ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Customer Experience

• Provide an exceptional shopping experience and friendly and welcoming environment for all members, customers, and co-workers
• Greet and engage customers throughout the store; model, and ensure they receive, prompt, helpful, attentive, and authentically friendly service in accordance with the Co-op’s customer service standards
• Maintain an awareness of promotions and advertisements to share information with customers and co-workers
• Assist customers to find desired product; answer questions about product quality and uses; provide information about product, location of product, in-store promotions, and educational materials
• Seek opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience
• Assist customers with bagging, unloading/loading items into carts/baskets, and carry out assistance, if needed
• Maintain a calm, friendly, and professional demeanor with all customers and co-workers and in all situations
• Investigate and respond to customer questions and requests promptly; escalate issues to supervisor as needed

Department Operations

• Following established procedures, aesthetically merchandise, stock and face shelves and displays, ensuring proper rotation; follow established standards for culling close dated/unsatisfactory product
• Receive product deliveries, ensure order, and invoice accuracy; process invoices and obtain credits as directed by supervisor, following established procedures
• Alert supervisor to close dated/unsatisfactory product; record as spoilage following established procedures
• Hang ‘out of stock’ signs whenever a product is empty on the shelf
• Maintain department appearance and cleanliness including regularly facing, ensuring sales tags are properly displayed, accurate, and in good condition; request new tags if needed, clean shelves, displays and coolers
• Maintain backstock and work area cleanliness; sweeping and mopping floors regularly, properly store/rotate inventory
• Answer phones, routing calls to appropriate staff and taking messages as needed
• Learn to place orders from suppliers; place orders as assigned by supervisor
• As delegated by department supervisor, assist in new employee on-the-job training through job shadowing and new-hire orientation of department processes to help new team members become proficient in specific areas and enable them to accomplish assigned tasks
• Participate in cross-training by helping to train others on your position job functions and by learning to perform the job functions of other positions within your department
• Organize time efficiently, prioritize, maintain focus, and stay productive
• Achieve established goals and expected results for the department
• Assist in keeping the store clean, orderly and organized, including but not limited to; retrieving carts and baskets, keeping floors, sidewalks and parking lot clear of debris, glass/spill clean-up’s, sweeping/spot mopping, dusting, wiping down dining tables, facing, parking lot cleaning, emptying trash and recycling as needed, and bathroom cleaning/restocking
• Become familiar with the products we carry throughout all departments and where they are located throughout the store
• Follow all cash handing policies and procedures; maintain a working knowledge of all register functions and procedures
• Develop knowledge of the Co-op’s membership structure; be informed about benefits of membership and be able to explain them simply and efficiently
• Regularly check mailbox and/or email for important company communications and review posted memos
• Attend and actively participate in department meetings, store-wide and org-wide meetings, and trainings, as requested
• Assist in other departments/store, inventory counts, store-wide cleaning, and perform all other duties, as assigned

Sanitation & Safety

• Maintain a safe work environment according to all department procedures – Safety Manual, federal and state regulations
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as required for position; understand and ensure safe use of equipment, safe lifting procedures and proper ergonomics
• Follow all procedures in sanitation and safe food handling, per California Health and Safety Code requirements - Retail Food Code

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Outstanding customer service skills, actively looks for ways to help customers
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to work as part of a team; ability to communicate effectively and be an active listener
• Strong attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills
• Ability to prioritize and work on a variety of tasks simultaneously, while remaining flexible in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to understand and adhere to all organizational and department rules, policies, and procedures, including but not limited to those listed in the employee handbook, CBA, and Health and Safety guidelines
• Works well independently but able to work closely and cooperatively with others when needed
• Approach all decision making with environmental and social impact in mind, actively seek ways to improve sustainability efforts in day-to-day duties and assist in implementing applicable sustainability initiatives
• Disseminate ideas, proposals, feedback, and other information in a clear, respectful, effective, and timely manner
• Can consistently perform all tasks efficiently, at an acceptable rate and free of errors, according to department procedure, as directed
• Accept feedback openly without defensiveness
• Accept direction willingly and follow through with delegated tasks
• Willingly accept and adapt to change
• Analytical ability and proficiency in math
• Knowledge of the natural foods industry
• Maintain positive relationships with outside professionals and vendors
• Maintain confidentiality
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Requirements

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Bend and stoop to grasp objects and climb ladders
• Bend and twist neck and waist, reach above and below shoulders and squat
• Bend and lift loads, up to 50 pounds frequently, not to exceed 75 pounds
• Repetitive use of hands for grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation

Work Environment

Fast paced retail floor environment. At times may work with or near moving mechanical parts (i.e. baler, dock equipment), in high precarious places (i.e. ladder work) and in cold/hot climate conditions. Ability to work in moderate and loud noise environments including, but not limited to, computers, paging, telephones, human voices, sound system and machinery. Occasional job-related travel within Arcata and Eureka.

Customary Work Schedule

This position customarily works a varied schedule which may include early, late, and/or weekend shifts with occasional overtime and the appropriate meal and rest breaks provided. The position requires reliable dependable performance and punctuality, anything less places a hardship on other employees and store operations, therefore, regular and prompt attendance is essential to this position. Employees are expected to report for work on time, appropriately uniformed and to accurately report all time worked using the timeclock and break sheet procedures.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE: The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, requirements, and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that the employee may be required to perform. The employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations, or a work environment change.

EEO STATEMENT: North Coast Co-op is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.