PRODUCE/DEPT LEADER

The Kroger Co.•Menomonee Falls, WI

About The Position

The Produce Department Leader implements company and division policies to maximize sales and profits in the produce department while demonstrating the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. The role plans, organizes, directs, and controls produce department activities and may take charge of store operations, within the scope of authority, when the store manager is absent. The position oversees employees, customer relations, department operations, merchandising, ordering, inventory, records, and cleanliness. It provides employee orientation and training, supports company initiatives and process improvements, and works with the store manager on staffing schedules and department recommendations. The leader must perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Willingness to work flexible mornings, afternoons, evenings, or nights as business demands.
Willingness and availability to work weekends and holidays as needed.
Understanding of key department operations, including people management, merchandising, computer-assisted ordering, inventory management, shrink control, customer service, labor scheduling, and expense control.
Working knowledge of produce preparation and general knowledge of store operations.
Ability to communicate with employees, customers, and supervisors and react quickly to changing priorities and demands.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to make intelligent decisions quickly.
Ability to handle stressful situations tactfully and calmly and make a positive impression on associates and customers.
Abilities and skills for effective production, merchandising, and customer service related to merchandise sales.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Produce work experience or similar experience in food preparation.
Past work record reflecting dependability and integrity.

Responsibilities

Develop customer relations through personal example of friendliness and courtesy and implementation of company policies.
Assist with store security and handle customer complaints.
Make recommendations regarding hiring, firing, disciplining, demoting, transferring, and evaluating produce department personnel.
Provide proper orientation for department employees, including instruction on reading scales and prices correctly.
Train employees in price marking and promote customer courtesy, productivity, and effective use of learned skills.
Supervise all aspects of salad bar operations.
Discuss practical and efficient schedules for full-time and part-time employees with the store manager.
Ensure department employees maintain a personable, clean, and neat appearance and are properly uniformed and identified.
Maintain good communication with store personnel.
Plan, organize, direct, and control produce department activities; may take charge of store operations in the store manager’s absence, within the scope of authority.
Direct the receiving, storing, pricing, and merchandising of produce products.
Order products and supplies to maintain adequate stock and optimum inventory levels.
Maintain and submit required records and reports and use them effectively.
Maintain cleanliness throughout the department, including cleaning or defrosting cases according to schedule, cleaning floors, keeping coolers and preparation areas orderly, and properly disposing of waste and materials.
Keep adequate supplies on hand, including bags and pricing and marking equipment.
Continuously analyze department space allocation, design, displays, price marking, rotation, inventories, and personnel; make changes or recommendations to the store manager as appropriate.
Promote, communicate, and implement company initiatives and process improvements with direct reports in a positive manner.
Interact promptly, tactfully, calmly, courteously, and professionally.
Manage people and organize workloads; work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment.
Manage conflict reasonably, cooperatively, and without confrontation.
Handle customer and business information honestly and with integrity.
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 other duties assigned by the store manager and/or supervisor.
Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.