Produce Department Manager

Produce Department Manager

About Citarella

Led by owner Joe Gurrera and his commitment to exceptional quality, Citarella has grown from a respected New York City fish market into a premier gourmet food destination, with locations across New York City, the Hamptons, and Greenwich, Connecticut.

As a family-run business, we're passionate about great food and delivering an outstanding guest experience. From premium seafood and prime dry-aged beef to chef-prepared specialties, handcrafted pastries, and international cheeses, we take pride in offering the very best. Join our team and become part of New York's vibrant food scene.

Role Overview

Citarella is seeking an experienced, hands-on Produce Department Manager to lead our Produce Department and uphold the exceptional quality, freshness, and service standards that define our brand.

In this role, you'll oversee daily operations, lead and develop your team, manage inventory and merchandising, and drive department sales and profitability. The ideal candidate combines extensive produce knowledge, strong leadership skills, and a passion for delivering an outstanding guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, train, coach, and develop produce associates while fostering a positive, service-focused team environment.

• Oversee daily department operations, including staffing, scheduling, workflow, and opening and closing procedures.

• Deliver exceptional guest service by providing knowledgeable product recommendations and resolving guest concerns.

• Manage produce ordering, receiving, inventory, and rotation to ensure freshness, availability, and proper stock levels.

• Inspect incoming deliveries, verify vendor invoices, and ensure products meet Citarella's quality standards.

• Maintain attractive, well-stocked produce displays with accurate signage, pricing, and merchandising.

• Monitor product freshness, quality, and culling procedures to minimize shrink and waste.

• Manage department sales, labor costs, inventory performance, and operational expenses to support profitability.

• Collaborate with purchasing and store leadership on product assortment, ordering, promotions, and department performance.

• Oversee employee schedules, timecards, and time-off requests while maintaining appropriate labor coverage.

• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, temperature-control, and workplace safety standards.

• Maintain clean, organized, and safe produce displays, preparation areas, equipment, and refrigerated storage.

• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and employee development.

• Perform additional duties as assigned by store leadership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 2–3 years of produce department management or supervisory experience in a grocery, supermarket, or specialty food retail environment.

• Extensive knowledge of fresh produce, seasonal varieties, quality standards, proper handling, storage, and rotation.

• Experience with inventory management, ordering, merchandising, shrink control, and department profitability.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, train, motivate, and develop a team.

• Strong guest service, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and temperature-control requirements.

• Ability to analyze sales, inventory, and labor performance to make informed operational decisions.

• Proficiency with basic computer applications, including email, spreadsheets, and inventory or scheduling systems.

• Ability to work independently, prioritize responsibilities, and maintain high standards in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in premium grocery, specialty food retail, or high-volume produce operations.

• Familiarity with seasonal merchandising, specialty produce, and vendor coordination.

• Experience managing department budgets, labor schedules, and performance metrics.

Physical & Scheduling Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and perform physical tasks throughout the shift.

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull products and equipment as required by the position.

• Ability to work in refrigerated and temperature-controlled environments.

• Ability to safely use produce preparation tools and department equipment.

• Flexible availability, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Benefits

Citarella offers competitive wages and a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, employee discounts, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match, subject to eligibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citarella is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider qualified applicants without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law and provide reasonable accommodations as required by law.