PRODUCE/DEPT LEADER

The Kroger Co.•Lexington, VA

About The Position

The Produce/Dept Leader plans, organizes, directs, and controls the produce department’s activities to achieve maximum sales and profits while implementing company and division policies. The role demonstrates the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. It oversees customer service, staffing recommendations, employee onboarding and training, salad bar operations, scheduling discussions, receiving, storage, pricing, merchandising, ordering, inventory, records, and department cleanliness. The leader may take charge of store operations, within their scope of authority, when the store manager is absent. The position requires adaptability, sound judgment, effective communication, and the ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment.

Requirements

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 tactfully and calmly handle stressful situations and make a positive impression on associates and customers.
Abilities and skills for effective production, merchandising, and customer service related to the sale of merchandise.
Willingness to work mornings, afternoons, evenings, or nights as work demands.
Willingness and availability to work weekends and holidays as needed.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Develop strong customer relations through personal example and implementation of company policies; handle customer complaints and assist with store security.
Recommend hiring, firing, discipline, demotion, transfer, and evaluation decisions for produce department personnel.
Orient and train department employees, including teaching them to read scales and prices correctly and providing training in price marking, courtesy, and productivity.
Supervise all aspects of salad bar operations.
Discuss efficient and practical schedules for full-time and part-time employees with the store manager.
Maintain a clean, neat, personable, properly uniformed, and identified appearance among department personnel.
Maintain good communication with store personnel.
Plan, organize, direct, and control produce department activities; take charge of store operations in the store manager’s absence within the position’s authority.
Direct the receiving, storing, pricing, and merchandising of produce products.
Order products and supplies to maintain adequate stock 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 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 operations, including 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 positively with direct reports.
Interact promptly, tactfully, calmly, courteously, and professionally.
Manage people and organize workloads; cooperate in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment and handle conflict reasonably and cooperatively.
Act honestly and with integrity in handling customer and business information; follow directions and seek assistance when needed to resolve issues.
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and older adults.
Perform duties assigned by the store manager and/or supervisor and perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.