GROCERY MANAGER at Ukiah Natural Foods – Ukiah, California

Promote and support the Ukiah Natural Foods vision and mission. Always provide excellent customer service and handle as a first priority. Responsible for attaining positive operating results within department. Provide top quality product at all times. Ensure effective inventory control. Provide a safe, attractive, efficient department, and well-trained employees who provide excellent customer service. Depending on experience position can be salary exempt, with a starting wage of $68,640/yr.

1. Customer Service:

• Be available for customer service when working on the retail floor.

• Learn product locations to find products for customers throughout the store.

• Role model excellent customer service for staff and provide excellent internal service to staff and peers.

• Ensure that department employees provide excellent customer service and receive appropriate Customer Service training.

• Able to understand and explain member/owner information and ensure the department employees receive Membership training.

• Encourage and answer all customer suggestions, requests, and complaints pertaining to the department.

2. Personnel Practices:

• Participate in the applicant interview process and employee selection with the human resource department.

• Ensure that all staff in department receives appropriate orientation and training.

• Develop and maintain useful departmental training materials.

• Ensure staff receives consistent feedback and that staff evaluations are completed properly and on time.

• Provide leadership by guiding, directing, instructing, and motivating staff.

Maintain an open door, within policy, to allow clear communication and direct staff to the correct resolution channel(s).

• Actively address performance and personnel issues in a timely manner.

• Administer proper personnel actions (training redirection conversations, verbal warning, or written warning) and provide written documentation to Human Resources.

• Keep locked and secure all documents containing employee personal information.

3. Department Management:

• Attend the leadership team meetings (LTM) following established protocol.

• Review/prepare a weekly staff work schedule to cover departmental needs.

• Process paperwork and invoices in a timely and accurate manner.

• Ensure that department staff are aware and updated on current policy and procedure.

• Ensure all department staff takes the required training classes within specified required times.

• Set departmental goals and develop structure in compliance with the overall store vision.

• Complete in a timely manner all trainings required by state and federal law (such as Sexual Harassment Prevention.)

• Report monthly to the General Manager on the performance and events for your department.

4. Safety and sanitation:

• Maintain working knowledge of processes and solutions for store emergencies.

• Ensure department staff is aware of and follows health and safety rules appropriate to the department.

• Responsible for making sure detailed Incident Reports for on-the-job injuries are correctly completed and submitted to Human Resources. • Ensure that the department is clean and free of debris.

• Ensure all department staff are trained and monitored in the safe and correct use of equipment and proper lifting techniques.

5. Products, inventory control, and sales:

• Identify product mix to achieve sales and margin goals and satisfy customer demand.

• Ensure optimum stock levels of products based upon supplier or store movement reports with input from employees, customers, past history, and professional judgment.

• Conduct periodic price comparisons with other stores.

• Ensure buyers are trained in the proper use of Scan Genius for ordering.

• Input data in LBMX for the bi-weekly Co-op Deals Flyer program.

• Oversee the department purchases with consideration for target inventory turns and controlled shrinkage.

• Develop margins and markdowns leading to positive operating results and provides acceptable explanation of variances from budgets and plans.

• Participate in quarterly inventory count.

• Oversee all department invoices and credit vouchers to ensure all merchandise purchased is priced correctly and prepares credit accordingly.

Remain abreast of changing member/customer needs, new products and trends.

• Develop, maintain and train staff in effective selling techniques.

• Develop and maintain a business network of resources to help provide new and updated information.

• Attend educational and job-related seminars as they become available.

6. Merchandising;

• Ensure proper and attractive displays for the best presentation to customers, making sure displays and shelves are fully stocked, faced, rotated, and clean.

• Check for proper self-tags and sale signs are on shelves and displays. Request shelf tags and/or sale signs from POS coordinator as needed.

• Implement adopted merchandising policy.

• Develop and implement effective promotional programs.

• Determine product placement based upon traffic flow.

• Act as UNF’s Promotion Liaison for Co-op Deals Program for the Grocery Department.

7. Personnel Practices:

• Participate in the applicant interview process and participates in employee selection with the human resource department.

• Ensure that all staff in department receives appropriate orientation and training.

• Develop and maintain useful departmental training materials.

• Ensure employees are updated on and adhere to the store policies and standards of Ukiah Natural Foods.

• Ensure that staff evaluations are completed properly and on time.

• Maintain an open door, within policy, to allow clear communication and direct staff to the correct resolution channel(s).

• Actively address performance and personnel issues in a timely manner.

• Administer proper personnel actions (training redirection conversations, verbal warning, or written warning) and provide written documentation to Human Resources. • Keep locked and secure all documents containing employee personal information.

*open availability

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• Requires a combination of on-the-job training and experience in less responsible supervisory position(s) including training and employee evaluation.

• Knowledge of inventory control, margins, and pricing.

• Experience with purchasing and receiving in a retail environment.

• Experience reviewing and developing departmental budgets.

• Expanded knowledge of natural and organic foods and products.

• Language Skills:

• Read and interpret documents in English such as safety rules, operating and procedure manuals, and periodicals and journals.

• Write routine reports, correspondence, business letters, and summaries in English.

• Ability to speak effectively in English before groups such as customers or employees.

• Excel in customer service extended to customers, staff, vendors, and community members and proficient in the ability to deal with difficult customer situations.

• Computer Skills:

• Sufficient computer skills that will allow use, in a proficient manner, all Company-issued software programs, including but not limited to Microsoft Office programs.

• Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision and to determine own work priorities within departmental guidelines.

• Ability to handle multiple demands, problem-solve, and research information.

• Demonstrate objectivity, neutrality, and calmness under pressure. Possess good organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for natural foods and products.

• Retail natural foods experience.