Produce Department Manager Trainee

Hy-Vee Inc; Shakopee (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Hy-Vee in Minnesota is seeking a Produce Assistant Department Manager to partner with the Department Manager to ensure the Produce department runs smoothly and remains a top customer experience. You will lead the team, train staff, and uphold product freshness while managing floor operations.

You will drive inventory, handle orders, and coordinate with vendors to maintain stock levels, pricing, and department standards. This is a fast-paced retail role with growth opportunities within Hy-Vee.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Food safety training encouraged.
• Over one year of produce/retail experience preferred.
• Ability to lift and move objects and work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outstanding customer service and greet customers.
• Maintain department standards: freshness, rotation, replenishment, refrigeration temps.
• Set and reset sales areas to promote products and keep the department looking its best.
• Coordinate operations in salad bar and juice bar areas.
• Stay current on produce trends, pricing philosophy and seasonal availability.
• Unload deliveries, verify invoices, and log receipts.
• Assist with inventory and ordering under the Produce Manager's direction.
• Support fruit and holiday basket programs and event prep.
• Stock aisles and manage cooler organization by day end.
• Train new employees and develop the department team.
• Assign tasks and coordinate staff to ensure smooth operations.
• Resolve customer and vendor issues promptly and professionally.
• Step in to assume manager responsibilities in absence of the Department Manager.
• Maintain sanitation standards and a clean work area.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Team training

Clear communication

Produce knowledge

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Additional Considerations (if any): Must be 18+ - At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.

Job Title: Produce Assistant Department Manager

Department: Produce

FLSA: Hourly

Revision Date: 07/2026

About Hy-Vee

At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We're seeking people with a passion for customer service, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to being part of a team that strives to make our customers' lives easier, healthier and happier.

The Role and Why It's Important

At Hy-Vee, our produce department is one of the first things customers see when they walk through the door, and the Produce Assistant Department Manager helps make sure it always makes a great impression. In this role, you'll partner with the Department Manager to keep the department running smoothly, from ensuring product freshness and managing the sales floor to training employees and stepping in to lead when needed. Your knowledge of produce, commitment to quality, and passion for customer service directly shape the experience our customers have every day. If you're someone who takes pride in fresh product, enjoys leading a team, and is ready to grow your career with a company that invests in its people, we'd love to have you on board.

What You'll Do

• Deliver outstanding customer service by greeting every customer warmly, assisting them with their needs, and sharing your knowledge of produce items and their uses
• Ensure department standards are consistently met, including product freshness, rotation, replenishment, and proper refrigeration temperatures
• Set and reset sales areas to promote products effectively and keep the department looking its best
• Coordinate and troubleshoot operations in the salad bar and juice bar area
• Stay current on produce-related topics such as pricing philosophy, seasonal availability, weather impacts, and market trends
• Unload product, check in deliveries, verify accuracy, and log invoices as needed
• Assist with inventory and order product at the Produce Manager's discretion
• Assist with all aspects of the fruit and holiday basket program
• Stock aisles, break down pallets, restack the cooler at day's end, and transport product to the floor
• Train new employees and support the ongoing development of the department team
• Instruct, assign, and review the work of others; coordinate activities and allocate personnel as needed
• Handle and resolve customer and vendor issues promptly and professionally on a daily basis
• Assume management responsibilities in the absence of the Department Manager
• Practice proper sanitation procedures and keep the work area clean, neat, and compliant with all department and company guidelines
• Answer the phone promptly and provide friendly, helpful service to customers who call
• Follow Hy-Vee's dress code, hygiene standards, and all department and company guidelines
• Pitch in with other tasks or special projects as they come up

Your Skills

• Bring commitment to Hy-Vee's mission and a genuine passion for delivering an outstanding customer and team experience
• Solve practical problems and make sound decisions with a variety of variables and limited standardization
• Apply math skills including fractions, decimals, and percentages in day-to-day tasks
• Lead, train, and support a team in a fast-paced retail environment
• Communicate clearly with customers, team members, and vendors and provide basic direction and guidance
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of produce products and the ability to share that knowledge confidently with customers
• Handle confidential information including pricing and sales with discretion

Reporting Relationships

Accountable and Reports to: Store Director; Store Manager; Assistant Managers of Perishables, Store Operations, Health Wellness Home; Produce Department Manager

Direct Reports

Produce Clerks

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent experience; Food safety training encouraged; Over one year of similar or related experience preferred

Physical Requirements

• Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing 100 pounds or more, with or without mechanical assistance
• Continuously stand and walk on hard surfaces for extended periods

Where applicable to the role

• Ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment (required operator certification must be completed prior to independent use)
• Work in cooler or freezer environments for extended periods
• Ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product
• Operate a cardboard baler or compactor (where applicable to the role, and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements)
• Perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing
• Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise

Work Environment

This is a fast-moving role where things stay busy and engaging. You'll work in the produce department and can expect frequent exposure to cool temperatures and dampness, as well as possible equipment movement hazards from a pallet jack, electrical equipment, and cleaning chemicals and solvents. Safety is always a priority, and training is provided to help ensure a safe and supportive work environment.

Salary

The anticipated hourly starting wage for this position is $18.00 to $22.50 depending on experience.

For information on company benefits visit Benefits | Hy-Vee.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.