Produce/Dept Leader

Kroger•Hampton, VA

About The Position

The Produce/Dept Leader implements company and division policies to achieve maximum 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 department activities and may take charge of store operations, within the scope of authority, when the store manager is absent. The leader oversees staff, customer service, salad bar operations, receiving, storage, pricing, merchandising, ordering, inventory, cleanliness, and required records and reports. The role also evaluates department operations and implements or recommends changes to improve efficiency, customer service, and productivity. The position requires flexibility to work various shifts, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Requirements

Willingness to be flexible and work 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 and 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.
Abilities and skills for effective production, merchandising, and customer service related to merchandise sales.
Ability to manage people and organize workloads.

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.
Assist with store security, remain alert, and handle customer complaints.
Make recommendations regarding hiring, firing, discipline, demotion, transfer, and evaluation of produce department personnel.
Indoctrinate and train department employees, including instruction on reading scales and prices, price marking, customer courtesy, and productivity.
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 department 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, 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 and supplies and keep department inventories at optimum levels.
Maintain and submit required records and reports and use them effectively.
Maintain effective housekeeping, including cleaning or defrosting cases, cleaning floors, keeping the cooler and preparation area orderly, and disposing of waste and materials properly.
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.
Perform duties assigned by the store manager and/or supervisor.
Work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment; manage conflict reasonably, nonconfrontationally, and cooperatively.
Handle customer and business information honestly and with integrity, follow directions, and seek assistance when needed to resolve issues.
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults.
Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.