Produce Department Manager

Hy-Vee, Inc.•Independence, MO

About The Position

The Produce Department Manager leads all aspects of produce department operations, setting standards for freshness, quality, customer service, employee relations, cleanliness, sanitation, professional appearance, and profitability. The manager builds a welcoming customer experience, develops the department team, and oversees sales, merchandising, inventory, staffing, and financial procedures. The role includes planning displays, promotions, pre-orders, advertisements, and schedules; monitoring sales trends and department performance; ensuring product is properly ordered, priced, stored, and rotated; and maintaining equipment and safe work practices. The manager supervises produce and salad bar employees and may approve discipline or recommend employee transfers, discharges, and salary changes. The position reports to store leadership and requires a high school diploma or equivalent experience, on-the-job training, and produce and sanitation courses.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
High school diploma or equivalent experience.
On-the-job training and required produce and sanitation courses.
Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team in a fast-paced retail environment.
Ability to solve practical problems and make sound decisions with varied conditions and limited standardization.
Math skills, including fractions, decimals, and percentages, for pricing, sales analysis, and inventory tasks.
Clear and professional written and verbal communication with customers, employees, and vendors.
Ability to analyze sales data and trends to inform product, promotion, and operational decisions.
Ability to handle confidential employee, sales, profit, inventory, and warehouse pricing information 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 freight and merchandise.
Ability to operate pallet jacks, forklifts, or similar material-handling equipment where applicable; required operator certification must be completed before independent use.
Ability to safely use sharp knives and blades to cut, trim, or grind product where applicable.
Ability to operate a cardboard baler or compactor where applicable and in accordance with applicable age and legal requirements.

Nice To Haves

Over one year of related work experience.

Responsibilities

Set standards for customer service, employee relations, cleanliness, sanitation, professional appearance, and department profitability.
Model friendly customer service, assist customers, and resolve concerns promptly and professionally.
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and develop department employees.
Set department goals with the Store Director and establish weekly schedules and daily work plans.
Plan, schedule, and oversee salad bar operations, including inventory.
Inspect signage, displays, and merchandise for quality and quantity; order replenishment and ensure competitive pricing.
Analyze weekly and monthly sales and trends, prepare advertising projections, and write advertisements.
Plan displays and promotions and determine pre-orders to drive sales and customer engagement.
Manage department bookkeeping, including extending and posting invoices and overseeing financial procedures.
Conduct department inventory and maintain appropriate product temperatures and storage procedures to preserve freshness and control shrink.
Troubleshoot department equipment and ensure maintenance is performed as needed.
Unload trucks, check in delivered merchandise, and place products in appropriate storage areas.
Approve employee discipline and recommend transfers, discharges, and salary changes.
Attend assigned meetings, seminars, and continuing education.
Answer calls promptly and help callers, including taking product orders.
Follow the company dress code, hygiene standards, department procedures, and company guidelines.
Assist with departmental duties, other tasks, and special projects as needed.