Cheese Manager

Job Title:Cheese Manager
Department: Cheese
Job Region: Oregon / SW Washington
Reports-To: Assistant Store Manager
Exemption Status (typically): Non-Exempt
Requirements: As a retail grocer, we operate 7 days/week and 365 days/year. Our in-store positions are likely to include evening and weekend shifts per the needs of the business. Valid Food Handler's card.
About us: New Seasons Market began in 2000 when three families got together to open a neighborhood market, a place where local communities can come together to connect with where their food comes from. A friendly, inviting place that honors its region's farmers, ranchers, growers and makers-helping them prosper for generations to come. Over the years, our community has grown, but our goal is still the same: to build community through good food.
About the role: Leads Cheese department and staff, including financial stewardship, customer service, department conditions, merchandising, food safety, work safety, communication, hiring, training and performance management. Ensures the department provides an exceptional customer shopping experience, with the highest level of service and product knowledge. This is a management position. You are responsible for providing leadership in line with company values and promoting a positive and progressive work environment in alignment with our company mission, vision values and policies.
Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership:

• Understands, models and instills company culture. Creates a positive and supportive work environment.
• Promotes a collaborative team environment through recognition, leading by example and working alongside staff. Demonstrates approachability and fosters open communication. Creates an environment where staff are invested and encouraged to contribute ideas.
• Demonstrates a pro-active approach in resolving staff issues and conflicts.
• Builds and sustains a high performing team. Responsible for development of team members including interviewing and hiring, training and development and performance management.
• Seeks opportunities to train and develop staff members to take on increased responsibilities. Demonstrates ability to adapt approach to different learning styles among staff.
• Demonstrates a whole store perspective. May work with store leadership team in providing oversight to overall store operations, including service levels and store conditions. May act as Manager On Duty as assigned.
• Builds trust and respect through dependability, organization and follow through.
• Demonstrates adaptability, flexibility and creativity in problem-solving and is solutions-oriented. Bases decisions on analysis, experience, resources and circumstances. Prioritizes and acts decisively under pressure.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and seeks opportunities for professional growth. Seeks and responds positively to feedback.
• Establishes and maintains effective verbal and written communication systems.
• Oversees effective scheduling and labor allocation to meet business needs and labor budget. Ensures adequate staffing conditions, including leadership coverage.
• Ensures department representation at all required committee meetings. Encourages and supports staff participation in other committees.
• Prepares and delivers corrective actions and performance reviews in a timely manner. Follows documentation and compensation guidelines.
• Communicates in a professional and constructive manner. Responds to and follows through on emails and other communications in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates an understanding of basic Human Resources concepts; works with resources at store level to increase knowledge.

General Requirements:

• Engages the customer in a friendly manner, shares product information and assists in locating product throughout the store. Seeks opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience.
• Demonstrates ability to manage own time and models a flexible work style. Shifts tasks as priorities and circumstances change based on needs and conditions of department.
• Represents company values. Works cooperatively and positively with fellow team members, customers and vendors spiriting a respectful workplace where everyone is welcome.
• Gives and receives feedback in a constructive manner demonstrating company Speak Up culture. Responds to feedback in order to improve performance.
• Conserves company resources. Works in a manner consistent with company mission, vision and values and sustainability program.
• Adheres to work and food safety policies set forth by the company and all local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Contributes to store cleanliness, maintains equipment. Informs store/department management of any problems.
• Observes all company rules and policies. Understands and complies with specific department or location guidelines, tasks and responsibilities.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manages and provides oversight to all areas of the department. Directly manages all department staff, including review writing, scheduling and providing ongoing coaching, development and feedback. Assesses, prioritizes and delegates tasks and production.
• Ensures consistency of department conditions. Ensures all areas of department are stocked, rotated, faced and adhere to merchandising standards and category schematics.
• Responsible for in-stock conditions in department. Maintains appropriate inventory levels to achieve sales and margin goals.
• Orders Cheese products according to anticipated sales and seasonal needs. Trains staff to write orders and production schedules consistent with department goals and standards to ensure the highest level of product availability.
• Builds displays and arranges department products to make attractive presentations, highlighting featured/unique/seasonal items.
• Plans for weekly ads, events and holidays using tools and reports. Works with store management to understand and respond to current store trends.
• Coordinates with Promotions department to plan and conduct in-store tastings.
• Maintains professional vendor relationships.
• Ensures customer special orders are accurately placed and delivered.
• Ensures department compliance with all company organic standards.
• Cuts, wraps, weighs, prices, presents and processes cheese department products according to department policy.
• Receives and unloads merchandise; checks quality, count and condition. Communicates any issues to management and merchandising team.
• Stocks and rotates products with attention to product quality and expiration dates.
• Maintains the organization, rotation and cleanliness of back stock areas.
• Plans, leads and analyses the monthly perishable inventory.
• Demonstrates ability to multi-task and manage own time. Adjusts priorities, productivity, efficiency and speed based on needs and conditions of department and store.
• Observes all rules and policies as listed in the New Seasons Market Staff Handbook and Operations Manual.
• Tools and Equipment Used (not all inclusive): This position may be required to use the following tools and equipment: baler, hand truck, POS, industrial kitchen equipment (i.e. blast chiller, grill, knives/blades, oven, grills, scales, etc.), basic housekeeping / janitorial and standard office equipment.
• This position works at a Medium level. Required frequently and up to continuously to be on feet with a mix of standing and walking throughout shift. Sitting seldom required. Up to occasionally, dependent on location, required to climb stairs, step stool and /or ladders.
• Continuously required to: lift and carry 1-10 pounds; use arms, hands and wrists; reach below shoulder; grasping/squeezing
• Frequently required to: twist
• Occasionally required to: lift 11-50 pounds; push and/or pull 1-20 pounds; bend/stoop; reach above shoulder
• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Seasons Market / New Leaf Community Markers reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.
What you Bring as a Candidate:

• Previous customer service, food service, retail or grocery experience required.
• Knowledge of retail Cheese, Specialty, culinary or similar departments required.
• Previous supervisory or management experience required.
• Mid to high level proficiency with MS Office. Working knowledge with POS, inventory or other retail specific software required.
• Skills to manage financial results, including labor, sales and profit margin.

Physical and Environmental Work Space: Work occurs in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that can be wet and slippery, moderate noise level, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in the cooler and freezer, and depending on location, working outside in all temperatures. There may be exposure to certain allergens and / or chemicals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local law, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.