Prepared Foods Team Member

Metropolitan Market; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Market is seeking a Prepared Foods Team Member to deliver outstanding customer service, assist with product preparation, and ensure food safety and quality. You will engage customers with product knowledge, help with merchandising, and support daily operations within the Prepared Foods department.

The role emphasizes teamwork, adherence to health and safety standards, and a commitment to exceptional store experience for guests in the Seattle area.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year food service experience strongly preferred.
• Must possess a minimum of one year of customer service experience.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• High self-motivation; takes initiative and solves problems.
• Proven ability to positively affect sales generation.
• Knowledge of food safety and HACCP/Health guidelines; inventory/portion control.
• Experience with food merchandising and displays preferred.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients, applications, and culinary terms.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service and assist with product information and meal solutions.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the Prepared Foods area; ensure proper packaging and presentation.
• Assist with product and supply ordering; participate in inventory and merchandising tasks.
• Support food preparation processes, labeling, and portion control; ensure quality and freshness.
• Adhere to HACCP and health department guidelines; follow safety and loss prevention policies.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Time management

Food knowledge

Sales generation

Job description

Position Description

Metropolitan Market

Position Title: Prepared Foods Team Member

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Classification: Union

Department: Operations, Prepared Foods

Reports To: Prepared Foods Management Team

Job Summary: As a key member of our Prepared Foods Department this position is responsible for sales generation, product preparation, food safety, quality control, and merchandising. This position is also responsible for providing excellent customer service and sharing information with customers in the areas of specialty products, recipe content, and meal solutions.

Essential Functions (include, but are not limited to the following):

I. Customer Service

• Immediately greets all customers; demonstrates genuine enthusiasm and sincerity; customizes approach to meet customer needs and build rapport. Works to create customer loyalty through individualized service.
• Anticipates customer needs and questions related to products; works actively 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 customers, 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 customer.
• Effectively shifts-gears to meet customer needs; moves with ease from greeting to providing product information, up-selling, closing the sale, thanking customers and inviting them back. Effectively assesses customers’ needs and appropriately suggests products. Offers customers opportunities to interact with products.
• Packages customer products in a manner that is consistent with department standards and/or customer request; ensures customer purchases are packaged with the highest level of quality and presentation maintained.

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

• Readily provides customers information on store layout, services, and activities (e.g., promotions and special products).
• Works with all Prepared Foods Department team members to ensure customer service expectations are consistently achieved on a department-wide basis; consistently exercises a mutual-accountability approach to job completion.
• Ensures all customer and other phone inquiries are handled with appropriate telephone etiquette, effectively providing consistent, friendly, and efficient service.

• Maintains Prepared Foods Department area in a clean, organized, customer-friendly manner; consistently provides customers a professional, upbeat atmosphere.

II. Operations

• Adheres to all food safety and sanitation requirements. Consistently demonstrates knowledge of HACCP and Department of Health provisions.
• Completes daily projects and activities as assigned or needed; ensures daily tasks and assignments are accomplished correctly and in a timely manner.

• Participates in Prepared Foods Department staff meetings and store staff meetings as required.

• Maintains back room, walk-in coolers, and freezer in a safe, clean, and organized manner; stores products in a manner that allows easy access to back stock.

• Uses work-related equipment correctly under manufacturer guidelines.
• Adheres to company guidelines regarding prevention of internal and external loss, including risk management, accident prevention/safety awareness, and loss prevention.
• Contributes to a productive, enjoyable work environment; fosters 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.
• Maintains safe environment for customers and employees; ensures hazardous conditions are promptly handled in an appropriate manner.
• Effectively uses telephone, paging, and voice mail systems in a professional manner.
• Fully capitalizes upon training, mentoring, and counseling opportunities. Actively identifies methods/ways to improve job performance and further contribute to the department as a whole. Self-initiates training and consistently demonstrates accountability.
• Participates in the training and mentoring processes of other team members as needed or assigned.
• Readily accepts delegated responsibilities and positively responds to the direction of the Prepared Foods Management Team. Accurately completes assigned projects within a given time frame.
• Understands proper procedures for customer telephone orders and effectively follows through with department guidelines.

