PRODUCE/DEPT LEADER

The Kroger Co.•Laguna Hills, CA

About The Position

The Produce/Dept Leader implements company and division policies to achieve maximum sales and profits in the produce departments 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 leader directs produce receiving, storage, pricing, merchandising, ordering, inventory, and salad bar operations; supports customer service and store security; and helps train, schedule, and evaluate department personnel. The role also maintains records, supplies, cleanliness, and effective communication with store personnel. The position requires flexibility to work mornings, afternoons, evenings, or nights as work demands, and weekends and holidays as needed.

Requirements

Willingness to work flexibly in the mornings, afternoons, evenings, or 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 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.

Nice To Haves

Produce work experience or similar experience in food preparation.
Past work record that reflects 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.
Indoctrinate department employees and ensure they can read scales and prices correctly.
Train employees in price marking, customer courtesy, and productivity, and ensure they apply the skills learned.
Supervise all aspects of salad bar operations.
Discuss practical and efficient work schedules for full-time and part-time employees with the store manager.
Maintain a personable, clean, and neat appearance among departmental employees and ensure they are properly uniformed and identified.
Maintain good communication with store personnel.
Plan, organize, direct, and control produce department activities and, within the scope of authority, may take charge of store operations 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 cleanliness throughout the department, including cases, floors, coolers, and preparation areas; ensure proper waste disposal.
Maintain adequate supplies, including bags and pricing and marking equipment.
Continuously analyze department operations, including space allocation, design, displays, price marking, rotation, inventory, and personnel; make changes or recommendations to the store manager as appropriate.
Promote, communicate, and implement company initiatives and process improvements with direct reports.
Interact promptly, tactfully, calmly, courteously, and professionally.
Manage people and organize workloads.
Perform duties assigned by the store manager and/or supervisor.
Work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment and manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational, and cooperative manner.
Act honestly and with integrity regarding customer and business information.
Follow directions and seek assistance when necessary 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 functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.