Cheese Plus, San Francisco's premier cheese, wine, sandwich cafe, specialty food store located in the thriving Russian Hill neighborhood, is seeking a motivated individual to work alongside the Owner, Assistant Store Team Leader, and Enthusiastic Staff to purchase all cheese, maintain merchandising standards, and drive sales goals.
The Cheese Specialist position has 5 primary responsibilities:
- Oversee all Cheese Department operations including sourcing and purchasing all cheese
- Training and staff development related to Cheese Department operations
- Develop and maintain production and customer service standards for the Cheese Department
- Maintain positive financial performance including but not limited to sales goals, target margins, inventory turns, and proper cash flow
- To be the point person and visible leader of operation in the Cheese Department
The Cheese Specialist will be the visible leader of cheese operations. This position will be scheduled to work directly on the sales floor, performing the same duties of customer service and store maintenance expected of all team members of Cheese Plus.
The Cheese Specialist will be the primary person on the sales floor placing orders, receiving deliveries, pricing and stocking the deliveries, and maintaining the cheese displays and back stock.
The Specialist will be required to maintain clean up-to-date order boards and keep all costs and retail information in the POS system current to maintain positive gross margin targets.
The Specialist will be required to keep the cheese sales floor and back stock clean and organized.
The Specialist will be responsible for developing the cheese department staff; directing their training and supervising their daily activities. As the supervisor and visible leader of the department, the Specialist will hold fellow Cheese team members accountable for their work quality and maintain the highest standards of operations including customer service, team service, work efficiency, product knowledge, sanitation, salesmanship, and more.
Essential Functions:
Operations
This is the lead position for Cheese Department operations. Specifically, the Cheese Specialist is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of store conditions and performance including:
- Source and purchase all Cheese items
- Perform as the lead customer service rep for Cheese, stationed primarily on the Cheese sales floor actively preparing foods, selling and discussing the products to the customers
- Supervise and train the staff to maintain top standards for sanitation and hygiene
- Develop best practices and techniques to expedite Cheese operations
- Maintain effective and compelling product merchandising including displays and signage
- Receive and rotate products to reduce and eliminate spoilage
- Practice category management techniques to offer the “best of class” foods, and to reduce and eliminate poor selling or redundant products
- Maintain clean and organized orderboards, pricelists, and buyers documents
- Maintain complete and up to date POS system files including deleting discontinued items
- Maintain positive sales goals and gross margin performance
- Forecast and recommend seasonal/holiday promotions
- Coordinate department merchandising and décor
- Perform and/or oversee periodic storewide inventory count
- Work all stations of the store and perform all duties as needed
Customer Service
The Cheese Specialist is the visible leader and the “standard-bearer” for outstanding customer service in the Cheese Department. Specifically, the Cheese Specialist is responsible for creating and maintaining a positive and professional attitude in regards to serving the needs of our customers. By maintaining proper sanitation and production protocols, and working directly with the customers, the Cheese Specialist will work to create an atmosphere of pleasurable and exceptional customer service.
Team Development
The Cheese Specialist will develop, along with the Owner and Store Leadership, staff training materials as related to the Cheese area. This person will work directly with the staff to maintain standards and provide information in regards to the products we offer, and any systems or procedures specific to the Cheese area. Additionally, this position will seek out new items and perform competitive reviews of other markets and foodservice operations to maintain key products.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Supervise all Cheese team members including performance record keeping, guidance, and progressive discipline
- Develop training materials, and conduct employee training, education, and performance reviews for Cheese operations
- Maintain staff operational standards and policies including but not limited to: time and attendance, dress code, proper service communication and etiquette, sanitation, customer service, team service, product knowledge and handling, and more.
Product Development
- Evaluate sales movement to alter and source items to maximize sales and seasonality
- Seek and evaluate items related to Cheese operations
- Perform periodic competitive reviews of other retail businesses to discover new items and compare prices, merchandising, etc.
- Attend approved trade shows and events
Financials
The Cheese Specialist will review financial reports with the Owner and Store Leadership including profit and loss, sales goals, inventory counts, customer counts, business plans, etc. The Cheese Specialist is responsible for maintaining positive sales growth, positive gross margin, high inventory turns, and proper cash flow performance goals. The Cheese Specialist is responsible for vendor cost negotiations, timely invoice processing, and up-to-date product pricing.
This is a full time, hourly paid position, with eligibility for overtime. The hours will include night shifts, typically no later than 8:30 PM, as well as mornings and midday shifts. Weekend shifts are required for maximum exposure to customers and staff. Scheduling will need to reflect the greater needs of the store and staff. It is expected that the Cheese Specialist will be able to maintain all job duties throughout the day.