Field Operator - Produce and Floral

Job Title: Field Operator- Produce and Floral
Department: Operations
Job Region: Store Support –Portland
Reports-To: Operations Directors
Exemption Status (typically): Exempt
Requirements: As a retail grocer, we operate 7 days/week and 365 days/year and as such work in support of our stores may include evening and weekend hours per the needs of the business. Valid Driver License and vehicle may be required, with ability to travel regularly to store locations, trade shows / events and/or other off-site locations throughout the local region.

About us: New Seasons Market began in 2000 when three families got together to open a neighborhood market, a place where local communities can come together to connect with where their food comes from. A friendly, inviting place that honors its region’s farmers, ranchers, growers and makers—helping them prosper for generations to come. Over the years, our community has grown, but our goal is still the same: to build community through good food.

About the role: Responsible for the implementation and oversight of category strategies in stores, including resets, new item cut-ins and ensuring that all systems and processes for the department are in place and are being followed consistently throughout all of the stores. Acts as liaison between the Produce and Floral merchandising teams and the Produce, Floral and store leadership teams. Inspires an outstanding customer experience in our Produce and Floral department by ensuring an innovative product mix and assortment that aligns with the New Seasons brand and is viable from a financial standpoint.

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and Train:
  • Collaborates with store leadership teams and serves as a resource for the development of Produce and Floral managers. Provides insightful, helpful and consistent performance feedback and acts as a resource to store leadership in holding the departments accountable.
  • Maintains excellent communication with department managers, store leadership teams, Operations leadership, and the Produce and Floral merchandising teams.
  • Provides mentorship to Produce and Floral Department Managers and other key department roles to achieve operational and merchandising excellence.
  • Assists Department Managers with back room and inventory organization, inventory preparation and other basic department processes and procedures.
  • Guides Department Managers with proper Produce and Floral ordering. Mentors order writers to build ordering acumen and write orders consistent with department goals and standards to ensure the highest level of product availability.
• Operational Support:
  • Support Produce and Floral departments in stores when specific needs are identified.  This may include temporarily filling in for key positions, assisting with and monitoring ordering for departments, writing department schedules, or any other vital department task identified by leadership.
  • Partners with Produce and Floral leadership teams and merchandising teams to quickly resolve issues impacting store operations, in stock conditions, inventory, margin, waste and store conditions.
  • Utilizes tools and educates store staff to optimize facings for holding power and assortment, communicating with the category manager to ensure category roles and assortment targets are in place.
  • Collaborates with Operations, Produce and Floral leadership to identify category opportunities for expansion or retraction of product displays and cases. Identifies potential for increasing sales and inventory control.
  • Constantly monitors category trends by evaluating assortment, zero movers, items not carried, shelf/case standards, tagging and rotation.
• Reporting:
  • Performs regular detailed department audits with department leadership.  Reports on these audits to Operations leadership and Merchandising teams along with recommendations around any changes or actions that need to be taken.
  • Perform regular whole store surface walks and report on these walks to Operations and Store leadership.
• Tools and Equipment Used (not all inclusive):This position works with standard office equipment. May be required to use the following tools and equipment when working in stores or offsite; baler, hand truck, POS, industrial kitchen equipment (i.e. blast chiller, grill, knives/blades, oven, grills, scales, etc.) and basic housekeeping / janitorial items.

• This position works consistently at a light worklevel and may be asked to work on occasion at a medium or heavy work level when supporting stores or other offsite events. Frequentlyrequired to sit, walk, reach and grasp. Occasionally required to be on feet with a mix of standing and walking throughout shift. Up to occasionally, dependent on location, required to climb stairs, step stool and /or ladders.

• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Seasons Market reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.

General Requirements:

• Understands and models our company culture. Acts as a steward of company resources, mission, vision and values. Promotes sustainable business practices.
• Embraces an agile work environment and guides others through change and continuous improvement.

• Builds community within and outside of New Seasons Market and New Leaf Community Markets. Works in stores and other offsite events and locations as needed to support our core business and community.
• Works cooperatively and positively with fellow team members, customers and vendors spiriting a respectful workplace where everyone is welcome.

• Demonstrates ability to manage own time and models a flexible work style. Shifts tasks as priorities and circumstances change based on needs and conditions of department.  Creative with problem-solving and is solutions-oriented.

• Utilizes strategic thinking, data and industry knowledge, and calculated risk-taking to create competitive advantage.
• Communication style is confident, informative, adaptive to different styles and effective.
• Gives and receives feedback in a constructive manner demonstrating company Speak Up culture. Responds to feedback in order to improve performance.
• Maintains confidentiality and exercise good judgment around sensitive information.
• Adheres to work and food safety policies set forth by the company and all local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Contributes to store and office cleanliness, maintains equipment. 
• Observes all company rules and policies. Understands and complies with specific department or location guidelines, tasks and responsibilities.
  
  

What you Bring as a Candidate:

• Minimum 2 years experience in Produce retail management required, including ordering and inventory management experience.
• Working knowledge of category schematics and planograms highly preferred.
• Previous visual merchandising experience highly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with skills to learn new computer programs and systems. Experience working with food service inventory software highly preferred.
• Excellent organizational and project coordination skills, with an eye for process improvement. Previous project management experience a plus.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with ability to respond to urgent job responsibilities as they arise and flexible when priorities redirect.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, to collaborate, negotiate and communicate effectively and professionally with cross-functional partners at all levels in the company.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise good judgment around sensitive information.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle required, with ability to travel regularly to store locations and other sites throughout the Portland Metro area.

Physical and Environmental Work Space: Work occurs in office, a variety of off-site environments and in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that can be wet and slippery, moderate noise level, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in the cooler and freezer, and depending on location, working outside in all temperatures. There may be exposure to certain allergens and / or chemicals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local law, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Benefits Information

All staff have access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and our 30% staff shopping discount. Full-time, regular-status staff that regularly work 24 hours or more per week and have worked for 60 days are eligible for medical, dental, vision, pre-tax spending accounts, life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), and disability benefits.  Full-time, part-time, and temporary staff who have worked for 60 days and are at least 21 years of age may participate in the 401(k) program. Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of employment; the amount they accrue depends on hours worked and tenure. Staff may be eligible for paid holidays, depending on schedule and tenure.  Additional benefits include supplemental leave pay (such as parental or bereavement), a store incentive program based on financial & operational goals, paid time for volunteering at a 501(c)3 non-profit, discounts on some forms of public transportation, adoption assistance, and up to $40 reimbursement for dinner out or New Seasons Market groceries for their birthday.