Specialist, Retail Cheese - Chicago, IL - South Suburbs

KeHE Distributors, LLC•Orland Park, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Retail Cheese Specialist supports customer employees with establishing and maintaining an in-store cheese shop. The role involves ordering products for initial setup and replenishment, transmitting orders, and preparing and merchandising cheese displays by cutting, wrapping, packaging, and pricing products. The specialist supports store patrons with product recommendations, cheese pairings, portions, and other food complements, and trains customer employees in cheese-monger activities. The position serves assigned customer locations throughout a territory, coordinating schedules and timelines while communicating with store personnel, DPI staff, and Account Executives. It requires handling temperature-sensitive products according to cold-chain protocols, complying with health, sanitation, safety, grooming, and dress standards, and using electronic equipment and a motor vehicle for communications, timekeeping, and travel. The work is indoors, with exposure to varying dry and cold product temperatures and temperature changes during travel. The schedule is five days per week, eight hours per day; start times vary, and hours or shifts may change based on business needs. Overtime, holidays, or weekends may be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Proficiency in written and spoken English and basic math skills.
Basic skills in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Become proficient with Siebel within 90 days of hire.
At least two years of Service Deli experience or knowledge involving cheese, deli, or perishable goods.
Valid driver's license and a driving record that meets DPI standards.
Reliable transportation; employees using a personal vehicle must maintain automobile liability coverage adequate to meet applicable state financial-responsibility laws.
Ability to work independently or alongside customer employees, with excellent communication and customer service skills.
Ability to follow health and safety, grooming, hygiene, dress-code, and temperature-sensitive product-handling protocols.
Ability to manage time and competing demands, meet schedules and deadlines, and maintain composure under pressure.
Ability to exert 20–50 pounds of force occasionally, stand and walk constantly, and frequently reach, handle, grasp, and use cutting and wrapping tools.

Responsibilities

Provide exceptional customer service to store management, personnel, and the public while following customer policies and DPI standards.
Refill, reset, and merchandise cheese products in customer stores and secondary or perimeter locations, including rewrapping and packaging products.
Train customer personnel in cheese-monger activities.
Support customer sales teams by providing product recommendations, pairing suggestions, and specialized cheese knowledge.
Follow established health, sanitation, and safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Use knives and cutters to resize or trim cheese products for repackaging and appearance.
Inspect products for quality using visual and olfactory senses.
Transport products using carts, U-boats, L-boats, or a pallet jack.
Communicate product discrepancies, merchandising needs, customer requirements, and issues to DPI personnel and the Account Executive.
Plan and carry out daily schedules for assigned customer locations, travel throughout the assigned territory, manage timelines, and respond to workload changes.
Unbox vendor goods and disassemble boxes for recycling.
Use field-based electronic equipment and a cell phone for communications and electronic timekeeping.
Operate a motor vehicle to travel to and from customer locations throughout the assigned territory.
Attend training and meetings as required.
Create and transmit replenishment orders and related paperwork on time, and verify receipt with DPI personnel.
Apply product knowledge and temperature-sensitive protocols when transporting cheese products.
Maintain a clean personal work environment and perform other duties as assigned.