Center Store Assistant Department Manager PM

Festival Foods • La Crosse, WI

18h • Onsite

About The Position

Festival Foods is a Wisconsin grocer committed to giving back to its communities and providing guests with exceptional service and value, operating over 40 full-service supermarkets across the state. The company prioritizes its people, reflected in daily interactions, guest treatment, and extensive associate benefits. The Center Store Assistant Manager-PM provides operational and leadership support across multiple departments, including Grocery, Frozen/Dairy, Natural & Organic, and Health & Beauty Care (HBC)/General Merchandise (GM), adapting focus based on daily business needs. This role is crucial for maintaining department standards, ensuring accurate inventory levels and pricing, and supporting afternoon and night shift operations. The Center Store Assistant Manager-PM collaborates with Center Store leadership, adjusts priorities, and works alongside associates to train, guide, and ensure exceptional guest experiences.

Requirements

• High School education or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Thorough knowledge of the retail food business, especially non-perishable department operations, and strong merchandising skills.
• Familiarity with store operations and the ability to coordinate effectively with store and vendor teams.
• Ability to make timely and effective decisions, communicate effectively in a fast-paced environment, and manage a diverse team.
• Understanding of all safety requirements and company safety policies, with the ability to recognize and react to possible safety hazards.
• Proper training and knowledge of equipment such as hand jacks, balers, forklifts, hand trucks, and trash compactors.

Nice To Haves

• 2+ years of leadership experience (manager or lead) in retail, grocery, warehouse, or restaurant preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Support Center Store departments, adapting based on daily business needs.
• Ensure Leadership Continuity: Step in and lead teams in the absence of Center Store Manager(s), ensuring associates are supported and department standards are maintained.
• Train Associates: Train, coach, and re-train new and current associates as needed to ensure high performance. Reinforce company culture, guest service, and performance expectations to all Center Store associates.
• Meet Department Standards: Ensure all department standards, including inventory levels, pricing, and cleanliness, are met consistently. Observe sales floor and back stock conditions, taking action to address any areas of opportunity.
• Communicate and Collaborate: Work with Store Director, department managers, and associates to exceed guest expectations.
• Verify Timekeeping: Ensure accurate timekeeping and communicate any missing time, transferred hours, or schedule issues to HR.
• Provide Helpful Guest Service: Assist with product location, special orders, and address guest questions, concerns or issues.
• Maintain Cleanliness: Contribute to the cleanliness and organization of the department, including work areas, shelving, coolers, receiving, and the sales floor.
• Deliver Feedback: Assist with writing and conducting performance reviews for department associates. Document violations of company policies/procedures and collaborate with management and HR to take corrective action, up to and including termination.
• Cashier Trained: Ready to step in at the register, and/or support store closing procedures.
• Honor Commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences
• Support the Team: Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Associate Discount: Enjoy an industry-leading 15% off your grocery purchases for you and your immediate household!
• Weekly Pay & Premium Pay: Hourly associates are paid weekly, providing more frequent access to their funds. Part-time store associates are paid a $1 premium per hour on Sundays and select holidays. Hourly full-time store associates receive time and a half on Sundays and select holidays.
• Two-Week Advanced Scheduling: Better Planning. Better Balance. We provide our associates with their schedules two weeks in advance, offering greater predictability & flexibility.
• Vision & Dental Insurance: Part-time and full-time associates are eligible for vision insurance and two dental coverage options that are designed to fit your needs.
• Support: Our associates receive support for their total well-being; including 3 weeks of paid parental leave, a fitness reimbursement program offering savings off of fitness membership fees; our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and LEAPCare Care Coaches, which provide associates confidential care related to hospital visitation, conflict resolution, stress management, marriage or divorce, family issues and depression or anxiety.
• Save for Your Future: Offering a 401(k), we’re proud to support our associates in planning for retirement. The 401(k) plan empowers associates to save a portion of their paychecks for retirement. Festival Foods has an annual discretionary match to help our associates reach their savings goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees