Prepared Foods Team Leader

New Pioneer Food Co-op; Coralville (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Staff discounts

Retirement plan

Job summary

New Pioneer Food Co-op in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Coralville is seeking a Prepared Foods Team Leader to oversee daily operations of the department, ensuring product quality, food safety, and strong team leadership across production and service areas. You will drive operational discipline and deliver a reliable, high‑quality customer experience.

You will partner with Store Leadership and Merchandising to align on priorities, maintain freshness, and support staff development.

Qualifications

• Experience in food service or retail leadership.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and safe handling practices.
• Ability to lead a team and set clear expectations.
• Comfort working with performance metrics and operational standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day department operations across kitchen production and service
• Ensure food safety, product quality, and sanitation standards are consistently upheld
• Coach and develop team members through clear expectations, coaching, and feedback
• Maintain product availability, freshness, and presentation across all prepared foods offerings
• Monitor department performance including sales, margin, labor, and shrink
• Partner with Store Leadership and Category & Merchandising to align on execution and priorities
• Address operational challenges quickly to maintain standards and minimize disruption

Skills

Food service leadership

Food safety

Team leadership

Communication

Operational discipline

Job description

Location: Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City

Reports to: Store Team Leader

About New Pioneer Food Co-op

New Pioneer Food Co-op is a community owned, value driven local food marketplace rooted in cooperation, sustainability, and shared success. We exist to strengthen the local food system while creating welcoming spaces for staff, members, and partners to thrive.

Description

Starting Salary: $58,000.00, based on experience, interview, and skills test

Location: Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City

Reports to: Store Team Leader

Employment Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

About New Pioneer Food Co-op

New Pioneer Food Co-op is a community owned, value driven local food marketplace rooted in cooperation, sustainability, and shared success. We exist to strengthen the local food system while creating welcoming spaces for staff, members, and partners to thrive.

About The Role

The Prepared Foods Team Leader is responsible for the daily performance of the department, including product quality, food safety, team leadership, and operational execution across both production and service areas. This role ensures prepared foods offerings consistently meet New Pioneer standards while supporting team development, maintaining operational discipline, and delivering a reliable and high-quality customer experience.

Requirements

What You Will Do

• Lead day-to-day department operations across kitchen production and service areas
• Ensure food safety, product quality, and sanitation standards are consistently upheld
• Support and develop team members through clear expectations, coaching, and feedback
• Maintain product availability, freshness, and presentation across all prepared foods offerings
• Monitor department performance including sales, margin, labor, and shrink
• Partner with Store Leadership and Category & Merchandising to align on execution and priorities
• Address operational challenges quickly to maintain standards and minimize disruption

What Success Looks Like

• Prepared foods offerings are fresh, well stocked, and consistently meet quality standards
• Food safety and sanitation standards are consistently followed
• The department is organized, efficient, and operating smoothly across production and service
• Team members are supported, accountable, and clear on expectations
• Sales, margin, labor, and shrink remain within expected targets
• Customers experience a reliable, high-quality, and convenient prepared foods offering

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in food service, prepared foods, or retail leadership
• Strong understanding of food safety and safe food handling practices
• Ability to lead a team, set expectations, and follow through on performance
• Comfort working with performance metrics and operational standards
• Strong communication and a collaborative approach

Compensation & Benefits

This position offers a competitive salary aligned with market benchmarks for similar cooperative roles, plus a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, paid time off, staff discounts, and retirement plan options.

Why Join New Pioneer

At New Pioneer, every role contributes to a shared goal of providing high-quality food and a strong community experience. As a Prepared Foods Team Leader, you play a key role in delivering fresh, ready-to-eat offerings that customers rely on while supporting a team that takes pride in their work.