PRODUCE/ASST DEPT LEADER

The Kroger Co.•Oshkosh, WI

About The Position

The Produce Assistant Department Leader helps create an outstanding customer experience through exceptional service and maintains a safe, clean environment that encourages customers to return. The role supports achievement of department sales and profit goals, compliance with quality assurance standards, and oversight of Produce department functions and activities. The position demonstrates the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. The role includes supporting associates through communication, goal setting, scheduling, training, development, and performance appraisals. It also involves assisting customers with product questions and recommendations, sharing specials and samples, and inspecting products for quality and freshness. The Assistant Department Leader develops and implements department business plans and promotions, supports budgeting and financial reviews, manages price changes, and organizes inventory activities. The position also monitors cooler and case temperatures, maintains temperature logs, reinforces safety procedures, reports risks and incidents, and follows applicable laws and company guidelines.

Requirements

Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge of basic mathematics, including counting, addition, and subtraction.
Ability to handle stressful situations.
Must obtain a current food handlers permit once employed.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED.
Management experience.
Produce or retail experience.
Ability to speak, read, and/or write in a second language.

Responsibilities

Promote trust and respect among associates and maintain a positive attitude.
Communicate company, department, and job-specific information to associates.
Establish department performance goals and empower associates to meet or exceed targets through teamwork.
Develop adequate scheduling to manage customer volume.
Train and develop associates and participate in the performance appraisal process.
Help customers feel welcome and appreciated by answering questions, making suggestions, and locating products.
Inform customers about produce specials and offer product samples.
Inspect products for quality and freshness and take appropriate action.
Develop and implement a department business plan to achieve desired results.
Create and execute sales promotions with store management.
Inform and educate department associates about current, upcoming, and special in-store promotions.
Prepare and submit seasonal critiques for the sales and merchandising supervisor.
Implement the department’s period promotional plan.
Assist management with store or department budgets, expense control, profit and loss reviews, and actions based on financial reports.
Schedule price changes and update shelf tags and promotional signs.
Plan and organize inventory processes; monitor inventory and stocking conditions; identify discrepancies; and train associates on inventory, stocking, and Computer Assisted Ordering (CAO).
Ensure proper temperatures are maintained in cases and coolers and maintain temperature logs.
Reinforce safety programs by following procedures, identifying unsafe conditions, inspecting equipment, reporting repair needs, and notifying management about customer or employee accidents.
Report safety risks, issues, and illegal activity, including robbery, theft, or fraud.
Follow local, state, and federal laws and company guidelines.
Work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment.
Manage conflict reasonably, cooperatively, and without confrontation.
Act honestly and with integrity regarding customer and business information.
Follow directions and seek assistance when needed to resolve customer and business issues.
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and older adults.
Perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.