Manager, Fresh Operations

The Manager, Fresh Operations is responsible for the overall strategic direction, financial performance, and operational excellence of the Fresh Department across all store formats. This role drives high-level initiatives to optimize sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction while ensuring compliance with food safety and sanitation standards. The Manager collaborates with cross-functional teams to improve merchandising, supply chain efficiency, and shrinkage control while fostering a high-performance culture that emphasizes leadership, quality, and productivity.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Operations Management

• Develop and implement long-term strategies to enhance the efficiency, profitability, and growth of the Fresh Department.
• Oversee the formulation and execution of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to optimize fresh category operations.
• Ensure company-wide compliance with food safety, hygiene, and sanitation protocols, implementing best practices across all stores.
• Lead the operational planning and execution for new store openings, renovations, and format enhancements.
• Evaluate and refine the organizational structure for Fresh categories, ensuring alignment with business needs and industry trends.

2. Merchandising, Product Innovation & Category Management

• Establish merchandising strategies that drive sales and enhance customer experience, including planogram execution and category management.
• Oversee the review and enhancement of fresh product assortments, ensuring alignment with market trends and customer demand.
• Identify and develop signature products that strengthen brand differentiation and increase competitive advantage.
• Collaborate with sourcing teams to optimize procurement strategies, ensuring high-quality product selection and supply chain efficiency.

3. Financial Oversight & Shrinkage Control

• Drive financial performance by setting and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) related to sales, margins, and operational expenses.
• Oversee margin management and cost control measures, ensuring profitability across all fresh categories.
• Implement robust shrinkage control measures, establish benchmarks, and drive initiatives to minimize product loss and wastage.
• Conduct financial analysis, provide insights, and develop strategies to improve revenue generation and cost efficiencies.

4. Asset, Equipment & Infrastructure Management

• Define equipment standards for different store formats and ensure timely procurement, maintenance, and replacement of assets.
• Partner with store operations and facilities teams to optimize layouts, ensuring effective space utilization and seamless customer flow.
• Oversee capital expenditure planning for Fresh Operations, ensuring investments align with growth and operational priorities.

5. People Leadership & Development

• Build and develop a high-performing Fresh Operations team by providing leadership, coaching, and succession planning.
• Drive talent development initiatives, including training programs on food safety, operational excellence, and customer engagement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous improvement, ensuring team alignment with organizational objectives.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide strategic guidance to regional and store-level fresh operations teams.

6. Business Optimization & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Analyze operational performance, identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and implement best practices across all stores.
• Lead cross-functional collaborations with merchandising, supply chain, finance, and marketing to enhance Fresh Department performance.
• Represent the Fresh Department in high-level business planning discussions, providing insights and recommendations for company growth.
• Ensure seamless integration of technological advancements, such as digital inventory management and analytics tools, to enhance operational efficiency.

7. Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with regulatory standards related to food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety.
• Develop and enforce policies that mitigate operational risks and enhance store-level execution.
• Conduct regular audits and provide strategic recommendations to address compliance gaps and operational inefficiencies.

8. Special Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Spearhead new initiatives that drive innovation and operational excellence in Fresh Operations.
• Monitor industry trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities for differentiation and competitive advantage.
• Perform other high-impact responsibilities as assigned to support the company's growth and strategic objectives.

Core Competencies

• Operational Management: The ability to oversee and optimize store operations within the Fresh Department, including ensuring adherence to food safety and hygiene protocols, managing day-to-day activities, and implementing effective operational structures to drive performance.
• Strategic Planning and Execution: Competence in developing and executing strategies that align with sales and profitability goals. This includes setting clear objectives, managing resources effectively, and ensuring the successful implementation of merchandising and operational initiatives.
  
• Merchandising Expertise: Strong understanding of fresh product categories and merchandising techniques. Ability to manage product assortment, develop planograms, and enhance the visual presentation of products to maximize customer appeal and sales.
  
• Financial Acumen: Proficiency in managing budgets, monitoring margins, performing inventory counts, and controlling shrinkage. The ability to propose corrective actions to improve profitability and reduce costs is essential for financial health.
  
• People Management and Leadership: The capacity to lead and develop a high-performing team by providing clear direction, fostering empowerment, offering regular training, and maintaining a culture focused on quality and productivity.
  
• Communication and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong communication skills to collaborate with internal teams (HR, Merchandising, Finance) and external partners. Ability to coordinate across departments to ensure smooth operations and project execution.
  
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to analyze sales, product performance, and operational data to identify opportunities for improvement, address challenges proactively, and develop solutions that drive business success.
  
• Customer Focus: Ensuring that the Fresh Department consistently delivers high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations, with a focus on enhancing the overall shopping experience.
  Compliance with Safety and Sanitation Standards: Knowledge and enforcement of food safety, sanitation, and hygiene standards in accordance with industry regulations to maintain a safe and compliant work environment.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree preferably in Management or any other related field
  
  
• Five (5) years of experience in retail operations (Fresh Operations) or any related field or in the same capacity.