Seafood Clerk

New Leaf Community Markets, Inc.; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 19,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

New Leaf Community Markets, Inc. in Santa Cruz is seeking a friendly Seafood Clerk to provide exceptional customer service while ensuring top-quality, safe seafood.

You will assist customers, help with product questions, and maintain clean displays and accurate labeling. You will handle prep, packaging, weighing, and stocking seafood, follow food-safety protocols, and support inventory tasks and department goals.

Qualifications

• Prior seafood or food service experience preferred but not required.
• On-the-job training provided.
• Basic reading ability; strong verbal communication expected.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation, packaging, and labeling of seafood products.
• Store and display seafood safely; monitor temperature and freshness.
• Rotate stock; check expiration dates and discard outdated items.
• Maintain attractive, clean seafood displays and proper labeling.
• Answer customer questions and offer cooking tips and product info.
• Use scales and knives safely to prepare seafood for orders.
• Follow food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.

Skills

Customer service

Food safety

Stocking

Cash handling

Communication

Tools

Food scales

Knives

Job description

Job Title: Seafood Clerk
Department: Seafood
Reports To: Seafood Manager
FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Summary

The Seafood Clerk is responsible for providing exceptional customer service while maintaining the highest standards of product quality, presentation, and cleanliness in the seafood department. This role involves preparing, packaging, and displaying seafood products while ensuring food safety and company standards are met. The Seafood Clerk will assist customers with product inquiries and provide cooking recommendations while upholding company values.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

General Requirements:

• Provide friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable service to customers.
• Demonstrates flexibility and strong organizational skills, effectively managing multiple priorities and shifting department needs.
• Supports company values and models excellent customer service, striving to create a positive shopping experience.
• Promotes sustainability initiatives by following company guidelines for seafood sourcing and conservation.
• Adheres to and enforces work and safety policies, complying with local, state, and federal regulations to maintain a safe and clean work environment.
• Upholds and reinforces company policies and department-specific standards.

Position Responsibilities

• Assists in the preparation, packaging, and labeling of fresh and frozen seafood products according to company standards and customer requests.
• Ensures that all seafood is stored and displayed according to safety and quality standards, monitoring for proper temperature and freshness.
• Rotates stock, monitors expiration dates and discards outdated or damaged products to maintain freshness and minimize waste.
• Maintains attractive product displays and ensures that seafood cases are fully stocked, clean, and organized.
• Assists customers by answering questions, providing product information, and offering cooking tips and recommendations.
• Uses scales, knives, and other department tools safely and efficiently to cut, weigh, and prepare seafood for customer orders.
• Follows food safety protocols, including proper handling, sanitation, and cleanliness procedures, ensuring compliance with health regulations.
• Assists with inventory management, including receiving, checking, and stocking seafood deliveries.
• Collaborates with the Seafood Manager to ensure product availability, quality, and variety align with customer preferences and department goals.
• Assist with special orders and prepare products for customer pickups as needed.
• Participates in department meetings and training sessions to stay updated on new products, techniques, and company policies.
• Assists in maintaining clean work areas, including seafood cases, counters, equipment, and tools, ensuring that sanitation standards are met.
• Ensures that signage, pricing, and product labels are accurate and displayed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Seafood Manager or store leadership.

This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities, and requirements but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Leaf Community Markets reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.

Customer Service Skills

Engages customers in a friendly manner, shares product knowledge, and assists in locating items throughout the store. Seeks opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience.

Education and/or Experience

Previous seafood or food service experience is preferred but not required. On-the-job training provided.

Language Skills

Basic ability to read and interpret documents required. Strong verbal communication skills are preferred.

Mathematical Skills

Basic math and computation skills required for weighing products and calculating prices.

Reasoning Ability

Skills to read, understand, and follow through on verbal and written instructions. Skills to exercise good judgment at all times.

Knowledge of English (Preferred)

This is a customer service-driven position. Should have the ability to speak, read, and understand English.

Physical Demands

This position works at a Medium to Heavy level. Frequently required to stand, walk, and use hands and wrists to handle, grasp, and feel objects. Required to lift, carry, push, or pull items up to 50 pounds. May occasionally need to bend, stoop, kneel, or reach at/above/below shoulder level. Frequent exposure to cold temperatures while handling seafood products.

Work Environment

Work occurs in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that may be wet and slippery, moderate noise levels, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in coolers and freezers. There may be exposure to seafood allergens and cleaning chemicals. By the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local laws, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.