Produce Manager Trainee - Schererville

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Produce Manager
Reports to: Store Director / Assistant Store Director

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Produce Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, financial performance, and overall presentation of the produce department. This role ensures that sales, gross profit, labor, productivity, inventory, shrink, and customer service goals are met or exceeded. The Produce Manager leads and develops produce associates, maintains fresh and high-quality merchandise, ensures proper rotation and sanitation standards, and creates attractive displays that support sales and seasonal merchandising. This position is also responsible for ensuring compliance with company policies, food safety standards, and department procedures.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Manage the produce department to achieve or exceed sales, gross profit, labor, productivity, and contribution goals.
2. Oversee daily department operations, including ordering, receiving, stocking, rotation, merchandising, and inventory control.
3. Ensure produce items are fresh, properly rotated, and attractively displayed to meet quality and presentation standards.
4. Monitor and control shrink, damages, inventory levels, and waste to support department profitability.
5. Maintain out-of-stock standards by ensuring product availability and proper ordering practices.
6. Ensure the department, sales floor, coolers, backroom areas, and equipment are clean, organized, safe, and properly maintained.
7. Plan and execute seasonal, holiday, promotional, and department tie-in displays.
8. Complete and maintain required paperwork, including payroll, gross profit reports, invoice confirmations, transfer sheets, schedules, and inventories.
9. Supervise, train, coach, and cross-train produce associates to ensure strong performance and department efficiency.
10. Conduct timely and thorough performance reviews in accordance with company policy.
11. Follow company policies and procedures when addressing associate performance, attendance, tardiness, or disciplinary concerns.
12. Communicate effectively with store leadership, department managers, associates, maintenance, scanning/signs, and other support teams.
13. Ensure compliance with company policies, food safety regulations, sanitation standards, and safety guidelines.
14. Complete special projects accurately and timely as assigned.
15. Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

1. Leadership: Directs, motivates, and develops produce associates to achieve department goals.
2. Customer Focus: Ensures excellent customer service and a positive shopping experience.
3. Financial Accountability: Monitors sales, labor, shrink, inventory, and department profitability.
4. Product Knowledge: Maintains strong knowledge of produce quality, handling, storage, rotation, and merchandising standards.
5. Organization: Keeps the department, coolers, backroom, displays, and paperwork accurate and orderly.
6. Communication: Communicates clearly and effectively with associates, store leadership, and support departments.
7. Problem-Solving: Identifies and resolves issues related to product quality, inventory, staffing, sales, and customer service.
8. Safety Awareness: Maintains a clean, safe, and compliant work environment.
9. Team Development: Trains, coaches, and holds associates accountable for performance and department standards.

Position Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Previous grocery, retail, or produce department experience required; produce management or supervisory experience preferred.

Strong knowledge of produce handling, ordering, rotation, merchandising, and quality standards.

Ability to manage sales, labor, inventory, shrink, and productivity goals.

Effective leadership, communication, coaching, and organizational skills.

Ability to complete required department paperwork, reports, schedules, and inventory processes accurately.

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., stand for extended periods, and work in refrigerated environments.

Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and early mornings as needed.

Work Environment:

Retail grocery store setting.

Frequent exposure to cold temperatures in refrigerated and cooler areas.

Requires physical activity including lifting, bending, climbing, reaching, standing, and walking for long periods.

Regular use of department equipment and exposure to wet floors, sharp tools, and cleaning/sanitation products.

Diversity Statement:

At Indiana Grocery Group, we believe in diversity and inclusion and always value and treat everyone with dignity and respect. Our associates are passionate about providing excellent customer experiences and helping our associates grow. In order to sustain this culture, we will welcome individuals who are diverse in race, color, creed, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. Also, we are committed to sustaining a professional working environment where everyone feels welcome, important, and appreciated.