At Common Ground Food Cooperative, we support local farmers & producers. We are here to serve the local CU area by providing nutritious groceries, house-made delights, and natural products for body & home. We strive to create a place for all our neighbors to gather & learn. We believe that good people and good food combined with hard work and care for community can bring great things to us all.

Common Ground isn't your average employer: we provide competitive wages and benefits, a great work environment, and plenty of opportunity for growth. You can make a difference here.

Common Ground offers:

• 3+ weeks paid time off for all employees (4+ weeks after 2 years service)
• Sick pay for all employees
• Staff discount for you and 2 others
• Employee charge account
• Medical, Dental, & Vision benefits
• Life Insurance (Voluntary additional coverage also available)
• Illness and Accident insurance
• Sustainable transportation incentive program
• Retirement Simple IRA & company matching
• Relaxed dress code
• Opportunity for advancement
• Employee referral program
• Employee assistance programs
• Employees included in Policy and Decisions

Common Ground's first and most important End is "The Co-op is the center of an inclusive and vibrant community." Everyone is welcome here. What this looks like for us regarding hiring: we do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Offers consistent, fair, and respectful customer interactions to ensure satisfied shoppers and encourage repeat customer traffic.
• Projects a helpful, approachable manner – smiling, eye contact, open posture, greeting nearby shoppers. Stops tasks to help a customer with full attention.
• Uses knowledge of body language and cues, along with talking to customers to understand and provide the desired level of personal service.
• Answers all phone calls within 3 rings.
• Understands and communicates the particulars of ownership to shoppers and staff alike.
• Looks at the sales floor from the perspective of the customer to ensure shelves are full and inviting.

COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively helps create an environment that is inclusive, safe, and respectful for everyone who works and shops at the co-op.
• Knows and promotes the cooperative principles and our Ends.
• Speaks positively and respectfully to and about coworkers, customers, local businesses, farms, and vendors.
• Operates with a sense of teamwork in daily tasks; approaches all things with solution-oriented thinking. Exhibits calmness under pressure.
• Supports customers, department, and store by being on time and ready to work at the beginning of scheduled shifts. Demonstrates regular, predictable attendance.
• Works with a sense of energy and completes tasks in a timely manner.
• Understands the importance of and demonstrates excellent communication. Uses knowledge of store organization to determine what information to share with whom, both within and across departments.
• Assumes the best in people. When facing an issue, goes direct to the person involved to work together toward a solution. Doesn’t engage in gossip.
• Promotes sustainability and reduces waste.

• Reads department and store communications.
• Attends all department and store meetings as required.
• Receives feedback and evaluations with a willingness to improve and better performance.
• Acts in a manner consistent with Common Ground’s principles, mission, and vision.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Meets with the Grocery Manager weekly for planning and review of department projects and results.
• Checks in with Grocery staff about the day’s responsibilities, delegates tasks as needed.
• Ensures Center Store operations are effective and efficient; regularly evaluates for improvement.
• Performs other tasks assigned by the Grocery Manager.
• Follows established department procedures for opening, closing, timelines and documentation.
• Attends all mandatory Manager and store meetings.

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

• Ensures the Grocery department operates within established metrics: Sales growth, Labor, Margin, Shrink & Supply Budget.
• Is responsible for all Grocery inventory management and for ensuring Monthly and Quarterly inventories are completed accurately.
• Works with the Grocery Manager on selection and pricing of product offerings in line with Common Ground’s standards and practices.
• Plans weekly merchandising strategies of the Grocery products with the Grocery Manager.
• Trains Grocery Clerks to maintain merchandising standards and efficient grocery operations (stocking, running back-stock, date-checking, etc.).
• Coordinates sampling for Grocery, both in store and with vendors.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

• Ensures Grocery dept. operates within established metrics: Labor % and SPLH, staff training on Paycom, turnover.
• Completes staff schedules no later than 2 weeks in advance.
• Collaborates with the Grocery Manager to manage Grocery Staff: including training, coaching, performance management, EAFs, processing raises, terminations.
• Works with the Grocery Manager to help coordinate all interviews and hiring needs for HR.
• Creates all department training materials in partnership with HR.
• Writes and delivers all reviews for Grocery Clerks.
• Reviews and approves all staff members' time clock punches, requests off, and shift switches.

• Ensures all staff have access to and know they can use the Open-Door Policy.
• Ensures all staff provide excellent customer service.

DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT

• Ensures excellent communication with staff, other departments, and whole store. Manages staff email group.
• Maintains department backstock areas: organization, cleanliness, and FIFO.
• Orders all ingredients, supplies and any other necessary items for the department on time.
• Provides excellent internal, external, and vendor customer service.
• Codes invoices in a timely manner.
• Coordinates and presides over any event participation as required.

DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE & SAFETY

• Understands, adheres, and trains staff to store emergency and safety procedures.
• Understands, adheres, and trains staff regarding employee safety measures for food handling and preparation. Uses the most functional and efficient methods that meet all local and federal health codes.
• Observes good ergonomic practices.
• Uses equipment safely.
• Ensures department work areas and aisles are clean and orderly and meets all Health Department and ADA requirements.
• Develops and maintains Preventative Maintenance schedules, Daily/Monthly/Quarterly/Bi-yearly cleaning schedules, and follows up to ensure completion.
• Coordinates repairs of equipment with store leadership.

QUALIFICTATIONS

• Minimum of two (2) years previous management experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years in a customer service position.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in retail purchasing or merchandising position.
• Experience in personnel management and staff motivation.
• Previous experience with receiving, ordering, pricing, and inventory control preferred.
• Ability to implement and assess systems to provide efficient and productive operations preferred.
• Familiarity with natural foods preferred.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to handle multiple demands.
• Calmness under pressure.
• Ability to project an outgoing, friendly personality.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Ability to work well with others in a cooperative environment where teamwork and constant communication is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
• Commitment to superior customer service and to provide the highest quality shopping experience possible.
• Flexible schedule and availability for being scheduled during any store hours.
• Displayed ability to lift 50# and stand for long periods.
• Illinois Food Handlers card and Allergen training certification required.
• Regular, predictable attendance.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.