Produce/Dept Leader

Kroger•Highlands Ranch, CO

About The Position

The Produce/Dept Leader implements company and division policies to maximize sales and profits in the produce department while demonstrating the company’s values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. The role plans, organizes, directs, and controls department activities and may take charge of store operations, within the scope of authority, when the store manager is absent. The leader oversees produce receiving, storage, pricing, merchandising, ordering, inventory, and salad bar operations. They train and support department employees, promote customer service and productivity, coordinate staffing schedules with the store manager, maintain department cleanliness and supplies, and keep required records and reports. The role also evaluates department operations and recommends or implements improvements. The position requires effective communication, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment. The leader must handle customer and business matters with honesty and integrity, follow directions, seek assistance when needed, and provide support through direct interaction with minors, people with special needs, and older adults. Essential functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Willingness to work flexible schedules, including mornings, afternoons, evenings, and nights as work 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 remain alert amid changing priorities and demands.
Ability to react quickly and make intelligent decisions.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to handle stressful situations tactfully and calmly and make a positive impression on associates and customers.
Skills and abilities for effective production, merchandising, and customer service related to merchandise sales.
Ability to manage people and organize workloads.
Ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment.
Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational, and cooperative manner.
Ability to act honestly and with integrity regarding customer and business information.
Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Build customer relations through personal example of friendliness and courtesy and by implementing company policies.
Remain alert and assist with store security; handle customer complaints perceptively.
Make recommendations concerning hiring, firing, discipline, demotion, transfer, and evaluation of produce department personnel.
Orient and train department employees, including ensuring they can read scales and prices correctly and understand price marking, customer courtesy, and productivity.
Supervise all aspects of salad bar operations.
Discuss efficient and practical work schedules for full- 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 all store personnel.
Plan, organize, direct, and control produce department activities; may take charge of store operations within the scope of authority when the store manager is absent.
Direct the receiving, storing, pricing, and merchandising of produce products.
Order appropriately to maintain adequate stock, supplies, and optimum department inventory levels.
Maintain and submit required records and reports and use them effectively.
Maintain housekeeping throughout the department, including cleaning or defrosting cases on schedule, cleaning floors, keeping the cooler and preparation area orderly, and disposing of waste and materials properly.
Keep adequate department 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 to direct reports in a positive manner.
Interact promptly, tactfully, calmly, courteously, and professionally.
Perform duties assigned by the store manager and/or supervisor.
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 or business issues.
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and older adults.
Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.