Wellness Assistant Department Manager

Community Food Coop; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount

Health insurance

Dental/ Vision

401(k)

Paid time off

Pay on Demand

Year-end bonus

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Community Food Co-op is seeking a Wellness Assistant Department Manager to support leadership and daily operations of the Wellness Department, including Supplements, Body Care, and Mercantile. You will help supervise staff, ensure top customer service, and drive sales while maintaining merchandising standards.

The role requires 1+ year in a retail wellness setting, strong product knowledge, and leadership ability.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in a retail wellness department or similar role.
• Experience with inventory management, ordering, and merchandising.
• Strong knowledge of supplements, body care, and natural products.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to lead, train, and support a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams) and inventory systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of Wellness Department, including Supplements, Body Care, and Mercantile.
• Train and develop staff to provide excellent customer service.
• Manage scheduling within budget to ensure department coverage.
• Maintain inventory levels and merchandising standards.
• Track sales, margins, and shrink; support promotional planning.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations in supplements and body care.

Skills

Customer service

Team leadership

Inventory management

Merchandising

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

Inventory systems

Job description

Description

Wellness Department Manager | Community Food Co-op

Who We Are

We’re a community-owned natural foods grocery store passionate about high-quality food, sustainability, and the cooperative business model. Our mission is rooted in serving our community while creating a workplace that is inclusive, engaging, and supportive. We strive to set a high standard for employment practices by fostering a culture of respect, integrity, and growth. We’re looking for positive, self-motivated people who take pride in delivering excellent customer service, value the quality of their work, show up reliably for their team, and enjoy working together to make a meaningful impact every day.

Position Summary:

The Wellness Assistant Department Manager supports the overall leadership and daily operations of the Wellness Department, which includes Supplements, Body Care, and Mercantile. They assist in overseeing department staff, ensuring strong customer service, managing inventory, maintaining merchandising standards, and supporting sales goals. This position helps ensure the department operates efficiently, meets financial targets, and upholds compliance and safety standards.

Schedule: Varies, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Reports to: Wellness Manager

General Responsibilities:

Department Leadership & Team Management

• Support the Wellness Department Manager in overseeing daily operations, including Supplements, Body Care, and Mercantile.
• Ensure high standards for product quality, freshness, and merchandising.
• Assist in training, coaching, and developing staff to provide excellent customer service.
• Support scheduling to ensure proper department coverage while staying within budget.
• Act as the department lead when the Wellness Department Manager is unavailable.

Customer Service & Product Knowledge

• Model and encourage exceptional customer service in the department.
• Develop and maintain expertise in supplements, body care, and mercantile products.
• Train staff to assist customers with product selection, sourcing, and product benefits.
• Respond to customer inquiries, concerns, and special requests promptly.

Inventory Management & Merchandising

• Assist with ordering, receiving, and stocking products to maintain optimal inventory levels.
• Ensure accurate pricing, labeling, and shelf placement of all products.
• Work with the Wellness Manager to manage inventory turnover and reduce shrink.
• Support merchandising efforts, including displays, endcaps, and promotional areas.
• Oversee Mercantile product selection, ordering, stocking, and promotional execution.

Financial Management & Sales Performance

• Help track department sales, margins, and shrink to meet financial goals.
• Assist in controlling costs by minimizing waste, monitoring inventory, and optimizing purchasing.
• Support promotional planning and in-store marketing initiatives to boost sales.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure proper handling and storage of Wellness and Mercantile products.
• Maintain compliance with health and safety regulations related to supplements and body care.
• Educate staff on proper labeling, expiration tracking, and product rotation procedures.

Vendor & Supplier Relations

• Support vendor communication, including ordering, receiving, and resolving discrepancies.
• Assist in maintaining strong relationships with local, regional, and national suppliers.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in storewide initiatives, meetings, and events as required.
• Provide regular updates to the Wellness Department Manager on department performance.
• Promote and uphold the Co-op’s mission, principles, and customer service standards.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Wellness Department Manager.

Requirements

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in a retail wellness department or similar role (health food store, co-op, or specialty wellness preferred).
• Experience with inventory management, ordering, and merchandising.
• Strong knowledge of supplements, body care, and natural products.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to lead, train, and support a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams) and inventory systems.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods of time, with frequent movement around the store.
• Manual dexterity to handle and stock products, operate equipment, and perform other department tasks.
• Ability to reach, grasp, bend, and lift up to 50 pounds, both individually and with assistance.
• Ability to push, pull, and maneuver carts, pallets, and equipment throughout the department and store.
• Must be able to work in varying temperature conditions, including refrigerated and frozen storage areas.

Benefits at the Co-op

• Up to 25% staff discount & access to wholesale orders
• Great medical/dental/vision and supplemental insurance options
• 401(k) w/match
• Paid time off
• Pay on Demand
• Potential year-end bonus
• Access to employee assistance program

Equal employment opportunity:

The Community Food Co-op is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a The Community Food Co-op is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Important Disclaimer:

Employees are expected to act in the best interest of the Co-op, even if doing so requires actions or responsibilities not listed in the above job description. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned which are not considered essential and may not be listed here.