Produce Manager Jobs

About Woodstock Farmers’ Market
The Woodstock Farmer’s Market offers fresh organic produce, local meats, specialty & everyday grocery products, baked goods, prepared foods and so much more. They also have locations in both Woodstock and Waterbury, Vermont.
Established in 1992, the Farmers’ Market has had a focus on building relationships with local farmers, vendors, and customers. While committed to creating and selling the best products sourced locally and globally, ethically, and sustainably.
Our Core Values

• Bright side: always be positive
• Fish Cakes: think outside the box to creatively solve problems
• Do the right thing—always: be honest, accountable and have integrity
• Come with an empty cup: have humility
• Sit at the table together: be collaborative
• Always hungry: relentlessly get stuff done

Role Summary
The Produce Departments in both locations, Waterbury VT and Woodstock VT, play pivotal roles in the overall bounty and atmosphere of the store. Woodstock Farmers’ Market’s mission is to sell the freshest produce, organic and local, when possible, with great attention to variety, competitive pricing, weekly promotions, cleanliness, large beautiful appealing displays—all of which create an energetic atmosphere conducive to high volume sales. They do this with the customer as priority, with attention to special orders, education, recipes, and customer interaction.
The Produce Manager plans, directs, and coordinates operations of the Produce Department. They participate in all facets of the produce department including ordering, pricing, and costing, inspecting for quality, stocking, daily merchandising, and weekly display changes as well as the scheduling of the staff.
Responsibilities

• Scheduling staff, organizing, and supervising shifts and workload
• Hire, train and evaluate staff according to WFM’s Core Values
• Attend weekly Operations meetings
• Weekly display planning considering WFM marketing campaigns as well as local purchasing opportunities
• Working directly with the Prep Foods Manager on the timing of produce culls and processing those as transfer items to the kitchen—deciphering what is useable for prepared foods and what is waste. Those decisions often require quick thinking and cooperation between departments
• Be able to execute all produce tasks and train and coach others to do so
• Coordinating with Waterbury Produce Manager
• Making and maintaining large and beautiful displays daily
• Establishing positive relationships with farmers in our area; making new contacts with new farmers
• Monthly, weekly and day planning which requires quick merchandising decisions and good relationship/communication with other managers
• Being responsible for financial success in both sales, COG and staff budgeting; adhering to and establishing annual visions, sales and COG goals and project objectives for department based on annual Market vision and strategy
• Appraising staff performance and providing feedback to improve productivity
• Maintain WFM’s high standards of cleanliness and sanitation
• Ordering from multiple vendors/farmers, constructing daily orders and creating a daily inventory
• Maintain WFM’s high standards of quality

Requirements

• Desire and ability to lead and manage a team.
• Must have effective interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers.
• Effective communication, customer service, and selling skills.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn multiple tasks and technical requirements of the job.
• At least three years of experience in produce, or any related field.
• Strong understanding of store operations and merchandising techniques preferred.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and computer skills.