Specialty Department Team Leader

La Montañita Co-op; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

La Montañita Co-op in Albuquerque is seeking a Specialty Department Team Leader to guide the wine, beer, and cheese department and ensure an exceptional customer experience. You will oversee daily operations, develop staff, and drive product knowledge while maintaining high service standards.

You will manage budgets, pricing, inventory, and safety compliance, reporting to Store Management and Human Resources. Strong leadership and integrity are essential to uphold cooperative values.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ customer service experience.
• Minimum three years’ supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of products, pricing, merchandising and inventory.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day department operations and maintain performance standards.
• Create, communicate, and audit operating standards and procedures.
• Provide timely communication with Store Management and HR on issues and opportunities.
• Lead, coach, and evaluate team performance and conduct.
• Recruit, retain and engage department staff; ensure proper training.
• Manage budgeting, pricing, and product costing for specialty items.
• Maintain safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Customer service

Supervisory experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Team building

Financial performance

Inventory management

Safety compliance

Alcohol safety

Problem solving

Adaptability

Integrity

Confidentiality

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Email

Job description

Description

The Specialty Department Team Leader (DTL) is responsible for overseeing and directing all aspects of the Specialty Department (wine, beer and cheese) operations. The Specialty DTL is responsible for ensuring an excellent experience for customers in the wine, beer and cheese department. The customer experience revolves around providing high quality products and service selections, in-depth knowledge of products and consistently providing excellent customer service. The Specialty DTL is accountable for effectively developing, mentoring, and support of their team, implementing efficient and productive systems, demonstrating stellar leadership, and being accountable for the financial performance of the department (in areas such as margin, sales goals, labor budget) all in a manner that demonstrates the values of La Montañita Food Cooperative. This position oversees the department in adhering to labor and food safety guidelines, and ensures compliance with policy and procedures by establishing clear expectations and guidelines.

SOME ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures the department operates effectively and efficiently; facilitates day-to-day operation and guarantees performance standards are met and that team members consistently work towards their ideal and peak performance.
• Creates, develops, communicates, implements, audits, and evaluates operating standards and procedures and makes adjustments as needed.
• Provides adequate and timely communication with Store Management and Human Resources in regards to problems/concerns, opportunities, recognition, and other matters of importance.
• Supervises work performance and conduct of team members and supports the performance management practices as needed and in accordance with policies, procedures, labor and legal guidelines.
• Models behaviors that support the values, through supportive and participatory leadership, promoting cooperation, team building, and motivating team members to achieve goals.
• Delegates and assigns tasks for department team members as needed and ensures tasks are completed.
• Helps create and facilitates trainings for team members that enhance and build upon their skills, knowledge and abilities.
• Conducts regular performance evaluations, timely feedback sessions, meetings/huddles and provides coaching to promote the growth and development of team members.
• Responsible for recruitment, retention and engagement of team members for the department.
• Ensures new hires are trained appropriately and effectively.
• Supports the security and safety protocols and establishes strong departmental control measures.
• Orders, receives, and merchandises products following proper guidelines for merchandising, rotation, sanitation, pricing, mechanizing, and quality standards.
• Establishes annual department budgets with guidance from Store Management, that include sales, gross margin, labor cost, and net profit.
• Monitor and oversee the accurate costing and pricing of all specialty department products.
• Maintains a working knowledge of all products as well as items throughout the store to respond to customers to ensure they get the products they want and need.
• Ensures accurate and sanitary product processing, packaging, labeling, dating, and pricing according to department procedures.
• Reinforces safety within the store by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management or addressing the concern if appropriate.
• Ensures federal, state, local and La Montañita Food Cooperative regulations and standards for product freshness, safety, refrigeration, sanitation and weights and measures are being adhered to and met.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES:

• High School diploma or GED.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ previous Customer service skills (able to complete the full customer service cycle).
• Minimum of three (3) years’ of years’ previous experience in food service purchasing, preparation, or merchandising perishable products.
• Minimum of three (3) years previous supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of products, buying, pricing, merchandising, and inventory management.
• Excellent interpersonal, motivational, team building, and customer relationship skills.
• Proficient mathematical skills for assessing financial performance, monitoring profitability, and managing inventory.
• Food safety and alcohol safety certifications. If not currently certified, able to obtain certification within 1 month.
• Experience with email, Microsoft Office, and operations-related applications.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills and able to communicate with individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to adhere and follow safety, regulatory, and wellness guidelines. Safety Conscious and adhering to required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is required.
• Must be over age of twenty-one (21) for legal tasting of products containing alcohol.
• Able to act with integrity, ethically, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
• Able to deal and adapt to changes in the work environment, industry with a calm professional demeanor.
• Dependable, reliable and self-motivated.
• Able to work with a diverse group of people.