Produce Assistant Department Manager

Hy-Vee, Inc.•Galesburg, IL

10d•$17 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

The Produce Assistant Department Manager partners with the Produce Department Manager to keep the produce department operating smoothly and maintain an appealing, well-stocked department. The role supports product freshness, sales-floor presentation, employee training and development, and department operations, and assumes management responsibilities when the Department Manager is absent. The position requires produce knowledge, a commitment to quality and customer service, and the ability to lead and support a team in a fast-paced retail environment. The role involves unloading and checking deliveries, assisting with inventory and orders at the Produce Manager’s discretion, coordinating salad bar and juice bar operations, supporting fruit and holiday basket programs, and maintaining sanitation and company standards. It also includes resolving customer and vendor issues, providing helpful phone service, and assisting with other tasks or special projects as needed. The position is based in the produce department, with frequent exposure to cool temperatures and dampness and possible hazards involving moving equipment, electrical equipment, cleaning chemicals, and solvents. Safety training is provided. The anticipated hourly starting wage is $16.50 to $20.60, depending on experience. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent experience.
Ability to provide strong customer service and support Hy-Vee’s mission.
Ability to solve practical problems and make sound decisions with varied factors and limited standardization.
Ability to use fractions, decimals, and percentages in everyday tasks.
Ability to lead, train, and support a team in a fast-paced retail environment.
Clear communication skills with customers, team members, and vendors, and ability to provide basic direction and guidance.
Strong knowledge of produce products and ability to share that knowledge confidently with customers.
Ability to handle confidential information, including pricing and sales, discreetly.
Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing 100 pounds or more, with or without mechanical assistance.
Ability to stand and walk continuously on hard surfaces for extended periods.
Ability to work in cooler or freezer environments for extended periods.
Ability to unload, lift, stock, and rotate incoming truck freight and merchandise.
Where applicable, ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment; required operator certification must be completed before independent use.
Where applicable, ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product.
Where applicable and in accordance with age and legal requirements, ability to operate a cardboard baler or compactor.
Where applicable, ability to perform repetitive motions associated with dough mixing, scaling, and proofing.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Food safety training is encouraged.
Over one year of similar or related experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide warm, helpful customer service, answer customer questions, and share knowledge of produce and its uses.
Maintain product freshness, rotation, replenishment, refrigeration temperatures, and department standards.
Set and reset sales areas to promote products and maintain an appealing department.
Coordinate and troubleshoot salad bar and juice bar operations.
Stay current on produce pricing, seasonal availability, weather impacts, and market trends.
Unload and check in deliveries, verify accuracy, and log invoices as needed.
Assist with inventory and order product at the Produce Manager’s discretion.
Assist with all aspects of the fruit and holiday basket program.
Stock aisles, break down pallets, restack the cooler at the end of the day, and transport product to the sales floor.
Train new employees and support the department team’s ongoing development.
Instruct, assign, and review others’ work; coordinate activities and allocate personnel as needed.
Resolve customer and vendor issues promptly and professionally.
Assume management responsibilities when the Department Manager is absent.
Follow proper sanitation procedures and keep the work area clean, neat, and compliant with guidelines.
Answer the phone promptly and provide friendly, helpful service to callers.
Follow Hy-Vee’s dress code, hygiene standards, and department and company guidelines.
Assist with other tasks and special projects as needed.