Produce Department Manager Trainee

Hy-Vee; Shakopee (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Hy-Vee in Shakopee, MN is seeking a Produce Assistant Department Manager to partner with the Department Manager to run the Produce department, ensuring freshness and strong customer service. You will train employees, lead shifts, manage inventory, and uphold safety standards.

This fast-paced role emphasizes leadership, product knowledge, and teamwork, with a clear path to a Produce Department Manager position. Starting wage ranges from $18.00 to $22.50 per hour depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide excellent customer service and guidance to team members.
• Experience leading a small team in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Knowledge of food safety guidelines and rotation best practices.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Greet customers and provide product knowledge in the Produce department.
• Ensure product freshness, proper rotation, temperature control, and shelf presentation.
• Train and supervise associates; lead the team during shifts when needed.
• Support inventory, receiving, and ordering under the Produce Manager guidance.
• Assist with pricing, promotions, and seasonal item planning.
• Maintain sanitation standards and safe work practices across the department.

Skills

Customer service

Team leadership

Food safety

Inventory management

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

## Produce Department Manager TraineeApply: Shakopee, 1451 Adams St S, Shakopee, MN: Full time: Posted Today: R253036**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 Description:****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**No two shifts are exactly the same, but here's what you can expect:* 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**To be successful in this role, you'll need to be able to:* 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* Where applicable to the role: ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product* Where applicable to the role, and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements: operate a cardboard baler or compactor* Where applicable to the role: perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing* Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise**Working 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.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.Are you ready to smile, apply today.*Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.*