Produce Manager

Position Summary The Produce Manager is responsible for leading all produce department operations, including merchandising, inventory management, food safety, labor execution, and associate development. This role ensures the department consistently delivers fresh, high‑quality produce, strong visual presentation, and excellent customer service while meeting sales, labor, and shrink goals. The Produce Manager plays a key leadership role in one of the store's most volume‑driven and freshness‑sensitive departments. Key Responsibilities Produce Operations & Merchandising Lead daily produce department operations to ensure freshness, quality, and availability Ensure proper rotation (FIFO), culling, and display standards are consistently followed Execute planograms, seasonal transitions, and promotional displays Maintain full, attractive, and customer‑ready produce cases throughout the day Adjust merchandising and ordering based on sales trends and customer demand Inventory, Ordering & Shrink Control Manage ordering, forecasting, and inventory levels for produce items Control shrink through effective rotation, handling, and waste management Monitor damages, out‑of‑dates, and markdowns Conduct inventory counts and ensure accurate on‑hand levels Investigate and address inventory variances Food Safety, Sanitation & Compliance Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations Enforce proper handling, storage, and temperature control of fresh products Maintain clean, safe, and organized prep, cooler, and sales floor areas Complete required food safety logs, audits, and documentation Prepare the department for health inspections and internal audits Leadership & Associate Development Hire, train, coach, and develop produce associates Create schedules to support department needs while managing labor budgets Assign daily tasks and follow up on execution and productivity Provide ongoing feedback, recognition, and corrective action as needed Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and customer service Labor & Productivity Plan and manage department labor to meet service levels and budget expectations Monitor productivity and adjust staffing based on volume and workload Ensure accurate timekeeping and compliance with attendance policies Balance labor efficiency with freshness and service standards Customer Service Deliver excellent customer service and resolve produce‑related concerns Educate customers on product selection, seasonality, and freshness Support special orders and seasonal promotions Maintain a visible leadership presence on the sales floor Scope of Authority Directly supervises produce associates Makes day‑to‑day operational decisions within the produce department Partners with Store Director and Assistant Store Director on performance management Does not independently finalize terminations without leadership approval