Produce Clerk - Sea Mart Quality Foods (Full-time) - Hames Corporation

HAMES CORPORATION and its affiliated and subsidiary companies - Sitka/Ketchikan Alaska

The spirit of Alaska isn't just in our store. It's in our DNA. Forged by independence. Furthered by hard work. Rooted in a legacy that extends back to 1949 when Clarence and Hopewell Rands opened shop in Sitka. Much has changed over the past six-plus decades. But one thing remains the same: our commitment to our customers and our community. Today, Hames Corporation is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated company, and we are much more than the region's number one grocer. We're a gathering place for doughnuts and coffee. A supporter of local charities, sports teams, education and the arts. A member of the world community with relief efforts for natural disasters. We invest in our employees and empower them to do whatever it takes to delight our customers. At Hames Corporation, we're a family.

Our employees are part of our extended family, joined by the common goal of delivering service that goes above and beyond. In addition to providing competitive compensation, good benefits and flexibility, we empower every employee to do what it takes to delight our customers, whether chasing down a specific item or ordering in a special treat for a landmark occasion. Alaska has long been known for amazing natural resources. At our company, it just happens to include the human variety.

PURPOSE:

The Produce Clerk position allows you the opportunity to exhibit your excellent customer service skills while interacting with our valued produce shoppers. Additionally, this position will require the performance of tasks such as, greeting customers, answering queries about products for sale, including ordering, receiving, stocking and displaying produce. To be successful in this position you must be someone who cares about our highest quality organic and fresh produce products by maintaining our high-quality freshness standards by stocking, trimming, watering, rotating, washing, and crisping fruits and vegetables. If this sounds like you, we invite you apply and join our team to help create a lasting impression and positive experience for the community and customers we serve.

DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES:

The essential duties of the Produce Clerk consist of, but are not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• THE CUSTOMER IS THE FIRST PRIORITY; the entire store is in the forefront of that activity; and every member of the store's team is here to fully support that priority with prompt and friendly service.
• Strive to always provide the best customer service whenever possible.
• Follow the assigned weekly work schedule to ensure adequate coverage in the produce area, by maintaining punctual and regular attendance.
• Arrive at work on time and leave per scheduled time unless otherwise directed.
• Work overtime as assigned.
• Dress and groom according to company policy, including uniform, name badge, and hat or apron requirements.
• Always maintain a neat well-groomed appearance.
• Must wear an approved hat or hair net.
• Perform all duties in accordance with company rules, policies, safety requirements, and security standards, and all local, state and federal health and civil code regulations.
• Do not chew gum or play on mobile communication devices (MCDs) such as cell phones or tablets during the workday.
• Greet all customers that are within 10 feet of you, and provide them with prompt, courteous service, and assistance.
• Be attentive to the customer. This includes looking the person in the eyes and listening to their needs, to accommodate them.
• Assure the highest possible levels of sanitation and safety is maintain within the entire produce cutting and preparation area.
• Maintain the sanitation and safety of the produce area.
• Control excessive use of utilities and water and observe sound conservation practices.
• Adhere to policy and regulations to be fully compliant with all applicable laws pertaining to food safety, health, and packaging requirements of prepared foods.
• Maintain a clean, organized and neat presentation of products; this includes proper pricing, signs and tags.
• As assigned, order a plentiful, diverse mix of produce based on local market conditions and customer needs and desires.
• Stock produce in an efficient manner, learning and understanding the department priorities.
• Perform the receipt of merchandise into the department, verifying merchandise with packing slips, confirming prices, recording the entry of goods to the receiving registers, processing documentation for back-ordered or short-shipped items.
• Follow approved procedures for receiving and transfer of products, price marking and restocking cases to ensure quality protection, public image, accuracy and product rotation.
• Accurately record markups and markdowns, in-store use of merchandise, voids, and refunds and bad merchandise/spoilage write-offs in accordance with company policies.
• Be aware of competitor pricing and advertising tactics to protect the company from market share erosion. Communicate recommendations to the Produce Manager.
• Handle damaged or distressed merchandise according to company policy and assist in controlling the level of damaged goods.
• Comply with all state, and local weights and measures laws and labeling requirements.
• Assist in the planning of the department merchandising plan for the following month with the department manager.
• Make regularly scheduled inspections of display racks and refrigerated cases to ensure product freshness and visual appeal; pull damaged or marginal products from racks.
• Make sure refrigerated cases and display shelves are properly stocked and always faced according to product movement and department standards to ensure maximum sales, quality, and freshness.
• Ensure that wet racks are watered and produce items are properly trimmed and attractively presented.
• Ensure produce trimming and preparation is done with a minimal amount of waste.
• When assigned, routinely check refrigeration equipment for proper performance.
• Immediately communicate temperature failure of cases/storage areas or of any maintenance or equipment problems to the department manager.
• When directed, merchandise is ordered to maintain inventory and control out-of-stocks and over-stocks and to maximize sales turnover.
• Takes affirmative action to control shrinkage and pilferage losses; observes security standards by staying alert and being aware of customer actions and behavior reported to manager any abnormal behavior.
• Become familiar with invoice documents and confirm accuracy of item descriptions, size, quantities, and pricing during vendor product deliveries.
• Maintain the cleanliness and upkeep of all equipment to ensure safe, clean, and sanitary operating conditions.
• Use all equipment, tools and utensils in a safe manner and comply with safety policies and procedures.
• Assist other produce staff in the performance of their duties so that they will be familiar with and able to handle all jobs and positions within the produce area.
• Ensure the safe and reliable condition of all equipment in the department, reporting any discrepancies to the Produce Supervisor or Manager.
• During any slow periods, to stay productive, performing other duties as assigned.
• Exhibit an attitude and approach to "get the job done no matter what it takes."
• When instructed, to train department employees in the use of all equipment, tools, and utensils to ensure their safety.
• Notified department manager of policy violations that is having an adverse effect on department operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Produce Supervisor(s) and Produce Manager

PHYSICAL AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess good communication and writing skills.
• Must have the ability to read and comprehend instructions and information.
• Must have basic math and accounting skills to do food costing and percentages.
• Ability to read, write, and understand English language effectively in order to read and understand written or verbal directions.
• 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 be able to communicate effectively with department employees, the store's coworkers and customers; Company handbooks, policies and procedures, and; Other written job-related documents including safety notices and other postings on company bulletin boards.
• Ability to fill out forms and compose and write reports.
• This position requires an individual capable of sitting, standing for extensive period of time, walking, bending, climbing stairs, and carrying loads up to 50 pounds. Must be able to speak and communicate clearly. This position might require early morning, late nights and working holidays and weekends.
• Successful performance requires specific vision abilities that include close vision and ability to adjust focus including having sufficient visual acuity to check and verify invoices and other written documents.
• Be fully familiar and knowledgeable 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.).
• Must be 18 years or older.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment will be completed in cool environments, with often wet conditions while handling produce. You will be required to move about the different areas of the Produce Department; which will include continuous exposure to refrigerated storage areas and relatively damp and humid conditions including wet and slippery floor surfaces.

SAFETY-SENSITIVE POSITION:

Job responsibilities include tasks or duties that could affect the safety or health of the public as tasks include working with unpackaged foods, potentially hazardous food or food-contact surfaces. Must hold a valid food worker card issued by the State of Alaska's Division of Environmental Health (DEC) or be able to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.