Seafood Field Specialist in Denver, Colorado at Empire Marketing Strategies, Inc.

About Us: Empire Marketing Strategies has been a leader in delivering exceptional in-store execution for over 40 years, enhancing the customer experience in grocery retail. Operating in all 18 Kroger divisions across the U.S., we partner with some of the world's top brands to optimize their presence in over 2,500 store locations. Our team thrives on tackling diverse challenges in the fast-paced retail industry. We value dedication, talent, and a passion for excellence.

Why Join Us?

• Flexible, M-F Work Schedule, 9 Holidays off
• Earn a competitive salary plus 80% employer-covered benefits
• Full-Time Associates: Eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability coverage, a retirement program, mental health support, paid time off, and 9 paid holidays annually.
• Part-Time Associates: Eligible for our retirement program and access to mental health support resources
• A dynamic work environment where you’ll make a real impact.

Job Summary:

The Seafood Retail Specialist supports seafood suppliers and Kroger stores throughout an assigned territory by driving sales, maintaining best-in-class merchandising and department conditions, and developing store associates’ seafood knowledge and selling skills. The role serves as a seafood subject matter expert; builds productive relationships with store, district, division, operations, and supplier partners; executes approved sales plans, planograms, displays, and promotions; and models the company’s values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

• Maintain a timely and accurate visitation schedule for all stores in the assigned territory and spend approximately 85% of work time in stores; travel up to 75%, including occasional overnight stays.

• Work independently with periodic supervision and maintain effective, timely communication by email and telephone.

• Achieve and maintain seafood department standards for freshness, rotation, sanitation, signage, load limits, product allocation, display space, variety, workmanship, pricing, tagging, and salability.

• Build displays, pack out product, replenish permanent secondary displays, execute point-of-sale materials and approved coupons, and ensure promotional programs meet retailer and manufacturer/client objectives.

• Maintain authorized distribution and shelf conditions; verify shelf tags, support reordering, and keep sections aligned with approved schematics, stocking plans, and planograms.

• Partner with store personnel on CAO and sales-plan implementation and develop an effective product mix that supports consistent sales, profit, and tonnage growth.

• Maintain territory records; review sales reports; track progress toward goals; and complete accurate, timely reporting using approved tools such as Power BI and GoSpotCheck.

• Monitor competitive programs and activities and communicate relevant information through appropriate store, zone, division, operations, supplier, and General Office channels.

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with store personnel and other key partners.

• Consult with store, district, and division leadership regarding seafood department strengths, training needs, problems, and opportunities, and communicate concerns to the appropriate personnel.

• Post monthly work schedules on the designated SharePoint site, maintain territory files and company equipment, attend scheduled meetings, and manage expenses within established guidelines.

• Perform other duties as assigned and complete the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Seafood Training and Selling

• Train associates on proper receiving, storage, handling, rotation, thawing, opening and closing procedures, sanitation, and merchandising of fresh, frozen, and value-added seafood.

• Reinforce proper case load limits, freshness and quality standards, and Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements.

• Build product knowledge so associates can confidently serve as seafood experts.

• Demonstrate practical cooking methods and quick, approachable recipes while explaining the benefits of seafood.

• Coach associates in personal and suggestive selling techniques, using demonstrations and role-play to strengthen customer engagement.

• Teach associates to resolve customer concerns by listening, understanding, apologizing, solving the problem, and thanking the customer for the feedback.

• Explain sustainable seafood policies and help associates respond accurately to customer questions about sustainability.

• Ensure approved training programs and customer-facing materials are used effectively and remain in place.

Special Events

• Support store grand openings, re-grand openings, holiday promotions, road shows, and other selling events as needed.

• Complete readiness checklists for seafood cases and displays before holiday promotions and events.

• Assist with planning, setup, merchandising, and execution for road shows and other special events.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Driver’s License and clean Motor Vehicle Report required.
• Two to three years of related seafood, CPG, grocery, retail, merchandising, or training experience preferred; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong seafood product, merchandising, food safety, sanitation, and customer-service knowledge.

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in writing and in one-on-one or group settings.

• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedures, correspondence, reports, diagrams, and schedules.

• Ability to solve practical problems, apply sound judgment, and carry out instructions involving multiple concrete variables.

• Ability to perform basic business math using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.

• Ability to build rapport, provide candid and constructive feedback, coach others, and work collaboratively across teams.

• Ability to organize priorities, manage competing demands, meet deadlines, and work autonomously with a strong drive for results.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel; ability to use SharePoint, Power BI, GoSpotCheck, and other approved reporting systems.

Core Competencies

• Puts the Customer First: Anticipates customer needs, responds promptly, manages difficult situations professionally, and follows through on commitments.

• Communicates Effectively: Speaks clearly and candidly, listens actively, seeks clarification, and provides accurate, timely information.

• Achieves Results Through Teamwork: Works inclusively and collaboratively, welcomes diverse ideas, and holds self and others accountable.

• Coaches and Develops Others: Builds capability through demonstrations, practice, feedback, and consistent follow-up.

• Leads Through Positive Influence: Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, enthusiasm, sound judgment, and personal accountability.

• Leads Change and Innovation: Embraces technology, recommends practical improvements, and supports effective implementation.

• Executes with Excellence: Sets clear priorities, monitors progress, solves problems, and consistently meets quality and performance expectations.

• Safety Awareness: Follows safety and security procedures, identifies hazards, and promptly reports or corrects unsafe conditions.

Travel and Physical Requirements

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel regularly between work sites, including occasional overnight stays.

• Ability to spend approximately 85% of work time in stores and travel up to 75% of the time.

• Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods and regularly alternate among sitting, standing, squatting, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and reaching.

• Ability to regularly lift and move 25–35 pounds and occasionally lift and move up to 60 pounds.

• Regular use of hands to handle products, tools, equipment, and controls.

• Vision sufficient for close work, distance viewing, peripheral awareness, depth perception, focus adjustment, reading written information, and viewing computer screens and store conditions.

Tools, Equipment, and Work Environment

• Regular operation of a personal motor vehicle, manual pallet jacks, hand trucks, computers, and standard office equipment.

• Work is primarily performed in retail grocery stores and may include refrigerated, freezer, wet, humid, or extremely cold conditions.

• Work may also occur in customer warehouses, kitchens, and manufacturer/client facilities where additional safety precautions are required.

• The noise level is typically moderate.

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.