Produce Manager ($70,000.00 To $100,000.00)

Citarella - The Ultimate Gourmet Market; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Citarella - The Ultimate Gourmet Market is seeking a Produce Manager in New York. This role involves ensuring high quality standards for all produce, managing the produce department operations, and conducting inspections on incoming and outgoing products.

The ideal candidate should have over 3 years of experience in produce management, extensive knowledge of quality assurance protocols, and familiarity with health regulations. Join a family-run business that delights customers with gourmet offerings.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years’ experience in produce management or equivalent.
• Extensive knowledge of quality assurance protocols.
• Functional knowledge of health department regulations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high-grade quality of all produce.
• Manage produce operations and logistical aspects.
• Perform inspections on received and outgoing produce.
• Develop metrics to measure team performance.
• Responsible for staffing all shifts.

Skills

Produce management experience

Quality assurance protocols

Problem-solving skills

Knowledge of FDA and health regulations

Job description

Led by dynamic owner Joe Gurrera (and his commitment to superior quality) Citarella has grown from a respected NYC fish market into a full-scale, Ultimate Gourmet Market with locations across New York City, the Hamptons, and Greenwich, Connecticut.

A family-run business, we’re driven by a passion for great food. We delight customers with the finest selection of fresh seafood, prime, dry‑aged beef, chef‑prepared specialties and handcrafted pastries, international cheeses, imported groceries, and more. Join our team of seasoned professionals and become a part of the fabric of the New York food scene.

Responsibilities & Duties

The Produce Manager is responsible for ensuring high grade quality of all produce. This role is accountable for proper adherence to Citarella’s quality standards and execution of the produce and cut produce departments. The role manages produce and cut produce operations and is responsible for ensuring and improving the performance, the productivity, efficiency, profitability and manage all logistical aspects of the departments including shipping, receiving, and return procedures.

• Performs a physical inspection of all produce received at the Warehouse prior to product acceptance. Inspects for company standards in quality, size, and condition.
• Approves produce delivery when standards are met. Rejects produce when standards are not met and informs Senior Produce Director and staff. Obtains Senior Produce Director approval in some situations.
• Communicates with Senior Produce Director on all quality issues and assists him in determining disposal of items that fail to meet inspection criteria.
• Performs a physical inspection and monitors warehoused produce for quality, shelf life and possible rotation problems. Notifies appropriate staff and vendors for resolution.
• Ensures products are being rotated properly during daily slot checking, monitors for miss rotation and miss picks and communicate any problems with rotation to the stockers and/or supervisors responsible.
• Creates graded metrics to measure success of Produce and Cut Produce team, processes, procedures, efficiency, and execution.
• Develops Produce DM’s to train new employees in the Warehouse/stores on produce acceptance standards prior to receiving products from vendors and others.
• Works closely with Produce team to complete inspections on outbound orders ensuring all orders ship with quality product.
• Engage with Produce and Cut Produce Department Managers to prevent and resolve any quality issues in the production floor.
• Ensures quality standards are met by auditing Cut Produce production.
• Responsible for staffing all shifts for Produce and Cut Produce teams.
• Responsible for labor cost of Produce and Cut produce departments.
• Assists in procurement functions of the produce department when needed to support the business.
• Perform quality checks, including, but not limited to, label inspections, Lot code inspections, net weight checks, sensory checks.
• Verify equipment calibration (thermometers, scales).
• Verify that specifications for finished products and incoming ingredients.
• Develop and follow hold protocol for any nonconforming ingredients and finished goods.
• Minimum of 3+ years’ experience in produce management/ inspector role in warehouse/ distribution environment or an equivalent combination of relevant experience.
• Extensive knowledge of produce, process controls, product flow, inventory control, quality assurance protocols, equipment optimization and supply chain management.
• Functional working knowledge of all Health Department, FDA, OSHA, Department of Agriculture, Food safety and sanitation, HACCP, and all other related regulations and guidelines as it relates to the produce department.
• Ability to troubleshoot and be a problem solver in order to resolve issues.