Center Store Assistant Department Manager

Center Store Assistant ManagerWe are a Wisconsin grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and providing guests with exceptional service and value. We operate +40 full-service supermarkets across the state of Wisconsin. At Festival, people are at the top of our list. You'll see it in everything from our daily interactions to how we treat our guests – even in our extensive associate benefits and programs.The Center Store Assistant Manager provides operational and leadership support across multiple departments—including Grocery, Frozen/Dairy, Natural & Organic, and Health & Beauty Care (HBC)/General Merchandise (GM)—flexibly shifting focus based on daily business needs. The Center Store Assistant plays an important role in maintaining department standards, ensuring accurate inventory levels and pricing, and supporting daily operations. Through collaboration with Center Store leadership, the Center Store Assistant Manager adapts based on priorities each day, and works alongside associates to train, guide, and ensure exceptional guest experiences.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Lead and support Center Store departments, adapting based on daily business needs.Ensure leadership continuity: Step in and lead teams in the absence of Center Store Manager(s), ensuring associates are supported and department standards are maintained.Train Associates: Train, coach, and re-train new and current associates as needed to ensure high performance. Reinforce company culture, guest service, and performance expectations to all Center Store associates.Meet Department Standards: Ensure all department standards, including inventory levels, pricing, and cleanliness, are met consistently. Observe sales floor and back stock conditions, taking action to address any areas of opportunity.Communicate and Collaborate: Work with Store Director, department managers, and associates to exceed guest expectations.Verify Timekeeping: Ensure accurate timekeeping and communicate any missing time, transferred hours, or schedule issues to HR.Cashier Trained: Ready to step in at the register, and/or support store closing procedures when needed.Provide Helpful Guest Service: Assist with product location, special orders, and address guest questions, concerns or issues.Maintain Cleanliness: Contribute to the cleanliness and organization of the department, including work areas, shelving, coolers, receiving, and the sales floor.Deliver Feedback: Assist with writing and conducting performance reviews for department associates. Document violations of company policies/procedures and collaborate with management and HR to take corrective action, up to and including termination.Honor Commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absencesSupport the Team: Other duties as assigned.Qualifications:High School education or equivalent combination of education and experience.Leadership experience (manager or lead) in retail, grocery, warehouse, or restaurant preferred.Thorough knowledge of the retail food business, especially non-perishable department operations, and strong merchandising skills.Familiarity with store operations and the ability to coordinate effectively with store and vendor teams.Ability to make timely and effective decisions, communicate effectively in a fast-paced environment, and manage a diverse team.Understanding of all safety requirements and company safety policies, with the ability to recognize and react to possible safety hazards.Proper training and knowledge of equipment such as point-of-sale systems, hand jacks, balers, forklifts, hand trucks, and trash compactors.Physical Demands and Work Environment:The associate must possess the ability to stand in place for long periods of time; walk in the store; bend, stoop and kneel regularly.Requires fine finger and broad manual dexterity, and eye-hand-foot coordination in order to operate equipment.The associate must have full range of upper body motion in order to lift stock.Requires the ability to perform repetitive tasks for prolonged periods of time.Must possess functional sensory abilities in order to visually monitor the store, create attractive displays, and to operate equipment.The position requires the associate to lift up 50-60 pounds on an occasional basis.This role requires working in varying temperatures and humidity levels, moving between temperature-controlled areas, freezers, coolers, and the receiving area, with occasional outdoor tasks to inspect store property.Work Schedule:The Center Store Assistant Department Manager is a full-time position. The work schedule may include mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Ability to support closing shift as needed on occasion.Benefits Overview:Associate Discount: Enjoy an industry-leading 15% off your grocery purchases for you and your immediate household!Weekly Pay & Premium Pay: Hourly associates are paid weekly, providing more frequent access to their funds. Part-time store associates are paid a $1 premium per hour on Sundays and select holidays. Hourly full-time store associates receive time and a half on Sundays and select holidays.Two-Week Advanced Scheduling: Better Planning. Better Balance. We provide our associates with their schedules two weeks in advance, offering greater predictability & flexibility.Vision & Dental Insurance: Part-time and full-time associates are eligible for vision insurance and two dental coverage options that are designed to fit your needs.Support: Our associates receive support for their total well-being; including 3 weeks of paid parental leave, a fitness reimbursement program offering savings off of fitness membership fees; our EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and LEAPCare Care Coaches, which provide associates confidential care related to hospital visitation, conflict resolution, stress management, marriage or divorce, family issues and depression or anxiety.Save for Your Future: Offering a 401(k), we're proud to support our associates in planning for retirement. The 401(k) plan empowers associates to save a portion of their paychecks for retirement. Festival Foods has an annual discretionary match to help our associates reach their savings goals.