III. Product Management

• Actively participates in maintaining product inventory at a level that promotes effective sales merchandising and maximizes sales potential.
• Assists Prepared Foods Management Team with product and supply ordering as assigned; participates in determining order quantities; effectively interacts with vendors as needed.
• By assessing product quality and providing timely feedback to Prepared Foods Management Team, actively works to ensure that highest quality products are stocked.
• Pulls, records, and discards outdated product from Prepared Foods sales areas on a daily basis; determines proper replacement product quantities and promptly prepares in compliance within established guidelines.
• Demonstrates proficiency in production tasks; consistently achieves all food preparation guidelines, including full compliance with established recipe program; ensures prepared food consistency, quality, freshness, and portion control; works to guarantee products are properly labeled; promptly notifies Prepared Foods Management Team of any labeling inaccuracies.
• Ensures all mis-picks, damaged goods, and credits are processed within established guidelines and reports information to Prepared Foods Management Team.
• Complies with stocking standards that ensure high product quality, including rotation procedures. Incorporates cleaning with stocking and rotation requirements.
• Alerts Prepared Foods Management Team of incorrect billing issues.
• Participates in physical inventory on a quarterly basis, or as needed.

• Assists with the development and maintenance of product displays that create an exciting marketplace; strives to develop displays that pique customer interest and impact customer buying trends.
• Assists Prepared Foods Management Team with ensuring effective informational and price point signing is posted for all products.
• Actively participates in product promotions/focuses and community events.

• Assists with preparation for weekly Culinary Artist presentations as needed; provides adequate inventory of department–related featured products.

IV. 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; performs general housekeeping and sanitation functions as needed and/or assigned.
  • 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 Management Team. Recommends/implements solutions as appropriate.
  • Other responsibilities as assigned by the Prepared Foods Management Team.

V. Physical Requirements

• Utilize a variety of specific job-related equipment as needed or assigned by a qualified, appropriate manager or supervisor.
• Reference page four of the Metropolitan Market Prepared Foods Team Member Position Description.

Qualifications/Skills Required: To successfully perform the requirements of this position, an individual must consistently execute each essential function at a satisfactory level. The requirements listed in the following text are representative of the knowledge, experience and skill levels required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Minimum one year food service experience strongly preferred.

• Must possess a minimum of one year of customer service experience.

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously and produce quality output while working within deadlines a must. Sense of urgency required. Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrates a high level of self-motivation; takes initiative; problem solves.

• Proven ability to positively affect sales generation.

• Possesses knowledge of food safety and HACCP/Department of Health guidelines, and inventory/portion control.
• Successful experience with food merchandising and display preferred.
• Possesses adequate product information with a proven history of using knowledge to best service customers. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and understanding of food, including ingredients, applications, pronunciations and culinary skills. Possesses a genuine passion for food.
• Proven success as a team member; demonstrated ability to work well with diverse groups of people.
• Exceptional customer service skills.
• Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills required.
• Demonstrates an interest in learning; possesses a strong interest in food and related products.

• Proven ability to interact and perform all job responsibilities with professionalism and confidentiality essential.

• Proven ability to meet attendance requirements, dependable.

• Able to lift and carry 50 pounds.

Additional Performance Factors (include, but are not limited to the following):

• Dependability: The team member can be depended upon to report to work as scheduled and is seldom absent from work. The team member can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate and thorough manner, and is conscientious about work assignments and deadlines.

• Communication: The team member communicates effectively both verbally and in writing with supervisors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside of the Company.

• Work Relationships: The team member works effectively and relates well with others, including supervisors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside of the Company. The team member exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others, and works to build and maintain constructive working relationships. The team member accepts and applies constructive feedback in a professional and effective manner that enhances performance and resolves performance deficiencies.

_____________________________________ ___________________________________ __________________

Team Member Name (Print) Signature Date

_____________________________________ ___________________________________ __________________

Supervisor Name (Print) Signature Date

Metropolitan

Market

Position Description Physical Requirements: Prepared Foods Team Member

Physical Requirements Legend:

NA = Not Applicable; O = Occasional (up to 25% of time);

F = Frequent (26% to 74% of time); C = Constant (75% or more of time)

Requirement

NA

O

F

C

Additional Information

Standing/Walking: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station or moving about the work area.

X

Up to 95% of Time.

Sitting: Remaining in the normal seated position.

X

Carrying: Moving an object, usually by holding it in hands or arms, or on shoulder.

X

Minimum of 50 Pounds.

Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another, using hands, arms and/or shoulders, back and legs.

X

Minimum of 50 Pounds.

Pushing/Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from/toward the force.

X

Minimum of 50 Pounds.

Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs, and/or hands and arms.

X

Traveling: Requires travel outside geographical region.

X

Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.

X

Kneeling: Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).

X

Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees, or hands and feet.

X

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/Smelling: Distinguishing, with a degree of accuracy, differences or similarities in intensity or quality of flavors and/or odors.

Vision: Clarity of vision at near and/or far distances.

Driving: Requires valid state drivers license.