Sr. Fresh Manager

Festival Foods • Wausau, WI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Fresh Foods Senior Manager provides strategic in-store leadership across Bakery, Deli, Meat, Food Court, and Produce departments, ensuring alignment with store and company objectives. This role focuses on future-oriented planning, overseeing inventory management, vendor coordination, and department standards while directly leading Fresh Department Manager(s) and providing indirect leadership to Assistant Manager(s) and Associate(s) to drive operational execution. This role supports overall store operations by stepping in as acting Store Director when needed, managing storewide functions and covering calls.

Requirements

• High School Education or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least five years of relevant experience with two years in a key leadership position.
• Previous experience managing a department preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of the retail food business and perishable department operations
• Proven merchandising skills, with ability to make timely and effective decisions.
• Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with guests and all associates in fast-paced environment
• Good organizational skills, with a full understanding and ability to learn operation systems.
• Good oral and written communication skills and the ability to handle a diverse crew
• Must have WI Certified Food Manager License (Festival will pay in order to get certified if not)
• Ability to learn and use technology and department equipment, including Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Excel, Word), and Fresh department operating systems, etc.
• Thorough understanding of all safety requirements and company safety policies.
• Must possess the ability to complete and apply on-the-job safety training to recognize and react to possible safety hazards on store premises, and safely operate equipment.
• Also requires proper training and knowledge of the following equipment/procedures: Hand jack, slicers, baler, trash compactor, fryer, oven, grinders, mixers, blaster, chiller, and cook and holds.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience managing a department preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Fresh Food Operations: Lead, coach, and develop associates across Bakery, Meat, Deli, Produce, while ensuring department goals of helpfulness & in-stock are achieved.
• Develop Future Leaders: Train and mentor department leaders and associates, fostering growth and preparing helping them prepare for future advancement opportunities.
• Strategic Planning & Organization: Provide expertise and focused planning, ensuring efficiency in balancing orders and vendor coordination across departments.
• Offer Helpful Guest Service : Actively promote and execute exceptional guest service, ensuring an outstanding experience for every guest and living out our boomerang principle.
• Provide Leadership Support: Support overall store operations, including covering store calls, overseeing storewide operations, and/or managing perishable departments.
• Communicate and Collaborate: Partner with support teams, including Buying, Accounting, Store Operations, and HR, to support the operation of perishable departments.
• Optimize Performance: Monitor the daily budget and labor projections for the fresh departments, adjusting scheduling as necessary to optimize productivity and profitability.
• Ensure Food Safety: Ensure compliance with sanitation standards and guidelines set by local and company officials, particularly for food safety in fresh departments.
• Reduce Waste: Uphold asset protection policies and ensure proper inventory management, with a focus on minimizing shrinkage in perishable departments.
• Operate & Maintain Equipment : Ensure the proper and safe use of fresh department equipment, including ovens, slicers, mixers, fryers, scales, etc.
• Drive Inventory & Merchandising Excellence: Maintain proper inventory levels, ensure accurate pricing, and execute strong display standards for in-line, end caps, seasonal, etc.
• Build Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with the Store Director, Guest Service Manager, Center Store Sr. Manager, and department teams to align on overarching programs, store initiatives, and operational improvements.
• Ensure Compliance & Safety: Uphold safety policies, company procedures, and regulatory standards to maintain a safe and efficient store environment.
• Honor Commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences.
• Support the Team: Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Associate Discount: Enjoy an industry-leading 15% off your grocery purchases for you and your immediate household!.
• Weekly Pay & Premium Pay: Hourly associates are paid weekly, providing more frequent access to their funds. Part-time store associates are paid a $1 premium per hour on Sundays and select holidays. Hourly full-time store associates receive time and a half on Sundays and select holidays.
• Two-Week Advanced Scheduling: Better Planning. Better Balance. We provide our associates with their schedules two weeks in advance, offering greater predictability & flexibility.
• Vision & Dental Insurance: Part-time and full-time associates are eligible for vision insurance and two dental coverage options that are designed to fit your needs.
• Support: Our associates receive support for their total well-being; including 3 weeks of paid parental leave, a fitness reimbursement program offering savings off of fitness membership fees; our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and LEAPCare Care Coaches, which provide associates confidential care related to hospital visitation, conflict resolution, stress management, marriage or divorce, family issues and depression or anxiety.
• Save for Your Future: Offering a 401(k), we're proud to support our associates in planning for retirement. The 401(k) plan empowers associates to save a portion of their paychecks for retirement. Festival Foods has an annual discretionary match to help our associates reach their savings goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees