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Deli Kitchen Production Lead

Festival Foods
Wausau, WI Full Time
POSTED ON 7/16/2026 CLOSED ON 8/11/2026

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deli Kitchen Production Lead position at Festival Foods?

Company Overview

ABOUT FESTIVAL FOODS:

We are a Wisconsin grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and providing guests with exceptional service and value. We operate 40 full-service supermarkets across the state of Wisconsin.

At Festival, people are at the top of our list. You’ll see it in everything from our daily interactions to how we treat our guests – even in our extensive associate benefits and programs.

Job Summary

Join our Festival Foods team as a Deli Kitchen Production Lead! 

Job Title: Deli Kitchen Production Lead 

Reports to: Deli Department Manager 

At Festival Foods, we’re all about making mealtime easier and more enjoyable for our guests. Whether they're grabbing a quick lunch, a side dish, or feeding a crowd, our deli has them covered. 

As Deli Kitchen Production Lead, you will oversee daily kitchen operations while leading the deli production team. In this role, you will ensure product quality, manage inventory, and deliver exceptional guest experiences, all while fostering career development and operational excellence. If you're passionate about food, leadership, and providing high-quality service, this position offers the perfect opportunity to grow your career and make a meaningful impact in our deli department. 

 

External Job Description

What You’ll Do: 

As a Deli Kitchen Production Lead at Festival Foods, your responsibilities will include: 

  • Provide Exceptional Guest Service: Providing excellent guest service is at the heart of what we do.  Whether it’s a friendly greeting, answering questions or addressing guest concerns, you’ll handle each interaction with professionalism and care. Your willingness to help guests with what they need will make a positive impact every day. 
  • Lead and Coach Your Team: Provide leadership and guidance to Deli Kitchen associates, reinforcing the Festival culture and performance expectations while ensuring exceptional guest service. 
  • Support Operational Excellence: Assist the Deli Kitchen Manager in overseeing daily kitchen operations, including labor, expenses, stock levels, and quality control. 
  • Ensure Product Quality and Freshness: Manage recipe control, measurement accuracy, product rotation, and monitor product dates to maintain high-quality standards. 
  • Deliver Outstanding Experiences: Address guest concerns, assist with product inquiries, and resolve issues related to prep and kitchen-made items, ensuring guest satisfaction. 
  • Foster Career Development: Guide Deli Kitchen associates on career path development, providing the necessary leadership and support for growth. 
  • Collaborate Across Departments: Communicate with leads and managers regarding supplies, product inventory, and rotation to ensure seamless operations. 
  • Maintain Cleanliness and Safety: Contribute to the cleanliness and organization of the department by ensuring proper sanitation of work areas, shelving, and the sales floor. Maintain food safety logs in accordance with company policies. 
  • Honor Commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences. 
  • Support the Team: Other duties as assigned. 

What We’re Looking For: 

To succeed as a Deli Kitchen Production Lead at Festival Foods, you should have: 

  • Leadership Skills: Strong ability to lead and motivate a diverse team in a fast-paced environment, while promoting a positive, collaborative culture. 
  • Problem-Solving Ability: Demonstrated capability to handle guest concerns and operational issues with tact and professionalism. 
  • Attention to Detail: Experience in managing product quality, rotation, and inventory, with a thorough understanding of the retail food business and perishable department operations. 
  • Safety and Compliance Knowledge: A complete understanding of safety protocols and the ability to apply on-the-job safety training to recognize and respond to hazards. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment: 

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

  • Stand in one spot for a long period of time, bend stoop, and kneel regularly. 
  • Full range of upper body motion. 
  • Lifting up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis. 
  • May be exposed to extreme temperatures such as sales floor, refrigerator, freezer, coolers. 

Work Schedule: 

The Deli Kitchen Production Lead is a full-time position. The shift to be worked will include weekdays, weekends, and holidays. 

If you have prior food service leadership experience in fast food, as a line cook, prep cook, or are just eager to apply your retail leadership experience in a grocery kitchen environment, this role is a great opportunity!    

Benefits Overview

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE:

  • Associate Discount: Enjoy an industry-leading 15% off your grocery purchases for you and your immediate household!.

  • Weekly Pay & Premium Pay: Hourly associates are paid weekly, providing more frequent access to their funds. Part-time store associates are paid a $1 premium per hour on Sundays and select holidays. Hourly full-time store associates receive time and a half on Sundays and select holidays.

  • Two-Week Advanced Scheduling: Better Planning. Better Balance. We provide our associates with their schedules two weeks in advance, offering greater predictability & flexibility.

  • Vision & Dental Insurance: Part-time and full-time associates are eligible for vision insurance and two dental coverage options that are designed to fit your needs.

  • Support: Our associates receive support for their total well-being; including 3 weeks of paid parental leave, a fitness reimbursement program offering savings off of fitness membership fees; our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and LEAPCare Care Coaches, which provide associates confidential care related to hospital visitation, conflict resolution, stress management, marriage or divorce, family issues and depression or anxiety.

  • Save for Your Future: Offering a 401(k), we’re proud to support our associates in planning for retirement. The 401(k) plan empowers associates to save a portion of their paychecks for retirement. Festival Foods has an annual discretionary match to help our associates reach their savings goals. At Festival Foods we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We are dedicated to building a top-notch team of skilled, experienced and service-oriented associates. Festival Foods believes that an inclusive environment for teammates of all backgrounds and perspectives strengthens our ability to serve our guests and communities, as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people.
  • Salary.com Estimation for Deli Kitchen Production Lead in Wausau, WI
    $48,237 to $56,928
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