The Belfast Community Co-op is looking for a Produce Manager to be part of our management team. The ideal candidate is excited to build an abundant and aesthetic department while building relationships with our local farmers, vendors, and community. The incoming Produce Manager is an experienced leader, skilled at developing and maintaining strategic plans and maintaining margin and sales goals that include affordable pricing. Belfast Community Co-op’s mission is to bring locally sourced, reasonably priced, organic and natural products to all while fostering an environment where everyone is truly welcome. 

Wage starts at $25.00-$26.00 per hour, depending on experience.

This is a full-time (30+ hours/week) position with varying shifts that include early morning, evening, weekend and holiday hours.

The Produce Manager leads the department team in providing shoppers with a well-merchandised, exciting, and bountiful variety of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms, regional growers, and national suppliers, representing high quality at accessible prices. Responsible for hiring, training, and supervising department staff, the Produce Manager achieves department specific and store-wide financial and recordkeeping goals, while maintaining excellent relationships with vendors, suppliers, and community members. Working with the Store Operations Manager, the Produce Manager develops and implements strategic plans to meet or exceed expectations for department growth, provides consistent support and supervision to department workers, and acts as a part of the management team to meet the Co-op’s ends of providing an efficiently managed, safe, respectful, inclusive working and shopping environment. 

Belfast Co-op Worker Benefits include:

• Sponsored Co-op Ownership/ Equity Share
• Generous Store Discount
• In-Store Charge Account
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid/Earned Vacation Time
• Retirement Account with Employer Matching
• Regular Free-to-Staff Food and Wellness Items
• CSA/Farmers Market Reimbursement
• Education Credits (PTO for exploring interests related to work)
• Professional Development & Continual Training Opportunities

Full Time Workers (30 hours or more) are also eligible for insurance benefits including:

• Co-op Subsidized Health Insurance Plans
• HSA plan with Matching
• Dental insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Fully Paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Product Selection and Merchandising 

• Lead the Produce team in providing shoppers with an appealing range of fresh fruits and vegetables. 
• Model expected standards for product prep and merchandising.

Recording Inventory and Financial Management 

• Maintain appropriate records including financials, food safety documentation, and vendor information. 
• Source and merchandise a variety of fresh produce, representing both quality and affordability.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and training materials, and coordinate appropriate training across the organization.
• Maintain financial and inventory records to meet departmental and store-wide needs for data tracking.
• Set and uphold departmental procedures for receiving product, uploading invoices, and recording spoilage inclusive working and shopping environment.
• Set and maintain pricing to meet departmental and store-wide margin goals, reviewing margins regularly and taking corrective action as needed. 
• Track sales performance and take appropriate action to keep sales in line with departmental and storewide goals.

Promotions 

• Work with Merchandising and Marketing teams to meet storewide goals.
• Follow store-wide guidelines for planning and executing seasonal and special promotions.
• Actively participate in promotion planning, using knowledge of trends and product availability to enhance offerings.
• Model leadership in maintaining excellent merchandising throughout the promotional period.

Food Safety Facilities and Equipment 

• Coordinate with the Facilities Team to create a safe, clean, attractive department.
• Maintain an awareness of equipment used by the department such as coolers, knives, and safety-related items. Coordinate schedules for regular cleaning and maintenance. Perform cleaning and maintenance tasks as needed 
• Follow notification SOP when equipment is not functioning properly. Makes recommendations for repair or replacement of equipment as needed.
• Lead efforts in maintaining food safety and sanitation standards in the department.

Staff Supervision and Department Procedures  

• Provide consistent management, support, and supervision to Produce department workers. 
• Hire, onboard and train Produce workers. 
• Follow established systems and procedures relating to supervision and performance management.
• Develop and refine department-specific systems and procedures, ensuring legal compliance and consistency of worker and customer experience. 

Planning and Department Initiatives 

• Work with Store Operations Manager to set priorities that align with overall store strategies.
• Coordinate upkeep of existing equipment, participate in planning for continuous improvement. 
• Play a key role in planning and implementing value-added programs, changes to product mix, merchandising strategies, and other department initiatives. 
• Develop, implement and lead programs in keeping with whole-store initiatives. 

Leadership and Collaboration

• Act as a part of the management team to meet the Co-op’s ends of providing an efficiently managed, safe, respectful, and inclusive working and shopping environment.  
• Develop and maintain strong knowledge of Operating and Personnel policies. 
• Use knowledge of Operating and Personnel policies to ensure consistently appropriate application of policies. 
• Use knowledge of Operating and Personnel policies to inform in-the-moment judgment calls.
• Display excellent external and internal customer service, communicating effectively and respectfully with all parties.
• Maintain an awareness of the needs of the whole organization and lead department in a way that honors those needs.
• Coordinate across departments to improve efficiency, consistency, and shared success. 

