The Specialty Department Team Leader (DTL) is responsible for overseeing and directing all aspects of the Specialty Department (wine, beer and cheese) operations. The Specialty DTL is responsible for ensuring an excellent experience for customers in the wine, beer and cheese department. The customer experience revolves around providing high quality products and service selections, in-depth knowledge of products and consistently providing excellent customer service. The Specialty DTL is accountable for effectively developing, mentoring, and support of their team, implementing efficient and productive systems, demonstrating stellar leadership, and being accountable for the financial performance of the department (in areas such as margin, sales goals, labor budget) all in a manner that demonstrates the values of La Montañita Food Cooperative. This position oversees the department in adhering to labor and food safety guidelines, and ensures compliance with policy and procedures by establishing clear expectations and guidelines.
SOME ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensures the department operates effectively and efficiently; facilitates day-to-day operation and guarantees performance standards are met and that team members consistently work towards their ideal and peak performance.
- Creates, develops, communicates, implements, audits, and evaluates operating standards and procedures and makes adjustments as needed.
- Provides adequate and timely communication with Store Management and Human Resources in regards to problems/concerns, opportunities, recognition, and other matters of importance.
- Supervises work performance and conduct of team members and supports the performance management practices as needed and in accordance with policies, procedures, labor and legal guidelines.
- Models behaviors that support the values, through supportive and participatory leadership, promoting cooperation, team building, and motivating team members to achieve goals.
- Delegates and assigns tasks for department team members as needed and ensures tasks are completed.
- Helps create and facilitates trainings for team members that enhance and build upon their skills, knowledge and abilities.
- Conducts regular performance evaluations, timely feedback sessions, meetings/huddles and provides coaching to promote the growth and development of team members.
- Responsible for recruitment, retention and engagement of team members for the department.
- Ensures new hires are trained appropriately and effectively.
- Supports the security and safety protocols and establishes strong departmental control measures.
- Orders, receives, and merchandises products following proper guidelines for merchandising, rotation, sanitation, pricing, mechanizing, and quality standards.
- Establishes annual department budgets with guidance from Store Management, that include sales, gross margin, labor cost, and net profit.
- Monitor and oversee the accurate costing and pricing of all specialty department products.
- Maintains a working knowledge of all products as well as items throughout the store to respond to customers to ensure they get the products they want and need.
- Ensures accurate and sanitary product processing, packaging, labeling, dating, and pricing according to department procedures.
- Reinforces safety within the store by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management or addressing the concern if appropriate.
- Ensures federal, state, local and La Montañita Food Cooperative regulations and standards for product freshness, safety, refrigeration, sanitation and weights and measures are being adhered to and met.
