Produce - Lead

Outpost Natural Foods; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Outpost Natural Foods in Milwaukee, WI seeks a Produce Lead to ensure top service and proper receiving and storage of all produce deliveries. The role supports a well maintained, clean, and efficient produce department on a fast paced retail floor.

You will supervise produce staff, manage stocking, labeling, and inventory processes, and help maintain sanitation standards. Weekend and evening shifts are common in this role.

Qualifications

• Outstanding customer service skills
• Knowledge of produce preferred
• Experience in stocking, ordering, and receiving in a retail setting
• Ability to delegate work duties and motivate staff
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple demands and work under time pressure
• Willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities
• Calm under pressure and objective judgment
• Regular, predictable attendance
• Excellent English communication skills
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions
• Ability to follow procedures and policies
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Customer service: treat customers with respect and provide friendly, informative service.
• Produce department responsibilities: manage stock, receive deliveries, log invoices, rotate stock, label and store products, maintain clean displays, assist with inventory.
• All staff duties: follow company policies, keep the store orderly, maintain a positive attitude, perform other tasks as assigned.

Job description

TITLE: Produce Lead DEPARTMENT: Produce

STATUS: PT/FT, Journeyperson, Union, Hourly REPORTS TO: Produce Manager

JOB SUMMARY: To ensure the highest level of service possible to Outpost's internal and external customers. Properly receive and store all produce deliveries. Ensure a well maintained, clean, and efficient produce department.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Fast paced retail floor. Regular work near moving mechanical parts (i.e. baler, dock equipment), in high precarious places (i.e. ladder work), and in cold climate conditions (i.e. cooler). Ability to work in moderate and loud noise environments including, but not limited to: paging, telephones, human voices, and machinery. Position requires working during busy retail times, which include weekends, afternoons, and evenings.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

1. Customer Service

1. Treat people fairly, consistently, and with respect.
2. Ensure efficient, informative, and friendly service according to established customer service vision and standards.

2. Produce Department Responsibilities

Department Operations

1. Ensure professional and friendly service from all produce staff.
2. Handle customer questions and complaints.
3. Be knowledgeable of products to make recommendations to customers.
4. Become familiar with the different types of produce and how they are prepared.
5. Order product from assigned vendors/farmers to ensure department is fully stocked, while keeping inventory to minimum.
6. Receive produce deliveries.
7. Properly check in deliveries; note any discrepancies on invoices and notify manager.
8. Properly label, date, and store deliveries. Maintain proper rotation and organic conventional segregation.
9. Properly log in all invoices.
10. Accurately record markdowns and losses.
11. Prep the produce for stocking on the sales floor.
12. Stock produce in a timely and organized way.
13. Maintain clean, organized, well-stocked and attractive produce display areas.
14. Ensure coolers and backstock areas are kept clean and organized.
15. Uphold department's sanitation standards and health department requirements for food storage and handling.
16. Follow safety guidelines in regards to lifting, knife handling, baler, pallet jack operation, etc.
17. Assist with quarterly inventory.
18. Attend department meetings as scheduled.
19. Perform all duties included in department clerk job descriptions.

Personnel

1. Delegate duties to produce staff and ensure they are always busy.
2. Positively encourage department staff to excel at their job.
3. Replace vacant shifts when call ins, etc. occur. Notify manager of these occurrences.
4. Assist in training department staff.
5. Assist produce staff in following department standard operating procedures.

3. All Staff Duties

1. Abide by all Co-op policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook and other company documents.
2. Keep store orderly and clean.
3. Maintain a positive attitude.
4. Perform all other duties as assigned by department manager or supervisory staff.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Outstanding customer service skills
• Knowledge of produce preferred
• Previous experience in stocking, ordering, and receiving in a retail setting
• Ability to appropriately delegate work duties and motivate staff

• Attention to detail and good organizational skills
• Ability to handle multiple demands and work under time pressures
• Willingness to be open, to learn, and take on new responsibilities

• Demonstrate objectivity, neutrality and calmness under pressure

• Regular, predictable attendance

• Effective communication skills in English

• Ability to read and comprehend instructions
• Ability to follow through on systems, procedures and policies
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Standing, walking, bending, sitting, reaching; Using hands or fingers to handle or feel
• Specific vision ability: close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and adjust focus
• Ability to climb up and down ladders
• Regular use of sharp cutting instruments
• Ability to lift up to 80 lbs.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE:

The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, requirements and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that the employee may be required to perform. The employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations or a work environment change.