Wine & Beer Associate

Heinen's Grocery Store; Bainbridge Township (OH); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% discount on Heinen's products

Job summary

Heinen’s Grocery Store in Ohio seeks a team member for the Wine & Beer Department to join our unique shop inside the grocery store. You will share knowledge, assist customers, and help host tastings to bring the wine and beer vision to life.

You will grow your understanding of wines from around the world, assist with demonstrations, and support daily operations including stocking, ordering, and merchandising.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Minimum age 21 years with alcohol service compliance.
• Knowledge of wines globally and ability to guide customers on pairings.
• Passion for retail with focus on quality and customer service.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds; stand for extended periods.
• Occasional exposure to hot or cold conditions.

Responsibilities

• Prioritize and manage daily tasks aligned with business needs.
• Develop knowledge of the Wine & Beer Department.
• Collaborate with the Wine & Beer Lead to organize demos and events.
• Provide exceptional customer assistance within the Wine & Beer Department.
• Work with the team on tasks like shrink tracking, orders, stocking, and merchandising.
• Prepare and manage product orders using par levels and planning.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and food safety standards.
• Participate in corporate meetings and training.
• Perform additional duties to support department and company objectives.
• Opportunity for promotion.

Skills

Communication skills

Sense of urgency

Wine knowledge

Retail passion

Independent work

Heavy lifting

Flexible hours

Evenings/weekends

Hot/cold environments

Job description

Company Overview

Established in 1929, Heinen’s is a leading, family-owned grocery retailer known for its premium-quality products and outstanding customer service. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, Heinen’s operates 23 locations – 19 in the Cleveland, Ohio area and 4 in the Chicago, Illinois market – supported by two distribution warehouses, a food production facility, and a corporate office located in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Our culture is rooted in an associate-first philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on the well‑being, development, and quality of life of every team member. We offer competitive compensation, professional development and leadership training programs, paid time off, and flexible scheduling designed to promote a healthy work‑life balance.

Job Summary

At Heinen’s, our approach to wine & beer centers on creating a “wine & beer shop within a grocery store”. To accomplish this, we look for individuals who have a love for wine & beer and embrace fun, creative ways to bring that vision to life for our customers to share in and experience.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get a taste for the wine and beer business. You will be working alongside a passionate dedicated team and will be able to grow your experience and understanding of wine and beer.

Key Responsibilities

• Prioritize and manage daily tasks in alignment with changing business needs.
• Develop and share comprehensive knowledge of the Wine & Beer Department.
• Collaborate with the Wine & Beer Lead to organize, support, and execute product demonstrations and special events.
• Leverage product knowledge and promotional information to provide exceptional customer assistance within the Wine & Beer Department.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team to complete daily operational tasks, including shrink tracking, order writing, stocking, product rotation, and merchandising.
• Prepare and manage product orders using effective par levels and planning techniques.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies related to personal conduct and food safety standards.
• Participate in required corporate meetings and training programs.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support department and company objectives.
• Opportunity for promotion.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong sense of urgency with the ability to work independently and efficiently to complete daily responsibilities.
• Minimum age of 21 years, in compliance with alcohol service regulations.
• Knowledge of wines from around the world, with the ability to guide customers on product selection and appropriate food pairings.
• Demonstrated passion for retail, with a strong focus on quality, customer service, organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Production-oriented mindset, capable of performing repetitive tasks while standing for extended periods.
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as required to meet business needs, including occasional additional hours.
• Availability to work a non-traditional schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to work in environments that may occasionally involve exposure to hot or cold conditions.

Illinois Benefits Information

• Retirement Plan – 401k plan for eligible full‑time and part‑time associates, 5% company match.
• Healthcare Benefits – Medical and pharmacy coverage for full‑time associates; flexible spending and health savings account options, and commuter benefit options.
• Dental and Vision coverage for full‑time and part‑time associates.
• Paid Time Off, including paid sick time.
• Company‑paid life, short‑ and long‑term disability insurance.
• Work‑life balance – flexible schedules, biweekly scheduling for better work predictability, and closure on 7 major holidays.
• Growth and Development – daily professional development and growth opportunities, including leadership development for all associates.
• Wellbeing – company‑provided associate assistance program; family, parental, and personal leave options.
• Discounts – 20% discount on Heinen's products.

Heinen’s, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.