Produce Clerk

Job Function

To maintain and operate the Produce Department including the trimming and preparation of produce merchandise according to company and department standards; to ensure that the work shift contributes to the financial best interests of the store.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

A. General

1. Observe all store rules and company policies;
2. Maintain a neat, well-groomed personal appearance at all times and observe company grooming standards and dress regulations;
3. Observe shift operating hours at all times as scheduled or assigned by produce manger;
4. Adhere to all local, state and federal health and civil code regulations;
5. Follow approved procedures for receiving, code dating, trimming, storing, price marking and restocking products to ensure quality protection, accuracy and product rotation;
6. Price and display product in cases as directed by the Department Manager;
7. Be knowledgeable in and able to differentiate between all of the various types of produce merchandise including taste, preparation method or use, and price differences between varieties of similar classes of products (e.g., different types of apples, potatoes etc.);
8. Assist in checking and verifying produce department receivings when required;
9. Take received and prepared products to refrigerated storage, shelf and display areas;
10. Control department expenses and utilize energy conservation practices;
11. Contribute to controlling freshness and product quality;
12. Observe all policies and procedures established for the department;
13. Handle damaged and spoiled products according to company policy and assist in controlling the level of damaged goods;
14. Comply with safety policies and procedures and read all safety posters and bulletins;
15. Control excessive use of utilities and water and observe sound conservation practices;
16. Perform other duties and assignments as directed;
17. Greet all customers and maintain good customer relations by providing them with prompt and courteous service or assistance;

B. Bookkeeping

1. Record all shift hours worked on time card according to company policy and verify by signature the accuracy of all time worked;
2. Know how to calculate product gross margins and retail prices;
3. Be familiar with invoice documents and able to confirm accuracy of item descriptions, sizes, quantities and pricing when assisting in receiving meat vendor product deliveries;
4. Record invoice documents accurately on the receiving log and place signed invoice in the designated secured area;
5. Accurately record markups and markdowns, in-store use of merchandise, voids, refunds and bad merchandise/spoilage write-offs in accordance with company policies.

C. Merchandising

1. Assist in keeping display shelves and refrigerated cases properly stocked and faced at all times according to product movement and department standards;
2. Code, date and rotate all perishable merchandise to ensure proper product rotation, quality and freshness;
3. Ensure a favorable department image with customers by contributing to a clean, attractive and friendly department.

D. Maintenance

1. Maintain good housekeeping and sanitation standards in compliance with store policy and state and local health regulations;
2. Maintain full compliance with all state and county government weights and measures laws;
3. Follow department sanitary procedures and work methods to extend product life cycles;
4. Check refrigeration equipment for proper performance at least once per shift;
5. Use and maintain equipment in good working order;
6. Immediately communicate temperature failure of cases/storage areas or of any maintenance or equipment problems to manager or key person in charge.

E. Security

1. Observe security standards by staying alert and being aware of customer actions and behavior; report to manager or security any abnormal behavior;
2. Take positive action to control shrinkage and pilferage losses;
3. Comply with the company's Security Programs and notify manager of any situations that may breach or compromise such standards.

F. Personnel

1. Coordinate own activities and functions with those of associates to obtain maximum productivity and efficiency;
2. Assist in training associates when requested or assigned;
3. Notify Department Manager of personnel situations or policy violations having an adverse effect on store operating performance or of situations requiring disciplinary action or that may potentially require such action.

Requirements and Conditions (Essential Functions)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all of the duties described in the preceding in an efficient and competent manner. The requirements and conditions listed below are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skill, experience, and/or ability required. Some requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

Education and/or Experience

1. Should have a high school education and a minimum of three years experience in produce department operations with successful or concurrent participation in a management training program or equivalent combination of education and experience;
2. Be thoroughly familiar with all products carried in the department including being fully knowledgeable in the differences (in price, taste, preparation or use) between the many varieties and types of products in different produce families (e.g., apples, squashes, etc.).

