Meat & Seafood Department Manager Palmer's Market Stamford, CT Job Details Full-time $75,000 - $85,000 a year 9 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Qualifications Kitchen health and safety standards Retail customer service procedures Fabrication Customer communication Retail industry sales team management experience Teamwork Customer relationship building Food service purchasing Food service health code compliance Meat hygiene procedures Cutting Retail buying Client relationship development Food sanitation practices Supplier relationship improvement Meat portioning Team development Continuous improvement Inventory tracking for food cost management Customer engagement Vendor relationship management Recruiting Organizational skills Leading team collaboration initiatives Profitability analysis Grocery store experience Financial performance measurement Food ordering Staffing management

Full Job Description Title:

Meat & Seafood Department Manager Reports To:

Store Director Job Summary:

The Meat Department Manager is responsible for leading and growing Palmer's Meat Department while delivering the quality, service, and experience our customers expect from Palmer's. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who is passionate about quality meats and seafood, takes pride in their craft, and has an owner's mentality. The Meat Department Manager leads a small team, oversees the department's financial and operational performance, builds strong vendor and customer relationships, and works collaboratively with other departments to create an exceptional overall customer experience. The ideal candidate is both a skilled butcher and a strong business leader - someone who loves teaching others, develops great talent, embraces continuous improvement, and is always looking for ways to raise the bar. As the department evolves, there will be an opportunity to expand Palmer's butchery capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management Own the financial performance of the Meat Department, working to increase sales, manage costs, and achieve established department goals while maintaining Palmer's quality standards. Work with the Store Director to meet annual department goals and develop plans to achieve them. Communicate financial goals to the team and help employees understand how their work impacts sales, costs, waste, and profitability. Monitor sales, labor, product costs, waste, and other key department metrics and take action when results are off target. Identify opportunities to improve profitability without compromising product quality or the customer experience. Leadership & Team Development Lead and oversee all employees within the Meat Department. Create and post weekly schedules and approve employee hours according to company procedures. Establish clear job expectations and ensure employees understand their roles and responsibilities. Provide regular coaching, feedback, and recognition and complete performance reviews in accordance with Palmer's review process. Partner with management on interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new team members. Build and maintain a strong, accountable, collaborative, and positive department culture. Develop employees' technical, product knowledge, sales, and customer service skills. Create and implement department training programs covering customer service, upselling, food safety, sanitation, product knowledge, and department safety. Keep the team informed of new products, seasonal offerings, procedures, and company expectations. Model the behaviors and standards expected of the team. Recognize strong performance and celebrate department successes. Purchasing, Receiving & Inventory Oversee all purchasing for the Meat Department, including meat, seafood, specialty products, and related supplies. Place orders with vendors based on sales, inventory levels, seasonal demand, and anticipated business. Approve department invoices following the submission process to Accounting. Establish and maintain retail pricing for department products in accordance with company guidelines. Determine and manage the department's product mix, adapting offerings seasonally and based on customer demand and profitability. Create and maintain accurate order guides and inventory control systems. Oversee receiving to ensure product quality, quantities, pricing, and specifications are accurate. Train team members on proper ordering, receiving, storage, and inventory procedures. Conduct monthly physical inventory and submit completed inventory reporting within established deadlines. Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective vendors. Monitor product yields, waste, spoilage, and quality to maximize the value of every purchase. Meat Department Operations Oversee the day-to-day operation of the Meat Department, including opening and closing procedures (building on top of existing SOPs) Ensure the department is appropriately staffed and effectively managed throughout the day. Write daily production lists and lead the team in executing production priorities. Perform and oversee meat cutting, trimming, portioning, fabrication, packaging, and merchandising. Maintain consistently high standards for product quality, freshness, presentation, and preparation. Ensure the sales floor, cut room, coolers, freezers, and storage areas are clean, organized, and properly maintained. Ensure meat cases are full, clean, properly faced, attractively merchandised, and maintained throughout the day. Maintain all food safety, sanitation, employee safety, and applicable regulatory