Dairy Manager

Dairy Manager Job Description – Supermarket

Position Summary

The Dairy Manager is responsible for the overall operation, profitability, and customer experience of the dairy (and often frozen foods) department. This includes supervising staff, managing inventory and ordering, ensuring product freshness and food safety, maintaining merchandising standards, controlling shrink, and delivering excellent customer service.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Department Operations & Merchandising

• Oversee daily operations of the dairy department (milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, butter, juice, and related perishables; often includes frozen foods).
• Ensure shelves, coolers, and freezers are fully stocked, properly faced, rotated (FIFO), and neatly organized according to planograms.
• Build and maintain attractive promotional, seasonal, and end-cap displays.
• Monitor and enforce proper product pricing, signage, and labeling accuracy.
• Maintain department cleanliness, sanitation, and organization standards at all times.

Inventory, Ordering & Shrink Control

• Place and manage weekly/daily product orders based on sales trends, promotions, and inventory levels.
• Receive deliveries, verify invoices, inspect product quality, and process credits for shortages or damages.
• Monitor and control inventory levels to maximize availability while minimizing overstock and shrink.
• Enforce code dating, rotate products, and promptly remove and process outdated, damaged, or spoiled items.
• Conduct regular inventory counts and assist with physical inventories.
• Track and reduce departmental costs, including shrink, supplies, and labor.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and company food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Monitor and maintain proper refrigeration temperatures for coolers, freezers, and display cases.
• Follow and enforce proper receiving, storage, handling, and stocking procedures.
• Maintain required food safety certifications and train staff on safe food handling practices.

Staff Management & Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, coach, evaluate, and discipline department associates.
• Develop daily work plans, assign tasks, and ensure adequate coverage (including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays).
• Provide performance feedback, conduct reviews, and develop team members.
• Foster a positive, team-oriented work environment focused on customer service and productivity.

Customer Service & Sales

• Deliver and model outstanding customer service; resolve customer inquiries and complaints promptly.
• Assist customers with product location, suggestions, and special requests.
• Ensure advertised and promoted items are available and properly merchandised.
• Collaborate with store leadership and other department managers on promotions, sales goals, and store initiatives.

Administrative & Reporting

• Prepare sales projections, labor schedules, and reports on department performance.
• Process paperwork related to orders, invoices, credits, and inventory.
• Analyze sales trends and profitability metrics to meet or exceed department sales and margin goals.
• Communicate with vendors/suppliers and escalate issues as needed.

Typical Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent (preferred: additional retail or food safety training).
• 1–3 years of grocery/retail experience, preferably in dairy, frozen, or other perishable departments.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of inventory control, cold-chain management, and food safety standards.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
• Basic computer/POS and inventory system proficiency.
• Physical ability to lift, stock, and work in refrigerated environments.