Meat Department Manager
About The Position
The Meat Department Manager oversees the daily operations of Citarella’s Meat Department, ensuring exceptional product quality, outstanding customer service, and efficient department performance. This hands-on leadership role supervises and develops team members, maintains inventory and merchandising standards, minimizes waste, and drives sales while ensuring compliance with food safety and sanitation requirements. The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of premium meats, proven leadership experience, and a commitment to delivering an exceptional gourmet shopping experience. The manager leads department associates and oversees staffing, scheduling, workflow, inventory, product preparation and presentation, customer service, sales support, and food safety. The position requires working in refrigerated environments and safely using knives, meat-processing equipment, and other department tools. Work schedules may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.
Requirements
- Previous supervisory or management experience in a meat department, butcher shop, specialty grocery store, or comparable food retail environment.
- Strong knowledge of meat cuts, preparation methods, product quality, and proper handling techniques.
- Experience managing inventory, ordering, merchandising, and shrink.
- Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to prioritize responsibilities and maintain operational standards during busy periods.
- Flexibility to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to work in refrigerated environments.
- Ability to lift, carry, and move products and supplies as required by department operations.
- Comfort working with knives, meat-processing equipment, and other department tools while following established safety procedures.
Responsibilities
- Lead, train, coach, and develop Meat Department associates to maintain high standards of performance and service.
- Oversee daily department operations, including staffing, scheduling, workflow, and productivity.
- Delegate responsibilities effectively and maintain appropriate department coverage.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team environment.
- Maintain exceptional standards for meat quality, freshness, preparation, and presentation.
- Oversee proper meat handling, cutting, trimming, portioning, packaging, and storage practices.
- Ensure products are properly rotated, labeled, and displayed according to company standards.
- Manage product ordering, receiving, inventory levels, and stock rotation.
- Monitor shrink, spoilage, and waste and implement effective loss-reduction practices.
- Support department sales, labor efficiency, and profitability goals.
- Maintain attractive, well-stocked displays that promote product quality and maximize sales opportunities.
- Provide knowledgeable product recommendations and preparation guidance to customers.
- Address customer questions, concerns, and special requests professionally.
- Encourage suggestive selling and promote premium and specialty products.
- Build lasting customer relationships through personalized service and product expertise.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety regulations.
- Maintain proper refrigeration, temperature controls, equipment cleanliness, and storage procedures.
- Enforce safe knife handling, meat-processing practices, and equipment operation.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
