Produce Manager (Full-Time, Salary)

Description:

Are you passionate about fresh, local, and organic foods? Do you thrive in a leadership role where community, quality, and teamwork come first? Valley Natural Foods is seeking a full-time, salaried Produce Manager to lead our vibrant, community-focused produce department.

At Valley Natural Foods, we believe great food brings people together. As part of our leadership team, you’ll support our mission to nourish a healthy community while helping to create an exceptional shopping experience for our member-owners and guests.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead daily operations of the Produce Department to ensure a fresh, abundant, and visually appealing shopping experience.
• Provide friendly, knowledgeable customer service that reflects co-op values.
• Hire, train, coach, schedule, and support produce staff to maintain high performance and teamwork.
• Oversee ordering, inventory, merchandising, pricing, and product rotation to ensure quality and strong department financials.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment with a commitment to zero workplace injuries.
• Collaborate with store leadership to uphold co-op standards and support community-focused initiatives.
  
  

Mandatory Qualifications:

What We’re Looking For:

• 3 years of produce buying experience and 3 years of leadership experience (hiring, training, coaching, performance management).
• Strong customer service skills with clear, professional communication.
• Ability to understand basic financials, including margins, pricing, and inventory.
• Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving abilities.
• Flexible availability, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Reliable, predictable attendance and ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Proficiency with POS systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Demonstrated professionalism, objectivity, and calmness under pressure.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a food co-op or natural foods environment.
• Knowledge of organic standards, local agriculture, and sustainable food systems.
• Enthusiasm for building community, supporting staff growth, and advancing belonging and inclusion.
  
  

What We Offer:

• Full-time, salaried position with competitive pay
• Generous benefits package, including health, dental, vision, PTO, and 401(k) with employer match.
• 20% employee discount on groceries
• Supportive, values-driven environment centered on community, sustainability, and well-being.
• Opportunities for growth, training, and leadership development
• A workplace where everyone is welcome and treated with dignity and respect.
  
  

Requirements:

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Regular, predictable attendance
• Previous customer service experience with English proficiency
• 3-5 years previous leadership experience inc.: hiring, training, perf. management/discipline
• High level understanding how to read/understand financial statements relating to margins/pricing
• Demonstrated objectivity, neutrality, and calmness under pressure and timely follow-through to commitments
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Office and POS systems
• Excellent time management, organizational and communication (oral, aural, & written) skills with open availability
• Detail oriented and able to multi-task and remain flexible to the changing needs of the business
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous retail purchasing/merchandising experience (3 years progressive)
• 5 years leadership experience
• A.S. or B.S. in Business or related field
• Familiarity with natural foods, grocery industry or cooperatives
  
  

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift/push/pull/carry 30-50 pounds frequently
• Manual dexterity with ability to reach, grasp and utilize hands, wrists, and fingers for extended periods of time
• Close-to-general range visual acuity to evaluate and interact in working environment and focus on and/or read data and words on a computer monitor for extended periods of time
• Ability to sit, stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Regular exposure to working in refrigerated environments
• Ability to climb ladders, kneel, crouch, and bend occasionally required
  
  

Reports To: Store Manager

Supervises: All Produce Employees

Department, Status and Salary: Produce, Full Time, Salaried (At-Will)

Valley Natural Foods Core Competencies

• Adaptability/Flexibility/Dependability
• Communication/Listening Skills
• Customer Service/Customer Focus
• Integrity/Ethics
• Sense of Urgency/Productivity
• Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills
• Work Environment/Safety/Job Knowledge
  
  

Position Specific Competencies

• Budgets/Cost Control
• Creativity/Innovation/Initiative
• Decision Making/Judgment
• Hiring/People Development
• Managing Conflict/Managing Performance
• Planning/Managing Results
• Strategic Thinking/Management
• Team Leadership
  
  

The information above is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performance by people

assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. VNF management reserves

the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. This is

not an employment contract and does not interfere with MN’s Employment At Will Law.