Assistant Meat Manager

Position Summary

The Assistant Meat Manager supports the Meat Manager in overseeing all aspects of daily department operations, including customer service, product quality, food safety, merchandising, inventory control, associate development, and financial performance. This position helps ensure the department maintains exceptional fresh meat and seafood standards while achieving sales, shrink, labor, and profitability goals. The Assistant Meat Manager assumes department leadership responsibilities in the absence of the Meat Manager.

Key Responsibilities Customer Service & Sales

• Deliver outstanding customer service and promote a customer-first culture.
• Assist customers with product selection, preparation recommendations, special orders, and product inquiries.
• Resolve customer concerns promptly and professionally.
• Support sales growth through effective merchandising, promotions, product knowledge, and suggestive selling.
• Ensure meat and seafood displays remain fresh, fully stocked, and visually appealing.

Department Operations

• Assist with daily meat department operations, including ordering, receiving, cutting, packaging, stocking, and inventory management.
• Ensure proper inventory levels are maintained to meet customer demand and sales objectives.
• Monitor product freshness, quality, rotation, and code date compliance.
• Verify accurate pricing, labeling, signage, and promotional execution.
• Support proper receiving, storage, and handling of all meat and seafood products.
• Maintain clean, organized, and efficient department conditions.

Leadership & Team Development

• Assist in training, coaching, and developing department associates.
• Provide leadership and direction during assigned shifts.
• Support scheduling, labor utilization, and productivity initiatives.
• Foster teamwork, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Assist with onboarding and training associates on department standards, food safety practices, and customer service expectations.
• Reinforce company policies and operational procedures.

Merchandising & Product Quality

• Maintain attractive, full, and properly merchandised service cases and displays.
• Execute seasonal programs, promotional events, and merchandising plans.
• Monitor product appearance and ensure quality standards are consistently maintained.
• Ensure products are properly cut, trimmed, packaged, labeled, and displayed.
• Identify opportunities to improve department sales and customer satisfaction through merchandising and presentation.

Financial Management

• Support achievement of department sales, labor, gross profit, and shrink goals.
• Assist with inventory control, expense management, and productivity improvements.
• Help reduce shrink through proper ordering, handling, rotation, and inventory practices.
• Review department performance and identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Assist with physical inventory counts and inventory accuracy processes.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, health, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor proper product handling, storage, labeling, and temperature control procedures.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary work environment.
• Ensure associates follow established food safety and sanitation standards.
• Support compliance with company policies and operational guidelines.

Safety & Asset Protection

• Promote a safe working environment for associates and customers.
• Ensure proper operation and maintenance of department equipment.
• Follow accident prevention and incident reporting procedures.
• Support shrink reduction and asset protection initiatives.
• Maintain safe, organized, and clean work areas.

Leadership Coverage

• Assume responsibility for department operations in the absence of the Meat Manager.
• Assist with staffing decisions, production planning, and operational priorities.
• Communicate department goals, expectations, and performance standards to associates.
• Partner with store leadership to achieve departmental and store-wide objectives.
• Serve as a role model for customer service, food safety, productivity, and operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous meat, seafood, grocery, or retail experience required.
• Previous supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge of meat merchandising, product handling, food safety, and inventory management practices.
• Strong customer service, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and perform repetitive motions throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly and heavier loads with assistance when necessary.
• Ability to work in refrigerated and freezer environments.
• Ability to safely operate knives, slicers, grinders, saws, and other meat department equipment.

Desired Competencies

• Leadership and team development
• Customer focus
• Meat and seafood product knowledge
• Food safety and sanitation expertise
• Merchandising excellence
• Inventory management
• Financial and operational awareness
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Organization and attention to detail
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Accountability and adaptability

The Assistant Meat Manager plays a key role in supporting department success by helping lead daily operations, maintaining exceptional product quality and food safety standards, developing associates, delivering outstanding customer service, and achieving department sales, profitability, and operational objectives.

      ·    Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream