Store Cooperator

Erie Food Co-op; Erie (Erie County); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Erie Food Co-op is seeking a Store Associate to help on the sales floor and behind the scenes. Responsibilities include operating the POS, stocking shelves, assisting customers, and supporting clerical tasks while upholding excellent customer service.

This role requires strong communication, multitasking abilities, and familiarity with store products. Flexibility with scheduling and a cooperative, team-oriented attitude are essential for success in this busy retail environment.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and listening skills, both face-to-face and over the phone.
• Strong organizational and decision-making skills and acute attention to detail.
• Ability to handle multiple demands and difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.
• Working knowledge of POS system.
• Computer literacy; knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel), Google applications

Responsibilities

• Operates the Point-of-Sale system.
• Exhibits good working knowledge of store products.
• Familiar with products, where to find items, and their order status.
• Assists customers with department products on sales floor and over the phone.
• Participates in all sales promotions effectively and efficiently.
• Maintains efficient and friendly service standards, including greeting customers to ensure that they feel welcomed.
• Performs personal shopping, packing of bags, and assisting customers with carrying their orders out of the store when applicable.
• Assists customers with special orders.
• Offers samples and suggestions for purchase; educates customers about the product.
• Operates cash register efficiently and competently.
• Makes change accurately, with minimal error.
• Processes all forms of payment accurately.
• Correctly rings in coupons and other promotional offers.
• Verifies cost of items purchased.
• Requests Customer Service assistance for product pricing issues and voids.
• Complies with all cash handling policies and procedures, including but not limited to register audits, over-short variances, cash safety and security, etc.
• Organizes and arranges products on shelves in an attractive manner.
• Ensures proper labeling of products on shelves.
• Stocks shelves and rotates stocks using first in, first out (FIFO.)
• Ensures proper labeling of produce and products in coolers and dry tables.
• Ensures items received are accounted for, per order placed.
• Enters product information accurately into computer system.
• Processes invoices efficiently and correctly, ensuring credit when necessary.
• Processes customers' special orders correctly.
• May assist in quarterly inventory counts.
• Restocks department supplies when necessary.
• Keeps work area neat and clean at all times, and ensures that any equipment used is clean, maintained, and sanitized according to food safety policies (if applicable.)
• Informs the manager or manager on duty of any operational inconsistencies.
• Reports necessary equipment repair and maintenance to supervisor.Maintains appropriate records or logs when required (ie. Temperature logs, special orders, department communications, etc.)

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Organization

Teamwork

POS system

Education

HS diploma/GED

Some college

Tools

POS system

Excel

Word

Google apps

Job description

Description

Store Cooperators are trained to help in a variety of roles on the sales floor and behind-the-scenes including cash handling, stocking shelves, fronting, prepping produce, cleaning, and helping with basic clerical tasks such as filing documents, all while maintaining exceptional customer service.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong communication and listening skills, both face-to-face and over the phone.
• Strong organizational and decision-making skills and acute attention to detail.
• Ability to handle multiple demands and difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.
• Working knowledge of POS system.
• Computer literacy; knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel), Google applications

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Customer Service

• Operates the Point-of-Sale system.
• Exhibits good working knowledge of store products.
• Familiar with products, where to find items, and their order status.
• Assists customers with department products on sales floor and over the phone.
• Participates in all sales promotions effectively and efficiently.
• Maintains efficient and friendly service standards, including greeting customers to ensure that they feel welcomed.
• Performs personal shopping, packing of bags, and assisting customers with carrying their orders out of the store when applicable.
• Assists customers with special orders.
• Offers samples and suggestions for purchase; educates customers about the product.

Register & Point-of-Sale

• Operates cash register efficiently and competently.
• Makes change accurately, with minimal error.
• Processes all forms of payment accurately.
• Correctly rings in coupons and other promotional offers.
• Verifies cost of items purchased.
• Requests Customer Service assistance for product pricing issues and voids.
• Complies with all cash handling policies and procedures, including but not limited to register audits, over-short variances, cash safety and security, etc.

Merchandising

• Organizes and arranges products on shelves in an attractive manner.
• Ensures proper labeling of products on shelves.
• Stocks shelves and rotates stocks using first in, first out (FIFO.)
• Ensures proper labeling of produce and products in coolers and dry tables.
• Ensures items received are accounted for, per order placed.
• Enters product information accurately into computer system.
• Processes invoices efficiently and correctly, ensuring credit when necessary.
• Processes customers' special orders correctly.
• May assist in quarterly inventory counts.

Department Operations

• Restocks department supplies when necessary.
• Keeps work area neat and clean at all times, and ensures that any equipment used is clean, maintained, and sanitized according to food safety policies (if applicable.)
• Informs the manager or manager on duty of any operational inconsistencies.
• Reports necessary equipment repair and maintenance to supervisor.Maintains appropriate records or logs when required (ie. Temperature logs, special orders, department communications, etc.)

Other Duties

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 any 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 the work environment change.

Requirements

• Flexibility with scheduling, due to store hours.
• Ability to work well with others in a cooperative environment where teamwork and constant communication are essential.
• Commitment to superior customer service and providing the highest quality experience possible.
• Willingness/ability to work in any of the Center Store departments.
• Maintain positive company morale.
• Maintains discretion in dealing with confidential information (store, vendors, customers, staff, etc.)

Education and Experience

• H.S. diploma/GED. Some college a plus.
• Minimum one (1) year experience in a retail or food service/restaurant setting.
• Combination of education, training and/or experience will be considered.
• Knowledge of special dietary needs and allergens preferred.
• Customer service experience in a public-serving position preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and Internet applications preferred.
• Basic knowledge of natural foods and cooperatives preferred.