Promote and support the Ukiah Natural Foods vision and mission. Always provide excellent customer service and handle as a first priority. Responsible for attaining positive operating results within department. Provide top quality product at all times. Ensure effective inventory control. Provide a safe, attractive, efficient department, and well-trained employees who provide excellent customer service. Depending on experience position can be salary exempt, with a starting wage of $68,640/yr. 

General Responsibilities of Co-op Department Managers 

1. Customer Service:  

• Be available for customer service when working on the retail floor. 

• Learn product locations to find products for customers throughout the store. 

• Role model excellent customer service for staff and provide excellent internal service to staff and peers. 

• Ensure that department employees provide excellent customer service and receive appropriate Customer Service training. 

• Able to understand and explain member/owner information and ensure the department employees receive Membership training. 

• Encourage and answer all customer suggestions, requests, and complaints pertaining to the department. 

2. Personnel Practices:  

• Participate in the applicant interview process and employee selection with the human resource department. 

• Ensure that all staff in department receives appropriate orientation and training. 

• Develop and maintain useful departmental training materials. 

• Ensure staff receives consistent feedback and that staff evaluations are completed properly and on time. 

• Provide leadership by guiding, directing, instructing, and motivating staff. 

Maintain an open door, within policy, to allow clear communication and direct staff to the correct resolution channel(s). 

• Actively address performance and personnel issues in a timely manner. 

• Administer proper personnel actions (training redirection conversations, verbal warning, or written warning) and provide written documentation to Human Resources. 

• Keep locked and secure all documents containing employee personal information. 

3. Department Management:  

• Attend the leadership team meetings (LTM) following established protocol. 

• Review/prepare a weekly staff work schedule to cover departmental needs. 

• Process paperwork and invoices in a timely and accurate manner. 

• Ensure that department staff are aware and updated on current policy and procedure. 

• Ensure all department staff takes the required training classes within specified required times. 

• Set departmental goals and develop structure in compliance with the overall store vision. 

• Complete in a timely manner all trainings required by state and federal law (such as Sexual Harassment Prevention.) 

• Report monthly to the General Manager on the performance and events for your department. 

4. Safety and sanitation:  

• Maintain working knowledge of processes and solutions for store emergencies. 

• Ensure department staff is aware of and follows health and safety rules appropriate to the department. 

• Responsible for making sure detailed Incident Reports for on-the-job injuries are correctly completed and submitted to Human Resources. •  Ensure that the department is clean and free of debris.  

• Ensure all department staff are trained and monitored in the safe and correct use of equipment and proper lifting techniques. 

Specific Responsibilities of Grocery Manager 

5. Products, inventory control, and sales:  

• Identify product mix to achieve sales and margin goals and satisfy customer demand. 

• Ensure optimum stock levels of products based upon supplier or store movement reports with input from employees, customers, past history, and professional judgment. 

• Conduct periodic price comparisons with other stores. 

• Ensure buyers are trained in the proper use of Scan Genius for ordering. 

• Input data in LBMX for the bi-weekly Co-op Deals Flyer program. 

• Oversee the department purchases with consideration for target inventory turns and controlled shrinkage. 

• Develop margins and markdowns leading to positive operating results and provides acceptable explanation of variances from budgets and plans. 

• Participate in quarterly inventory count. 

• Oversee all department invoices and credit vouchers to ensure all merchandise purchased is priced correctly and prepares credit accordingly. 

Remain abreast of changing member/customer needs, new products and trends. 

• Develop, maintain and train staff in effective selling techniques. 

• Develop and maintain a business network of resources to help provide new and updated information. 

• Attend educational and job-related seminars as they become available. 

6. Merchandising;  

• Ensure proper and attractive displays for the best presentation to customers, making sure displays and shelves are fully stocked, faced, rotated, and clean. 

• Check for proper self-tags and sale signs are on shelves and displays. Request shelf tags and/or sale signs from POS coordinator as needed. 

• Implement adopted merchandising policy. 

• Develop and implement effective promotional programs. 

• Determine product placement based upon traffic flow. 

• Act as UNF’s Promotion Liaison for Co-op Deals Program for the Grocery Department. 

7. Personnel Practices:  

• Participate in the applicant interview process and participates in employee selection with the human resource department. 

• Ensure that all staff in department receives appropriate orientation and training. 

• Develop and maintain useful departmental training materials. 

• Ensure employees are updated on and adhere to the store policies and standards of Ukiah Natural Foods. 

• Ensure that staff evaluations are completed properly and on time. 

• Maintain an open door, within policy, to allow clear communication and direct staff to the correct resolution channel(s). 

• Actively address performance and personnel issues in a timely manner. 

• Administer proper personnel actions (training redirection conversations, verbal warning, or written warning) and provide written documentation to Human Resources. •  Keep locked and secure all documents containing employee personal information. 

*open availability

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• Requires a combination of on-the-job training and experience in less responsible supervisory position(s) including training and employee evaluation. 

• Knowledge of inventory control, margins, and pricing.   

• Experience with purchasing and receiving in a retail environment. 

• Experience reviewing and developing departmental budgets. 

• Expanded knowledge of natural and organic foods and products.  

•  Language Skills:  

• Read and interpret documents in English such as safety rules, operating and procedure manuals, and periodicals and journals. 

• Write routine reports, correspondence, business letters, and summaries in English. 

• Ability to speak effectively in English before groups such as customers or employees. 

• Excel in customer service extended to customers, staff, vendors, and community members and proficient in the ability to deal with difficult customer situations.  

•  Computer Skills:  

• Sufficient computer skills that will allow use, in a proficient manner, all Company-issued software programs, including but not limited to Microsoft Office programs.   

• Reasoning Ability:  

• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision and to determine own work priorities within departmental guidelines. 

• Ability to handle multiple demands, problem-solve, and research information. 

• Demonstrate objectivity, neutrality, and calmness under pressure.  Possess good organizational skills and attention to detail.  

•  Desirable Skills:    

• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for natural foods and products. 

• Retail natural foods experience.