Produce Department Lead — Customer Experience & Ops

Kroger Co.; Waynesboro (VA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Kroger Co. in Waynesboro, Virginia is seeking a Produce Department Associate to provide outstanding customer service, maintain fresh produce displays, and help drive department goals in a fast-paced retail environment.

You will monitor quality, stock, temperature logs, assist customers, execute price changes, and collaborate with store leadership to promote promotions and keep shelves organized.

This role emphasizes safety, honesty, and teamwork while delivering a welcoming shopping experience.

Qualifications

• Excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Knowledge of basic math (counting, addition, subtraction).
• Ability to handle stressful situations.
• Current food handlers permit once employed.

Responsibilities

• Promote trust and respect among associates, with a positive attitude
• Communicate company, department, and job specific information to associates
• Establish department performance goals and empower associates to meet or exceed targets through teamwork
• Develop adequate scheduling to manage customer volume
• Train and develop associates on their job performance and participate in the performance appraisal process
• Create an environment that enables customers to feel welcome, important and appreciated by answering questions regarding products sold within the department and throughout the store; respond to questions, make suggestions, and locate products
• Inform customers of produce specials and offer product samples to help customers discover new items
• Review/inspect products for quality and freshness and take appropriate action
• Develop and implement a department business plan to achieve desired results
• Create and execute sales promotions in partnership with store management
• Inform and educate department associates about current, upcoming and special in-store promotions, especially promotions that affect the department
• Prepare and submit seasonal critiques for the sales and merchandising supervisor
• Implement the period promotional plan for the department
• Assist management in preparing the store/department budget, expense control, profit and loss reviews, and take appropriate action on all financial reports
• Schedule daily, weekly and monthly price changes by updating shelf tags and promotional signs
• Plan and organize the inventory process, maintain an awareness of inventory/stocking conditions, note any discrepancies, train department associates on inventory/stocking and Computer Assisted Ordering (CAO)
• Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and temperature logs are maintained
• Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures, identifying unsafe conditions, practicing preventive maintenance by properly inspecting equipment, notifying store management of any items in need of repair and of customer or employee accidents
• Report all safety risk, or issues, and illegal activity, including robbery, theft or fraud
• Adhere to all local, state and federal laws, and company guidelines
• 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 job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Skills

Excellent communication

Ability to work under pressure

Attention to detail

Customer service orientation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Kroger Co. in Waynesboro, Virginia is seeking a Produce Department Associate to provide outstanding customer service, maintain fresh produce displays, and help drive department goals in a fast-paced retail environment.

You will monitor quality, stock, temperature logs, assist customers, execute price changes, and collaborate with store leadership to promote promotions and keep shelves organized.

This role emphasizes safety, honesty, and teamwork while delivering a welcoming shopping experience.