Market Assistant Manager & Kitchen Lead

Dreaming Out Loud•Washington, DC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Market Assistant Manager & Kitchen Lead ensures the efficient day-to-day operations of both the retail store and café, providing leadership and support to frontline staff. This role is responsible for supervising shifts, overseeing inventory, maintaining food safety standards, and delivering an exceptional customer experience. The ideal candidate is organized, proactive, and committed to operational excellence, customer service, and team development. Dreaming Out Loud, Inc. Dreaming Out Loud’s mission is to create economic opportunities for the DC metro region’s marginalized communities through building a healthy, equitable food system. We are rebuilding urban, community-based food systems through cooperative social enterprise: increasing access to healthy food, improving community health, supporting entrepreneurs and cooperatives from low-income communities, and creating opportunities for at-risk residents to earn sustainable, family-supporting wages and build wealth. We believe that all communities deserve equal access to fresh, healthy food choices, but that achieving this requires moving beyond the “access” paradigm to a focus on community self-determination and food sovereignty. Utilizing the food system as a catalyst, we are working to create an integrated pipeline to jobs, economic opportunity, and community wealth-building for our most marginalized communities.

Requirements

Minimum education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent.
2+ years of retail or food service experience required; prior supervisory experience strongly preferred.
Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Attention to detail, time management, and reliability are essential.
Ability to handle transactions and manage inventory systems.
Familiarity with DC food safety and retail compliance requirements is a plus.
Ability to work flexible shifts, including weekends, holidays, and evenings.
Comfort and experience working and communicating with people from various backgrounds
Independent and hardworking.
Dependable.
Ability to work in various weather conditions.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to perform physically strenuous work including lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, and utilizing ladders and step stools.
Ability to stand for 4 or more hours.
Ability to wear a mask, gloves, and other protective wear for 4 or more hours.

Nice To Haves

Food Handler Certification (or willingness to obtain) preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead opening and closing procedures, including securing the premises and preparing for daily operations.
Supervise and support staff during assigned shifts, assigning tasks, managing break schedules, and ensuring staff coverage during peak hours.
Provide ongoing training, coaching, and performance feedback to team members.
Address staff performance concerns in real time and escalate as needed.
Document and report daily sales, inventory discrepancies, and operational issues to management.
Greet and assist customers to ensure a welcoming and satisfying shopping and dining experience.
Respond to customer inquiries, complaints, and escalations with professionalism and care.
Promote specials, new menu items, and store initiatives to enhance customer engagement and drive sales.
Monitor and restock product shelves and café displays to ensure availability and visual appeal.
Receive, unpack, and verify deliveries, ensuring correct quantities and proper storage.
Track and manage inventory levels, including monitoring expiration dates and rotating stock to minimize waste.
Oversee daily cash handling procedures and ensure register accuracy.
Prepare and serve coffee, beverages, and ready-to-eat meals according to standard recipes and quality expectations.
Process café orders and handle payments efficiently and accurately.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of café counters, prep areas, and service stations.
Restock café ingredients, utensils, and paper goods to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Maintain health, safety, and sanitation standards across all store and café areas.
Ensure compliance with local DC food safety laws and retail policies.
Support a culture of accountability, cleanliness, and professionalism.