Produce Department Manager

Company Overview

Established in 1929, Heinen’s is a leading, family-owned grocery retailer known for its premium-quality products and outstanding customer service. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, Heinen’s operates 23 locations – 19 in the Cleveland, Ohio area and 4 in the Chicago, Illinois market – supported by two distribution warehouses, a food production facility, and a corporate office located in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Our culture is rooted in an associate-first philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on the well-being, development, and quality of life of every team member. We offer competitive compensation, professional development and leadership training programs, paid time off, and flexible scheduling designed to promote a healthy work-life balance.

Role Overview

The Produce Manager plays a key leadership role in ensuring the success, quality, and overall performance of the Produce Department. This position is responsible for driving departmental results in sales, margin, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. Through effective leadership, training, and communication, the Produce Manager fosters a collaborative and high-performing team environment that reflects Heinen’s commitment to exceptional service and fresh, high-quality products.

The ideal candidate brings strong supervisory experience, a solid understanding of produce operations, and the ability to guide team members in delivering consistent, customer-focused service. This role oversees daily operations including inventory management, shrink control, ordering, stocking, rotation, merchandising, and food safety compliance. The Produce Manager also ensures team alignment with weekly merchandising plans, promotional initiatives, and corporate objectives by using performance metrics, internal communication tools, and ongoing coaching.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, train, and mentor Produce associates to achieve departmental goals in sales, margin, and customer service.
• Educate team members on operational best practices and standard procedures to ensure consistency and quality.
• Prioritize and assign daily tasks in alignment with business objectives and departmental needs.
• Communicate effectively with team members, merchandisers, and corporate partners to support seamless operations.
• Support daily operations including inventory management, shrink control, ordering, stocking, rotation, and merchandising.
• Develop and manage weekly schedules to ensure adequate staffing based on business demand.
• Provide clear direction and leadership to foster a productive and collaborative team environment.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of product offerings and industry trends.
• Ensure strict adherence to food safety guidelines, temperature standards, and sanitation protocols.
• Execute weekly merchandising plans and promotional strategies to drive sales.
• Leverage scorecards and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Utilize internal communication tools (e.g., whiteboards, digital platforms) to keep the team informed and aligned.
• Participate in corporate meetings, vendor calls, and training sessions to stay current on initiatives and expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and company goals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of a formal leadership development program is preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of produce department experience preferred.
• 1–3 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a retail or grocery setting preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Strong decision-making, communication, and organizational abilities.
• Proven ability to coach, train, and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Ability to perform all functions of a Produce associate when needed.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 lbs.
• Comfortable working in cold environments (0°F to 50°F).
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Willingness to work additional hours as required by business demands.

Heinen’s, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.