Perishable Buyer

Who is New Leaf Community Markets?
New Leaf Community Markets opened its doors as a small cooperative in 1985 on the Westside of Santa Cruz. We learned early on, that the well-being of our guests, staff, and community starts with sustainable, locally-produced food. Farm-to-table all the way! We’ve partnered with open-minded producers who care as deeply about our people, the planet, and social justice as we do, from day one.

Our mission is to be a purveyor of good – from offering the best local and natural foods to taking care of our staff, community, and environment. We love what we do, and we know that it’s our passionate staff who make it all possible. We’re committed to taking care of our people by leading the way with progressive employment practices.

Every day, we work to create an atmosphere of openness, caring, trust, and fairness – a place where staff can thrive, and differences are celebrated. As a member of the New Leaf Community Markets team, you can count on an inclusive, friendly environment and a welcoming group of inspired individuals who love people, great food, and being a part of a community gathering place.

Ingredients You’ll Bring to the Table:
You love food and have the ability to create an experience that is beyond the everyday. You have a positive attitude and work well in a team environment. You can connect with people and reach a level of hospitality that exceeds guests’ expectations. You are warm, outgoing, authentically amazing, and want to be inspired, challenged, and proud of where you work.

You embody the spirit of New Leaf Community Market's core values: Community, Integrity, Sustainability, Quality, and Respect; and you are driven by our mission to nourish and sustain our community by using business as a force for change.

What’s on Your Plate:
Job Title: Perishable Buyer
Department: Grocery
Reports To: Grocery Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Summary
Assists with the coordination and execution of department operations and work, and is responsible for product ordering and inventory control for the specific perishable departments as requested; Meat and Seafood, Dairy, Frozen, Deli, Juice Bar, Cheese and any others as needed. Provides exceptional customer service and product knowledge and contributes to a positive and collaborative team environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

General Requirements:

• Engages the customer in a friendly manner, shares product information and assists in locating product throughout the store. Seeks opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience.
• Demonstrates ability to manage own time and models a flexible work style. Shifts tasks as priorities and circumstances change based on needs and conditions of department.
• Represents company values. Works cooperatively and positively with fellow team members.
• Gives and receives feedback in a constructive manner demonstrating company Speak Up culture.
• Conserves company resources. Works in a manner consistent with company mission, vision and values and sustainability program.
• Adheres to work and food safety policies set forth by the company and all local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Contributes to store cleanliness, maintains equipment. Informs store/department management of any problems.
• Observes all company rules and policies. Understands and complies with specific department or location guidelines, tasks and responsibilities.

Position Responsibilities:

• Assists with ordering and inventory control across all Perishable departments; Meat and Seafood, Dairy, Frozen, Deli, Juice Bar, Cheese and any others as requested.
• Assists with food preparation and production across all Perishable departments as assigned.
• Orders department products according to anticipated sales and seasonal needs. Maintains appropriate inventory levels to achieve sales and margin goals.
• Maintains awareness of current ads, promotions, holidays and events. Plans for weekly ads, events and holidays using tools and reports. Works with Department Manager to understand and respond to current store trends.
• Ensures assigned department areas in store are clean, attractive and easy to shop and adhere to merchandising standard of pricing, signage, quality, and other specifics provided.
• Builds displays and arranges department products to make attractive presentations, highlighting featured / unique / seasonal items.
• Maintains professional vendor relationships.
• Receives and unloads merchandise; checks quality, count and condition. Communicates any issues to management and merchandising team. Handles damaged and spoiled product according to company policy.
• Stocks, rotates and faces products with attention to product quality and expiration dates.
• Ensures customer special orders are accurately placed and delivered.
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of products throughout the department, trends in the industry and understanding of culinary terminology, product labelling and common dietary restrictions, with skills to continue learning.
• Partners with department management team to train department clerks in tasks and product knowledge.
• Follows company procedures for processing invoices, transfers and credits.
• Participates in inventories.
• Demonstrates an awareness of trends in the industry.
• Responds to and follows through on emails and other communications in a timely manner.
• Notifies Department Manager or Manager on Duty of any situations relating to customer service, safety, productivity, security or any other situation that may have an adverse effect on the store.
• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function within our company. New Leaf Community Markets reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.

Customer Service Skills
Engages the customer in a friendly manner, shares product information and assists in locating product throughout the store. Seeks opportunities to exceed customer expectations and enhance the customer experience.

Education and/or Experience

• Previous food service, retail or grocery experience required. Experience in a high-volume environment preferred.
• Knowledge and/or experience working with perishable food products such as meat, seafood, dairy and / or others highly preferred.
• Visual merchandising experience preferred.
• Previous ordering/inventory management experience required.
• Intermediate to advanced computer proficiency required. Experience with Excel and inventory software preferred.

Language Skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.

Mathematical Skills
Basic to intermediate math and computation skills required.

Reasoning Ability
Skills to read, understand and follow through on verbal and written instructions. Skills to exercise good judgment at all times.

Knowledge of English
Should have the ability to speak, read and understand English.

Physical Demands
This position works at a Medium level. Required frequently and up to continuously to be on feet with a mix of standing and walking throughout shift. Sitting seldom required. Up to occasionally, dependent on location, required to climb stairs, step stool and /or ladders. Continuously required to: lift and carry 1-10 pounds; use arms, hands and wrists; grasping/squeezing; reach at/above shoulder; reach below shoulder. Frequently required to: lift and carry 11-20 pounds; push and/or pull 1-80 pounds bend/stoop; twist. Occasionally required to: lift and carry 21-50 pounds; push and/or pull 1-40 pounds; crouch/squat.

This position may be required to use the following tools and equipment: box knife, baler, scanner, hand truck, POS, conveyer belt, industrial kitchen equipment (i.e. blast chiller, grill, knives/blades, oven, grills, scales, etc.), basic housekeeping / janitorial and standard office equipment.

Work Environment
Work occurs in a grocery store environment which includes surfaces that can be wet and slippery, moderate noise level, and temperature extremes in controlled environments in the cooler and freezer, and depending on location, working outside in all temperatures. There may be exposure to certain allergens and / or chemicals. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and other applicable state or local law, we will make reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Why You’ll Love Working at New Leaf Community Markets

• Amazing Benefits Package – Including comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and 401k at 26 hours a week.
• Great earning potential with the opportunity for growth within our family of brands
• Paid Parental Leave available
• Lifestyle Scheduling
• Public Transport Benefits
• Paid Community Service Hours
• 30% discount at all New Leaf Community Markets, Bristol Farms, and Lazy Acres Natural Market locations

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