Produce Manager at Prairie Food Co-op – Lombard, Illinois

Job Description

Produce Manager

DEPARTMENT: 50 - Produce

REPORTS TO: General Manager

PAY CLASSIFICATION: Hourly non-exempt

LAST UPDATED: May 3rd, 2025

Job Summary

Responsible for selecting, purchasing, pricing, and merchandising Produce products with a focus on local and to meet objectives for sales, margin, inventory turns and customer service.

About Prairie Food Co-op

Prairie Food Co-op is a community-owned and democratically operated grocery store dedicated to strengthening our economy and creating a marketplace for transparently labeled, local, organic and sustainable food.

Essential Job Duties

• Supervise and manage Produce staff
• Staffing and scheduling of Produce Department
• Model impeccable and admirable leadership qualities, identify and develop leadership qualities in others, support succession planning and provide ongoing staff training/development
• Help establish and achieve strategic plan goals
• Understand and promote our cooperative identity
• Achieve and maintain Produce departmental KPI goals including for sales, margin, and superior customer service
• Administrative duties, including ordering, inventory, recruitment, training, performance management, discipline, departmental sales, and other duties as assigned
• Negotiate with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality, and delivery
• Coordinate sale specials, demos, and utilize available advertising
• Evaluate suppliers and investigate new sources of supply with a focus on local suppliers/farms

Additional Duties

• Represent the company when dealing with vendors and local businesses
• Assist in special projects/duties as assigned by the General Manager

Essential Skills

• Excellent customer service skills for both internal and external customers
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and work under pressure
• Ability to effectively delegate tasks, train, and motivate staff
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills
• Ability to effectively monitor, maintain, and improve staff performance by respectfully and constructively delivering coaching and counseling to staff

Essential Mental & Physical Requirements

• Works independently with limited guidance
• Performs a variety of tasks independently as dictated by organizational demands
• Relates information to diverse individuals both orally and in writing
• Must have good analytical ability and be proficient in math
• Standing for long periods, bending, walking, reaching, and sitting
• Ability to climb up and down stepladders and stairs daily
• Able to lift and carry up 50 lbs. as needed throughout the day

Experience and Educational Requirements

• A minimum of three years’ experience in a Produce Management role or 5 years of applicable experience.
• High School Diploma or GED

Other Qualifications

• Ability to safely and successfully perform essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA & other federal, state & local standards - including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards
• Ability to maintain reasonably regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA & other federal, state and local standards
• Compliance with all personnel policies

Important Disclaimer Notice

The job duties, elements and responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, requirements and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that the employee may be required to perform. The Co-op does reserve the right to revise this job description at any time and require employees to perform other job duties as assigned.