standards, including weights and measures requirements. Ensure equipment is properly operated, cleaned, maintained, and used safely. Specialty Orders & Holiday Business Build and grow the department's specialty-order business through exceptional product knowledge and customer relationships. Take and manage custom and specialty meat orders, ensuring accuracy and timely fulfillment. Develop and maintain strong relationships with regular customers. Lead planning for Palmer's major holiday meat business, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas. Develop holiday product offerings, menus, pricing, and ordering plans. Manage holiday pre-sales in conjunction with Sales Team from initial customer order through purchasing, production, packaging, and fulfillment. Forecast holiday demand and plan inventory, staffing, production, and department capacity accordingly. Work closely with other departments and management to coordinate holiday execution and provide a seamless customer experience. Look for opportunities to grow holiday sales and improve the pre-sale and fulfillment process each year. Value-Added Product Development Work with Management and Culinary teams to develop gourmet meat, seafood, sausage, sauce, and other value-added offerings. Lead product testing and ensure recipes and production methods are properly documented. Develop new products based on customer demand, food trends, seasonality, and opportunities to increase sales and profitability. Ensure proper documentation and communication of transfers between the Meat Department and Kitchen teams. Work with Marketing to develop signage, recipe cards, product information, and other materials that help customers understand and enjoy our products. Customer Experience & Sales Deliver consistently exceptional customer service and create a welcoming, knowledgeable, and engaging department environment. Develop genuine relationships with customers and become a trusted resource for product recommendations. Educate customers on cuts, preparation methods, quantities, cooking techniques, and complementary products. Train and empower team members to confidently provide product recommendations, cross-sell, and upsell. Handle customer questions, concerns, and complaints professionally and promptly. Share your passion for food and product with both customers and employees. Create excitement around new products, seasonal offerings, special events, and holiday programs. Marketing, Trends & Business Development Partner with the Marketing team and Management to develop promotions and materials that increase sales and highlight seasonal and specialty products. Collaborate with department managers on advance planning for upcoming sales periods, coordinating merchandising, marketing, advertising, social media, and cross-department opportunities. Bring forward new ideas for products, services, promotions, and ways to grow the Meat Department. Stay current on food trends, new products, techniques, and customer preferences. Seek inspiration through trade shows, industry events, specialty markets, restaurants, and other relevant sources. Identify opportunities to differentiate Palmer's Meat Department and continually raise the standard of what we offer our customers. Collaboration Collaborate with other department leaders to create a cohesive customer experience across Palmer's. Identify opportunities for cross-merchandising and cross-utilization of products. Communicate new products, seasonal offerings, promotions, and department priorities with the broader Palmer's team. Partner with Culinary, Marketing, Front End, Grocery, and other departments to execute company-wide initiatives. Support Palmer's overall goals and contribute to a culture of teamwork, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Requirements:

Previous professional butchery or meat-cutting experience in a retail, specialty grocery, butcher shop, restaurant, or similar environment. Strong knife skills and demonstrated knowledge of meat cuts, trimming, portioning, fabrication, handling, and preparation. Experience leading, training, and developing a team. Experience with purchasing, inventory management, ordering, and vendor relationships. Strong understanding of sales, product costs, waste, margins, and department profitability. Excellent customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to work hands-on in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to take initiative without waiting to be directed. Commitment to food safety, cleanliness, quality, and operational excellence. Genuine passion for food and a desire to continually learn and improve. Willingness to continue developing advanced butchery and fabrication skills as Palmer's Meat Department evolves.

Special Considerations:

A successful Meat Department Manager owns the department. They know their numbers, understand their product, develop their people, know their customers, and take pride in the details. The department is profitable, well-staffed, well-trained, visually exceptional, and known for high-quality products and knowledgeable service. Customers trust the team for their everyday needs as well as their most important celebrations. The department continually evolves, introduces new ideas, and raises the bar for what a specialty meat department can be. At Palmer's, we believe in making it better every day. The Meat Department Manager should be someone who brings that mindset to everything they do.

Employee Classification:

Exempt, Full Time Effective Date:

September 2026

Pay:

$75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person