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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
About Company
Pay Transparency:
Starting rates will be no less than the local minimum wage and may vary based on things like location, experience, qualifications, and the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. Candidates with unique qualifications may be considered for compensation above this range. Dependent on length of service, hours worked, any applicable collective bargaining agreement and/or Company policy, benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay*, PTO/Vacation pay*, paid holidays*, bereavement pay and retirement benefits (pension and/or 401(k) eligibility). Associates in this position may be eligible for a quarterly bonus, subject to Company bonus plans. Applications are accepted on an on-going basis.
*For roles in Washington State: Sick pay and PTO/Vacation pay are accrued based on hours worked and paid holidays are issued at 7-9 days annually.