SUMMARY. Primary responsibility is to Take Excellent Care Of Our Customers by satisfying each customer’s needs, exceeding their expectations, and making every shopping visit a pleasant and satisfying experience. This requires a defined level of management skills, product knowledge, sales ability, customer relations skills, and cooperation with fellow associates.  The Fresh Foods Department will carry only a limited offering of the meats, cheeses, breads, pastries, and other items normally found in a full-scale Fresh Foods Department. Some amenities normally found in a full-scale Fresh Foods Department [chef, sushi, salad/olive bar, etc.] will not be available. 

Manage and supervise up to 20 associates in the Deli, Culinary and Pastry Department. Is responsible for with the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of Culinary/pastry departments. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Harris Teeter’s policies and standards. Responsibilities may include: performing the duties of baker/fryer, cake decorator, fresh foods, chef, pastry chef or clerk; interviewing and training associates; planning, assigning, and directing work; assist in appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining associates; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Customers are among Harris Teeter’s most valuable assets. Every associate represents Harris Teeter to our customers and the public. The way associates perform their jobs presents an image of the entire Company. Customers judge Harris Teeter by how they are treated each time they have contact with an associate. Therefore, one of the top business priorities is to assist any customer or potential customer. Nothing is more important than being courteous, friendly, helpful, and prompt in the attention given to customers.

Harris Teeter will provide training to all associates who have extensive customer contact. If a customer wishes to make a specific comment or complaint that you cannot resolve, you are required to direct that person to the department manager or manager-on-duty for appropriate action. Remember that all contacts with the public in person, over the telephone, and through any communication reflect not only on an individual associate but on Harris Teeter as a whole. Positive customer relations will not only enhance the public's image of Harris Teeter, but also pay off in greater customer loyalty and increased sales and profit.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Your primary job function is to personally perform the first set of functions while ensuring that all Customer Service associates also perform them. Additional essential job functions are listed under SUPERVISORY JOB FUNCTIONS.

CUSTOMER SERVICE. Initiate interaction with customers on the sales floor. Ask the customers questions regarding their shopping needs. Follow through on customer requests.  If you cannot say “yes” to a customer’s request, bring in the manager-on-duty.   Never be rude to a customer under any circumstance.  Never turn down business.

Communicate with customers and fellow associates regarding current promotions, marketing campaigns, and essential products. Inform management of the lack of advertised items and/or samples, incorrect prices, missing signs, departmental changes, and/or other situations as appropriate. 

Reflect an appropriate business image to customers and visitors. How you dress, your grooming and personal cleanliness standards all contribute to that image and also to the morale of your fellow associates.  During business hours or whenever representing Harris Teeter, you are expected to present a clean, neat, and tasteful appearance. You are required to always dress and groom yourself according to our Company policy that reflects accepted conservative norms. 

Be reliable and punctual by reporting for work on time and as scheduled. When you are absent or late, it places a burden on other associates and can impact productivity and service. In the rare instances when you cannot avoid being late or are unable to work as scheduled, notify your supervisor or Manager-on-duty two (2) hours in advance of your scheduled start time so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Obtains or prepares food items requested by customers at counter by performing the following duties. Fills customer order by obtaining items from shelves, freezers, coolers, bins, tables, or containers. Cuts delicatessen meats and cheeses with slicing machine, knives, or other cutters.  Weighs and wraps sliced foods. Bags or wraps purchases for customer and affixes sticker showing price and weight. 

Neatly decorate cakes and create party trays according to standards and customers’ requests. 

Bake, fry, broil, and/or roast poultry, pork, beef and/or other meats according to standards.

Answer telephones by saying “Harris Teeter [store name], this is [name], may I help you?” and provide requested information in a polite and professional manner.  Respond back to people on “hold” in a timely manner.

Keep Our Shelves Properly Stocked. Check merchandising displays regularly to ensure the availability of advertised items and/or samples. 

Understand the overall Fresh Foods Department’s operation. Adapt to various situations and adjust to shifting priorities. Be flexible and able to perform multiple tasks. Provide assistance to fellow associates to complete daily tasks and other

duties as assigned. 

Balance taking direction with taking initiative and demonstrate the flexibility required to accomplish the duties of the entire store. Assist Store Management in the operation of the store and perform management duties in store management's absence. 

Keep Our Stores Clean. Comply with Health Department requirements and follow Harris Teeter sanitation procedures. Keep work area clean at all times.

Follow all safety regulations and help keep the store free of dangerous situations. Immediately inform store management of all accidents and/or safety hazards. Record accidents and safety hazards in the designated log. 

Ensure that chemicals are handled, mixed, and applied according to directions and in compliance to the Hazard Communication Program Manual.

Establish a working and shopping environment of trust, respect, and integrity.

Take Excellent Care Of Your Fellow Associates. Be a team player. Support and assist your fellow associates without complaint. Be open to new ideas and opportunities. Follow through with any special requests or recommendations from management.

Manage the department as to maximize gross profit and minimize operating expenses. Be knowledgeable of department and store sales and profit objectives. 

Review and analyze all financial reports and data. Make timely and effective decisions based on this analysis. Forecast sales and sales per labor hour for upcoming week and effectively schedule associates. Assign duties to associates.

Monitor and analyze sales and labor hours used on a daily and weekly basis. Make timely and effective decisions based on this analysis.

Maintain overall department conditions to meet Harris Teeter Standards.

Order product to minimize out-of-stocks and maintain designated inventory levels.

Listen to both customer and associate complaints, and resolve problems to restore and promote good public relations.

Ensure that the Fresh Foods department’s inventory levels support the customers’ requests for all ad and standard products. Correctly conduct period inventories according to established procedures.

Promote the efficient operations of the store following the procedures detailed in Harris Teeter’s Standards manual. 

Record and follow up on any in-store maintenance. Ensure that situations are resolved and not recurring problems.

Execute approved department opening and closing procedures and ensuring that all operational standards are met.

Recruit, interview, and hire competent associates to maintain proper staffing levels for the department. 

Ensure all associates receive appropriate break and meal periods.

Ensure new Culinary and Pastry associates are properly oriented to your department and understand their benefits package. Professionally communicate expectations to associates and ensure they are properly trained to perform their jobs. 

Encourage and make time for cross training.

Maintain integrity in the Job Posting system by following the policy and by ensuring that all new associates are aware of the process. Develop future Chef Managers.

Convey timely information to the associates regarding current promotions and marketing campaigns. Explain to associates why changes were made in operating procedures.

Have a working knowledge of the mission and goals of your department, your store, and your Company. Discuss these with your associates on a daily basis.

Keep your promises to customers and fellow associates. Respond to questions in a timely and proper manner.

Ask for the opinion and suggestions of your associates where appropriate. Encourage associates to make suggestions for process improvements. Ensure they receive recognition for their ideas.

Recognize exemplary job performance. Acknowledge positive job performance daily. Fairly evaluate associates’ performance on their evaluations.

Address performance problems or record associates’ out of the ordinary behavior when it occurs, using the Constructive Advice forms. Discuss behavior and possible corrective action with associates to create an action plan according to prescribed procedure. Sign off on the documents with those associates involved and submit to regional staff for review.

Harris Teeter reasonably expects to pay between $17.50/hour and $30.00/hour for this role as a newly hired associate.  Pay may depend on previous experience and skill sets of the applicant.  You will be eligible for Harris Teeter’s group benefit plans that pertain to your position upon the completion of applicable waiting periods.  Your eligibility for these benefits is subject to the terms of the applicable plan and Harris Teeter policy.