Produce/Dept Leader

Kroger•Smithfield, VA

About The Position

Implement 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. Plan, organize, direct, and control produce department activities, and, within the scope of authority, take charge of store operations in the store manager’s absence. The role oversees produce receiving, storage, pricing, merchandising, ordering, inventory, employee training and scheduling, salad bar operations, customer service, cleanliness, and required records and reports. The position requires effective communication, sound judgment, adaptability to changing priorities, and the ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requirements

Willingness to work flexibly in the mornings, afternoons, evenings, or nights as work demands.
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 to 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.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Develop customer relations through employees’ friendliness and courtesy, personal example, and implementation of company policies.
Assist with store security, remain alert, and handle customer complaints perceptively.
Make recommendations about hiring, firing, disciplining, demoting, transferring, and evaluating produce department personnel.
Induct 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 practical and efficient work schedules for full- and part-time employees with the store manager.
Maintain employees’ personable, clean, and neat appearance 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 in the store manager’s absence.
Direct receiving, storing, pricing, and merchandising of produce products.
Order appropriately to maintain adequate stock and supplies and optimum department inventory levels.
Maintain and submit required records and reports and use them effectively.
Maintain cleanliness and housekeeping in all department areas, including cleaning or defrosting cases on schedule, cleaning floors, keeping coolers and preparation areas orderly, and disposing of waste and materials properly.
Keep adequate supplies available, 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.
Be prompt, tactful, calm, courteous, and professional in interactions.
Manage people and organize workloads effectively.
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 necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults.