Produce Manager

Job Description

Job Description

A Little About Us

Columbus IGA and Stillwater Family Pharmacy are locally owned and operated businesses proudly serving the Columbus, Montana community. At IGA, we’re more than just a grocery store — we’re your neighbors, committed to providing quality products, exceptional customer service, and a welcoming shopping experience. Just steps away, Stillwater Family Pharmacy offers trusted, personalized care to support the health and well-being of our customers. Together, our teams work hard to create a friendly, reliable, and community-focused environment.

About Your Role

As the Produce Manager at Columbus IGA, you are responsible for leading the daily operations of the Produce Department to ensure exceptional product quality, department presentation, customer service, and financial performance. This role oversees produce merchandising, inventory management, food safety compliance, and department staff while maintaining a clean, organized, and customer-focused environment. The Produce Manager plays a key role in driving sales, minimizing shrink, and ensuring fresh, high-quality products are consistently available to customers. Success in this role requires strong leadership, operational oversight, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively balance customer service with department efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Department Operations and Merchandising
  Oversees daily Produce Department operations, including merchandising, product rotation, inventory levels, display presentation, and overall department appearance to ensure freshness, availability, and visual appeal.
• Product Quality and Inventory Management
  Maintains produce quality standards through proper receiving, handling, rotation, and shrink control practices while monitoring inventory levels and ordering to support sales and profitability goals.
• Customer Service and Community Experience
  Ensures a high level of customer service by assisting customers, resolving concerns professionally, and creating a welcoming shopping experience that reflects company service standards.
• Leadership and Team Development
  Supervises, trains, schedules, and supports Produce Department team members while promoting accountability, teamwork, safety, and consistent operational performance.
• Food Safety, Sanitation, and Compliance
  Maintains compliance with food safety regulations, sanitation standards, workplace safety requirements, and company policies to ensure a safe and clean environment for customers and employees.

Additional duties may be assigned as necessary.

Core Competencies

• Ethics and Integrity
  Demonstrates honesty, accountability, and professionalism while consistently upholding company policies, operational standards, and organizational values.
• Leadership
  Provides direction, support, and motivation to team members while fostering accountability, productivity, and a positive work environment.
• Quality Focus
  Maintains high standards for product freshness, presentation, cleanliness, and operational execution to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
• Planning and Organizing
  Effectively prioritizes department responsibilities, manages workflow, coordinates staffing and inventory needs, and ensures operational goals are achieved efficiently.
• Customer Service / Interpersonal Skills
  Builds positive relationships with customers and team members through professional communication, responsiveness, and a commitment to service excellence.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The position supervises or manages the work of at least two full-time employees or the equivalent. The position includes decisions or recommendations regarding personnel actions such as hiring, disciplinary action, overtime, changes in pay, and terminations.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or related coursework preferred.
• Previous retail grocery or produce department experience required.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge of produce handling, merchandising, inventory management, and food safety practices.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and perform physical tasks for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This position operates in a fast-paced retail grocery environment with frequent exposure to refrigerated areas, varying temperatures, cleaning chemicals, and moving equipment. Regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, and repetitive motions are required throughout the workday. The Produce Manager must be able to safely operate department equipment and maintain compliance with safety standards and operational procedures. Team members frequently interact with customers and coworkers and are expected to maintain a positive, helpful, and respectful attitude.

• Work Schedule: Requires flexibility to work a variety of shifts including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on store needs.
• Physical Requirements:
  • Standing or walking for extended periods (up to 8 hours)
  • Frequent bending, twisting, reaching, and lifting
  • Regularly lifting and moving products up to 25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs
  • Operating carts, pallet jacks, slicers, or other store equipment as required
  • Working in environments with varying temperatures, such as coolers, freezers, or warm kitchens

The position requires the ability to multitask, follow safety procedures, and respond quickly in a dynamic setting. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Company Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match
• Paid Time Off Accrual
• Paid Sick and Safe Time Accrual
• Six (6) Paid Holidays Annually

Columbus IGA/Stillwater Family Pharmacy, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.