Produce Assistant Manager

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Reports to: Produce Manager

Pay Grade: 7 (Full Time, Salaried Exempt)

Supervises: Provides supporting supervision for Produce Buyer/Receiver, Produce Asst Buyer/Receiver and Produce Stockers.

Purpose: To provide a fully stocked and well-managed Produce Department. Assist the Produce Manager in maintaining smooth/efficient operations of the Produce Department, including customer service, stocking, merchandising, buying/receiving, sales/promotions, reporting, and cleanliness. Also assist the Produce Manager in meeting goals for sales, margin, profitability, and labor.

Job Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Provide excellent customer service to all internal and external customers, including employees, vendors, and shoppers.
• Assist customers with produce questions in a prompt, friendly, courteous manner, referring to other staff when necessary.
• Availability to staff and customers to ensure efficient and friendly customer service; provide support to department staff in ensuring excellent customer service through ongoing coaching and training.
• Offer suggestions to customers for purchases and ways to prepare products.

Supervision

• Train new staff and provide on-going staff training as assigned by Produce Manager.
• Supervise the daily work assignments of Produce staff.
• Help facilitate communications between Produce Buyer/Receiver, Produce Asst Buyer/Receiver, Produce staff and Produce Manager. Prioritize daily check-ins with members of the department.
• Assist in planning and facilitating regular departmental meetings.
• Report staffing/personnel issues and customer/product issues directly to Produce Manager.
• Oversee the stocking of all displays. Participate in stocking as needed.
• Conduct staff performance evaluations in accordance with the union contract (collective bargaining agreement).
• Ensure staff uses safe work practices.
• Assist in administering mutual resolution conversations or work problem resolution procedures to Produce staff as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.
• Assist in scheduling and staffing, including filling open shifts with substitute staff.

Merchandising

• Ensure displays, shelves, bins, and coolers are fully stocked.
• Set up displays following guidelines of Produce Manager.
• Replenish and rotate displays, culling several times daily, and following stocking priorities set by Produce Manager.
• Supervise the rotation of older stock to the front, making room for new stock; organize/maintain back stock to assure efficient shelf stocking and inventory management.
• Ensure accuracy of signage and pricing.

Purchasing

• Support the Produce Buyer/Receiver in negotiating with suppliers for favorable prices, terms, quality, and delivery within guidelines established by Produce Manager.
• Support the Produce Buyer/Receiver in evaluating vendors and researching new sources of supply.
• Assist in providing pricing guidelines to Produce Buyer/Receiver.\
• Receive deliveries following established procedures, checking carefully for quality and accuracy.
• Place orders with established suppliers within guidelines set by Produce Manager.
• Obtain credit from suppliers as needed.
• Maintain and process credits on monthly credit log

Operations

• Participate in review of department financial reports and department goal setting.
• Be a team player. A team player has the “willingness to consider the effects of one’s own decisions on others and has the ability to prioritize larger Co-op goals before individual concerns.”
• Take responsibility for self-education and staying informed.
• Be responsible for safety in the workplace by creating a safe work environment, reporting safety concerns to a manager or member of the Safety Committee, and adhering to safety rules and regulations.
• Follow department policies and procedures.
• Maintain/improve spreadsheets, ordering and inventory tools.
• Maintain margins, pricing, sales, and reporting in Catapult
• Generate weekly sales predictions from Catapult based on last year’s sales

Department Maintenance

• Ensure that department area is kept clean and orderly; meet all Department of Health regulations.
• Ensure department equipment remains in working order and advise Produce Manager of problems.
• Properly dispose of unsellable items following established procedures.
• Prepare for and participate in regular inventory counts.
• Establish a regular cleaning schedule of the Produce department.
• Offer samples and suggestions for purchase and preparation.
• Trims, washes, bunches produce following priorities set by Produce Manager.
• Remove trash, clean cases, and keep prep and storage areas in clean, orderly condition.
• Use equipment safely. Monitor cooler and walk-in temperatures and follow procedures for handling breakdowns. Advise Produce Manager of equipment repair and replacement needs.

Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The job duties/responsibilities as listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that an employee may be required to perform.

Qualifications:

• Management experience preferred; supervisory or leadership experience and skills required.
• Ability to coach, counsel, train and motivate staff.
• Knowledge of natural foods, produce and working directly with farmers.
• Knowledge of produce purchasing, merchandising and quality control.
• Knowledge of organic standards.
• Experience dealing directly with local farms.
• Retail produce experience.
• Computer skills to include familiarity with Microsoft Office programs, including but not limited to Word, Excel, and Outlook, and point of sale or inventory management systems.
• Ability to handle multiple projects.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
• Ability to provide excellent service to customers, vendors and coworkers.
• Ability to work well with others in a cooperative environment where teamwork and constant communication are essential.
• Ability to regularly lift 50 lbs.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work in cold, wet environments.
• Ability to work with hazardous equipment.
• Ability to follow the safety policies and procedures of Hunger Mountain Co-op.
• Ability to be physically present onsite at the Co-op to perform the requirements of this position.
• Excellent attendance/punctuality.
• Well organized and pays attention to details.
• Excellent communication – verbal and written.
• Sense of humor.

updated February 13, 2026