manner; consistently provides guests a professional, upbeat atmosphere.

V. Miscellaneous

• • Upholds all Metropolitan Market policies and procedures; adheres to all applicable local, state, and federal laws; adheres to applicable UFCW Union contract provisions.
  • Performs all job responsibilities with professionalism and appropriate discretion/confidentiality as determined by the Company’s policies, procedures, and expectations; acts accordingly at all times while representing the Company (including activities/functions away from the store location).
  • Consistently presents a professional personal image, including impeccable execution of the Company’s General Dress Guideline/Uniform Standards and Professional Image Standards.
  • Adheres to workplace cleanliness and personal hygiene standards.
  • Works a flexible schedule as required by business needs.
  • Achieves Metropolitan Market attendance requirements.
  • Identifies opportunities for enhancement or improvement of processes/systems. Communicates promptly to the Prepared Foods Team Leader, Store Director Team, and/or Prepared Foods & Cheese Coordinator. Recommends/implements solutions as appropriate.
  • Other responsibilities as assigned by the Prepared Foods Team Leader, Store Director Team, and/or Prepared Foods & Cheese Coordinator.

VI. Physical Requirements

• Standing/Walking: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station or moving about the work area.
• Sitting: Remaining in the normal seated position.
• Carrying: Moving an object, usually by holding it in hands or arms, or on shoulder. Minimum 50 pounds.
• Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another, using hands, arms and/or shoulders, back and legs. Minimum 50 pounds.
• Pushing/Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from/toward the force. Minimum 50 pounds.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs, and/or hands and arms.
• Traveling: Requires travel outside geographical region.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees, or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise performing precision work with hand(s).
• Bending/Twisting: Continual, intermittent flexion or rotation of the wrists and/or spine.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing: Receiving detailed information through oral communication.
• Tasting/Sm