Retail Operations Lead — Department Coordinator

Ontario Trillium Foundation; Geneva (IL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Fresh Thyme is seeking a Coordinator to lead day-to-day department operations, supervise staff, and ensure exceptional customer service. You will manage scheduling, training, and adherence to food safety standards while driving sales and maintaining accurate pricing and displays.

The role requires 2–3 years in retail, one year of management, and a background in natural foods is a plus. Strong communication and mentoring skills are essential for team growth and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to communicate to team members in the organization in a way that provides clear and precise direction.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflict and by addressing root cause issues.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial and statistical information and use that information to make informed decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to consult with customers on all areas pertaining to their department.
• Demonstrated ability to lead an organization that practices working safely at all times.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor team members in all areas of the organization including team members in hourly positions.
• Successful completion of all required certifications.
• Serv Safe Certification

Responsibilities

• Assists in scheduling, staffing selection, and hiring to achieve staffing needs
• Promotes succession planning by providing career paths, identifying development needs for their respective departments team, and being involved with and accountable for promotion decisions
• Supports disciplinary actions and makes recommendations concerning discharge
• Attain P&L budgeted goals, achieving sales, labor and margin plans for the department
• Reviews sales goals, supply costs, stock loss/shrink results and goals
• Models exceptional, fast and friendly customer service
• Reviews Customer Survey and customer feedback from previous day or week
• Prepares, packages, stocks store and display merchandise appropriately
• Price change compliance
• Food safety compliance
• Ordering of manual ordered items
• Supervises, trains and manages their Department Team in the absence of the Dept. Manager to:
• Stock (including washing, bundling and trimming) rotating, and merchandise facing products according to department procedure
• Ensure all inferior out of code products are not sold and removes from display
• Ensure all products are accurately priced and sales prices are maintained and up to date
• Provides consultation to customers when needed regarding consumer products
• Execute ad set compliance including signage
• Ensure the backroom is neat and organized
• Meet or exceed sales floor conditions expectations in respective department
• Ensures their departments team members are thoroughly trained in all aspect of their jobs and have completed all required training
• Promotes a safe work environment
• Reliable and consistent attendance required
• Proper usage of production planner and fresh dashboard
• Other daily tasks as required

Skills

Team leadership

Conflict resolution

Multitasking

Financial analysis

Customer consultation

Safety leadership

Mentoring hourly staff

Certifications

Serv Safe Certification

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Fresh Thyme is seeking a Coordinator to lead day-to-day department operations, supervise staff, and ensure exceptional customer service. You will manage scheduling, training, and adherence to food safety standards while driving sales and maintaining accurate pricing and displays.

The role requires 2–3 years in retail, one year of management, and a background in natural foods is a plus. Strong communication and mentoring skills are essential for team growth and safety compliance.