General Leadership Responsibilities

• Maintain an awareness of Belfast Community Co-op as an entire organization and collaborate with others on how individual changes/operations within a department can affect the rest of the organization.
• Model exceptional customer service to internal and external customers, both in person and via phone.
• Assist in the creation and development of departmental targets. Manage department to meet departmental and store-wide goals.
• Maintain working knowledge of reports and metrics.
• Relay information to and from the Leadership Team concerning operations. Ensure use of departmental communication tools to communicate other topics staff need to know in accordance with Belfast Community Co-op’s Communications SOP.
• Ensure the smooth operation of department functions.
• Uphold Belfast Co-op’s Leadership Qualities, Code of Conduct, Expectations of Staff, and Values.
• Manage department staff, either personally or through delegating responsibilities as needed.
• Administer employee policies to maintain consistency throughout the department and store.
• Ensure, encourage, and provide staff training and/or training opportunities as it relates to the position, co-op, and industry.
• Ensure timecard approval for payroll and the creation of staff schedules in accordance with established timeframes.
• Participate in hiring process for department staff.
• Conduct performance evaluations and pay increases, address complaints, and resolve problems with staff in a timely manner.
• Conduct performance improvement meetings and follow up with staff as necessary.
• Ensure staff works in a safe manner.

GENERAL CO-OP EXPECTATIONS

• Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Greet customers with a friendly, helpful, and respectful approach.
• Follow all store policies, procedures, food safety rules, and other safety rules applicable to the role.
• Wear required uniforms, name tags, or protective gear when applicable.
• Work efficiently, safely, and with attention to detail.
• Take initiative and offer help to coworkers when needed.
• Collaborate with others to solve problems and support store goals.
• Maintain regular and dependable attendance.
• Continue learning about products, the Co-op, and the grocery industry.
• Report safety concerns, spills, suspicious activity, or unsafe equipment to a supervisor promptly.

FOOD HANDLING STATEMENT

Workers who handle food must follow all food safety and sanitation rules required by Maine law, applicable food codes, and Co-op procedures.

ROLE-SPECIFIC LEGAL / CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete required Co-op food safety, sanitation, and equipment training. Hold safety certifications or are able to obtain certification upon hire. Food safety certification requirements, including whether ServSafe or an equivalent is required at hire or within the first 30 days of employment. Train on existing kitchen equipment and procedures.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Hire, onboard, train, support, and supervise Produce department workers. Follow established supervision and performance management procedures and oversee scheduling, timecard approval, performance evaluations, and personnel matters in accordance with Co-op policies. Report to the Store Operations Manager.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple time-sensitive tasks. 
• Strong computer skills with the ability to learn new programs quickly.
• Customer service experience in a leadership role. 
• Supervisory experience, preferably in a retail grocery environment. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess complex situations, determine action steps, and communicate evolving plans to a varied audience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience training staff with varied skill levels and communication styles. 
• Experience creating SOPs and documenting procedures.
• Experience leading a team through unfamiliar situations.
• Knowledge of retail financial basics like margin management.
• Experience working with a labor budget and scheduling software.
• Experience working with a variety of vendors, from small to large-scale.
• Ability to interpret and explain financial data to a varied audience. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to handle, feel, and for fine manipulation. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. The noise level of the work environment is usually moderate. The employee must be able to maintain focus in a busy office environment. Workers must be able to perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The Co-op follows all federal and Maine laws related to employment eligibility verification. The Co-op will not request more or different documents than required, refuse legally acceptable documents, or discriminate based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin where protected by law.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Some positions may require a job-related background check, where permitted by law and after any required notice and authorization. The Co-op does not ask about criminal history on the initial application or state that applicants with criminal histories may not apply, except where a legal exception applies. Candidates will have an opportunity to explain criminal-history information, including rehabilitation, as required by Maine law. If a third-party consumer report is used, the Co-op will follow all FCRA notice, authorization, and adverse-action procedures.

COMPENSATION AND PAY TRANSPARENCY

Compensation for this position is based on the Co-op’s established pay tiers and levels. Pay ranges are set by role, responsibility, scope of work, required training, internal equity, and applicable law. The Co-op will include the anticipated range of pay in job postings when required by Maine law. An employee may request, and will be provided with, the current range of pay the Co-op offers for the position the employee holds. Movement within or between tiers may occur when training or skill requirements are met. Any pay adjustments, including cost-of-living increases, depend on the Co-op’s financial condition, role needs, and applicable laws. Pay practices may be reviewed and updated as needed.

SUBSTANCE-FREE / FIT-FOR-DUTY STATEMENT
The Co-op requires workers to report fit for duty and comply with its substance-free workplace policy, including rules on impairment and on use, possession, or distribution while working or on Co-op property, consistent with Maine and federal law.

OTHER DUTIES

This job description does not list every task that may be assigned. Duties may change as the needs of the Co-op change. Workers may be asked to assist in other areas when needed. This does not change the at-will nature of employment.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

The Co-op provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities; to applicants and employees with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, or related medical conditions; and for sincerely held religious beliefs or practices, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship or as otherwise permitted by law. Workers or applicants who need an accommodation should contact Human Resources to begin the interactive process.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) STATEMENT

The Belfast Community Co-op does not discriminate in employment. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information or predisposition, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status where protected, protected workers & compensation activity, protected whistleblower activity, having sought or received an order of protection, or any other status protected by Maine or federal law. The Co-op is an Equal Opportunity Employer.