Meat Department Lead

Horizon Goodwill•Hagerstown, MD

4d•$16 - $18•Onsite

About The Position

The Meat Department Lead is responsible for the daily execution, ordering, inventory, merchandising, and food safety of the meat and seafood department. In this role, you focus on maintaining a high-quality "Case Ready" program—managing prepackaged inventory, ensuring premium presentation, and providing expert product knowledge to our customers. The Meat Department Lead is the "owner" of the floor, ensuring every product on the shelf is fresh, properly labeled, and enticing to shoppers.

Requirements

Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms.
Obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data to make decisions and overcome problems.
Proactively alerting the Store Manager to low stock levels or potential inventory shrink before it becomes a financial issue.
Immediate reporting of any refrigeration equipment malfunctions to the Store Manager to prevent catastrophic inventory loss.
Work within a team structure and can negotiate and manage conflict.
Exhibit a positive workplace attitude that encourages advancement towards common goals.
Demonstrate personal accountability, effective work habits, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image.
Demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly, and ability to learn from mistakes.
High attention to detail regarding expiration dates and origin labeling accuracy.
Proactive management of the "cold chain" to ensure no product is lost to thawing or equipment failure.
Freezer doors and shelves must be clean and "faced" (products pulled to the front) throughout the shift.
Strong understanding of meat types (beef, poultry, pork, seafood) and basic cooking temperatures.
Punctuality is a must—our customers rely on us being open and ready.
Must be 18 or older (required for tobacco/lottery sales in this jurisdiction).
Ability to lift to 50 lbs. and work comfortably in a refrigerated environment for extended periods.
1–2 years of experience in a grocery or retail environment, specifically within a meat, deli, or perishable department.
Ability to obtain a Maryland Food Handler’s card or equivalent local certification if required.

Responsibilities

Oversee the ordering, delivery and inventory of all prepackaged meat products; verify piece counts against invoices and inspect for temperature compliance and packaging integrity.
Ensure the meat cases are fully stocked and strictly follow FIFO (First-In, First-Out) rotation to maximize freshness.
Perform daily "pull lists" to identify and mark down items approaching their sell-by date, ensuring no expired product reaches the customer.
Maintain clean, organized, and visually appealing displays according to seasonal trends and store promotions.
Ensure all items have accurate pricing, clear "Use By" dates, and required nutritional/country of origin labeling.
Work with the Store Manager to coordinate "bundle" displays (e.g., placing seasonings or sides near specific meat cuts).
Maintain the cleanliness of the meat cases, walk-in coolers, and shelving units.
Ensure all equipment (scales, carts, thermometers) is sanitized daily.
Conduct and log regular temperature checks of refrigeration units to prevent product loss and ensure food safety.
Adhere to all Maryland Health Department regulations for handling prepackaged meats.
Act as the department expert, assisting customers with questions about different cuts, cooking methods, and meal planning.
Monitor customer feedback regarding product variety and report trends or requests to the Store Manager for future ordering.