We are looking for an experienced, driven Produce Manager to join our team at Price Chopper. In this role, you'll take ownership of the day-to-day success of the Produce Department-leading a team, driving sales and profitability, maintaining exceptional product quality and freshness, and ensuring the department consistently delivers a full, fresh, and visually appealing shopping experience.
At Price Chopper, we're more than a grocery store-we're a team committed to exceptional guest experiences through quality products, strong teamwork, and consistent execution. As part of the Balls Food Stores family, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on your department, your team, and the guests we serve.
This is a great fit for someone who knows fresh produce, enjoys developing people, and takes pride in running a high-performing department. You'll balance leadership, merchandising, inventory, ordering, and guest service while creating a department that is fresh, full, organized, and ready for business.
Key Responsibilities & Job Duties
- Lead, supervise, train, develop, evaluate, and coach Produce Department teammates to deliver exceptional guest hospitality and strong department performance
- Establish clear expectations for productivity, guest service, department standards, and daily execution
- Manage department schedules and staffing levels to support business needs while operating within labor budgets
- Oversee daily Produce Department operations to ensure the department is fresh, full, clean, organized, and properly merchandised
- Maintain high standards for product freshness, quality, appearance, and availability through proper receiving, handling, storage, rotation, and culling
- Manage department inventory through accurate ordering, receiving, stocking, rotation, and product handling
- Monitor inventory levels, product movement, and ordering needs to maintain availability while minimizing waste and shrink
- Analyze department sales and performance reports to identify opportunities and implement strategies to improve sales and profitability
- Build and maintain attractive, abundant, and easy-to-shop produce displays that maximize sales and support merchandising standards
- Execute promotional, seasonal, and advertised merchandise according to company direction
- Ensure accurate pricing, signage, displays, and promotional execution throughout the department
- Develop and maintain strong knowledge of produce varieties, seasonality, ripening, storage, handling, and quality standards
- Inspect incoming product and continuously monitor merchandise for freshness, quality, damage, and spoilage
- Process markdowns and damaged merchandise according to company procedures
- Oversee produce preparation, including trimming, cutting, and packaging, when applicable to the store
- Maintain department sanitation, cleanliness, and food safety standards
- Ensure proper operation, cleaning, and maintenance of department equipment and tools
- Provide knowledgeable and exceptional guest service and assist guests with produce selection, ripeness, storage, and preparation questions
- Communicate clearly and professionally with teammates, guests, vendors, and store leadership
- Conduct and participate in team meetings, trainings, and safety meetings to reinforce expectations and operational standards
- Collaborate with other department managers and store leadership to support overall store performance
- Support opening and closing procedures and ensure the department is prepared for business throughout the day
- Other job duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience
- Previous supervisory, team lead, or management experience preferred
- Previous grocery, retail, produce, or fresh-food experience preferred
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
- Experience with scheduling, ordering, inventory management, and department operations
- Knowledge of produce freshness, rotation, handling, and storage
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Commitment to providing exceptional guest hospitality
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous Produce Manager or Assistant Produce Manager experience
- Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
- Experience building and maintaining high-volume produce displays
- Basic knife skills for trimming, cutting, and preparing fresh produce
- Experience operating department equipment
- Bilingual or multilingual skills a plus
Why This Role Matters
The Produce Manager has a direct impact on department sales, product quality, inventory, shrink, teammate performance, and the overall guest experience. If you know fresh produce, enjoy developing people, and take pride in building a department that looks great and performs at a high level, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.