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

1. (None required)

Mathematical Skills

1. Must be able to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, gross margins, markup, percentages, ratios, ad loss, shrinkage, and to apply basic concepts of algebra;
2. Ability to handle sales transactions, tender correct change, verify vendor invoice charges and counts, and complete and submit required records and reports.

Language Skills

1. Ability to hear, speak and understand the spoken word in order to respond promptly to pages for assistance, to accommodate verbal requests from customers for information or assistance, to answer telephones, and to be able to communicate effectively with department employees, the store's co-workers and customers;
2. Ability to read, write, analyze, interpret and understand the English language with sufficient proficiency in order to read and understand:
   1. instructions for operating electronic equipment and tools
   2. company handbooks, policies and procedures and
   3. other written job-related documents including postings on company bulletin boards;
3. Ability to compose and write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals including effective departmental memos, employee corrective action notices, "menus", and customer signs or sales suggestions.

Reasoning Ability

1. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in circumstances where only limited standardization may exist;
2. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in diagram, oral, schedule, or written forms.

Other Skills or Requirements

1. Be thoroughly familiar with all products carried in the department including being fully knowledgeable in the differences (in price, taste, preparation or use) between the many varieties and types of products in different produce families (e.g., apples, squashes, etc.).
2. Be able to pass a standard drug test and qualify as being drug-free under the legal and medical guidelines permitted by the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988;
3. Be able to perform all duties and responsibilities in an efficient and satisfactory manner that meets the minimum standards for productivity, accuracy, cleanliness, harmony and safety established at the employer's individual site (normally measured but not necessarily limited to units of one or more of the following: total transaction throughput, unit time per task, sales per man-hour, and/or cases, units, tasks or pounds per man-hour).

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Some requirements may be modified to accommodate individual with disabilities:

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; and use the hands to handle, finger, or feel objects, tools or controls;
2. The employee must frequently walk, talk or hear, and reach with the hands and arms; occasionally, the employee must crouch or kneel;
3. The employee must occasionally exert or lift up to 70 pounds carrying master cases of produce, barrels of produce trimmings, trash containers, etc.
4. Successful performance requires specific vision abilities that include close vision and the ability to adjust focus including having sufficient visual acuity to check and verify invoices and other written documents;
5. The employee must be able to work in refrigerated coolers and high moisture content preparation rooms for extended periods of time;
6. Be able to climb a ladder to retrieve items stored in overhead racks such as trays and wrapping material;
7. Be able to sweep and mop floors and lift and carry out trash containers to be emptied in an outside bin;
8. Have sufficient physical mobility or agility to be able to respond quickly to fire or other emergencies and sufficient dexterity to disassemble and clean produce department tools and other equipment;
9. Be able to work in an environment with fresh fruits, vegetables, house plants and flowers without negative allergic consequences that adversely affect performance;
10. Be able to tolerate moderate amounts of dust and chemical fumes from common household cleaning agents such as quaternary ammonia compounds during routine housekeeping duties.

Work Environment

The work environment conditions described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. It may be possible to modify some circumstances to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

1. The work environment includes frequent exposure to, in, or around refrigerated storage areas and relatively damp and humid conditions including wet or slippery floor surfaces;
2. Typically, the noise level in the work environment is moderate; however, on occasion, it can be extremely noisy when the employee must enter the compressor/machine room to check on refrigeration equipment;
3. Access to break rooms, offices and all employee restrooms require ascending/descending a flight of stairs; there are no restrooms at street level nor are there any public restrooms available elsewhere on the premises;
4. The employee may be required to perform the duties of this job during the same time period when maintenance associates or outside janitorial services are concurrently performing their respective duties and services; under such circumstances, atmospheric conditions may contain moderate levels of airborne pollutants such as cleaning or floor finishing chemical vapors and odors;
5. There are no other unusual environmental conditions.

Important Disclaimer Notice

The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, and the requirements and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that an employee may be required to perform. The Employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business, competitive considerations, or the work environment change