Wine & Spirits Department Manager

Festival Foods•Eau Claire, WI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

ABOUT FESTIVAL FOODS: We are a Wisconsin grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and providing guests with exceptional service and value. We operate +40 full-service supermarkets across the state of Wisconsin. At Festival, people are at the top of our list. You'll see it in everything from our daily interactions to how we treat our guests - even in our extensive associate benefits and programs. Job Summary Job Title: Wine and Spirits Department Manager Reports To: Sr. Center Store Manager Do you have a passion for creating exceptional customer service experiences? Have you led in a restaurant, bar, or as a bartender and love helping guests find exactly what they need? Are you a retail leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and loves mentoring others? If this is you, we encourage you to apply! As a Wine & Spirits Department Manager, you'll lead a team of knowledgeable associates who provide thoughtful product recommendations and create an enjoyable shopping experience for every guest. Your leadership, operational skills, and focus on service excellence will make an impact every day.

Requirements

High School education or equivalent.
Strong leadership experience with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
Knowledge of retail food and beverage operations, including beer, wine, and liquor management.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse team in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Strong decision-making skills and operational focus.
Understanding of all safety requirements and company policies.
Requires proper training and application of training in relevant equipment.
Ability to safely operate equipment such as hand jacks, balers, forklifts, hand trucks, and trash compactors.
Proper lifting techniques and scanning procedures.
The employee must possess the ability to stand in place for long periods of time; walk in the store; bend, stoop and kneel regularly.
Requires fine finger and broad manual dexterity, and eye-hand-foot coordination in order to operate equipment.
This position requires the employee have the ability to have full range of upper body motion in order to occasionally lift stock.
Requires the ability to perform repetitive tasks for prolonged periods of time.
Must possess functional sensory abilities in order to visually monitor the store, create attractive displays, and to operate equipment.
The position requires the employee to lift up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience in restaurants or bartending is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop your team: Coach, mentor, and support Wine & Spirits associates while reinforcing Festival culture, customer service standards, and performance expectations. Conduct performance reviews and provide guidance to help associates succeed.
Hire and onboard associates: Partner with Human Resources to review and interview candidates, extend job offers, and ensure new associates are trained thoroughly — helping them become experts in beer, wine, and liquor selections.
Plan and manage schedules: Approve weekly schedules and maintain adequate staffing levels to meet department needs while controlling labor expenses.
Support associate growth: Mentor Assistant Department Managers and Department Leads to prepare them for future advancement opportunities.
Oversee department operations: Manage inventory, pricing accuracy, and product rotation to ensure the department is well-stocked, organized, and profitable. Assist associates with stocking and rotating beer, wine, and liquor.
Deliver exceptional guest service: Help guests find the perfect beer, wine, or liquor for their occasion, offer pairing suggestions, and provide insights that even a bartender or restaurant pro would appreciate. Handle special orders and resolve concerns with professionalism and care.
Maintain merchandising standards: Observe the sales floor and back stock conditions daily, correcting issues and ensuring attractive, organized displays that highlight seasonal or trending products.
Ensure timekeeping accuracy: Monitor associate hours, communicate issues to HR, and ensure payroll records are accurate.
Maintain department cleanliness and safety: Lead by example in keeping work areas, shelving, and sales floor organized, clean, and compliant with all safety requirements.
Honor commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences
Support the team: Assist with other duties as assigned to ensure overall store success.

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.

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