Assistant Deli Manager

The Assistant Deli Manager supports the Deli Manager in leading daily department operations, maintaining high standards for food quality, freshness, presentation, food safety, and customer service. This position helps develop associates, coordinate production, maintain proper merchandising and inventory levels, and ensure the department operates safely, efficiently, and profitably.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Deli Manager with the overall operation and performance of the Deli Department.
• Provide leadership, direction, and support to deli associates throughout the workday.
• Help train, coach, and develop associates on department procedures, food preparation, food safety, sanitation, and customer service.
• Coordinate daily production and work assignments based on customer demand and business needs.
• Ensure deli products are prepared, packaged, labeled, displayed, and rotated according to established standards.
• Monitor product freshness, quality, temperature, presentation, and availability throughout the department.
• Maintain attractive, full, and properly merchandised displays that promote sales and meet customer expectations.
• Ensure hot foods, cold foods, service case items, grab-and-go products, and other department offerings are properly maintained.
• Assist with production planning to ensure appropriate quantities of products are available while minimizing waste and shrink.
• Help manage inventory levels, ordering, receiving, rotation, and product availability.
• Monitor out-of-stocks and adjust production or ordering as necessary.
• Provide friendly, knowledgeable service and assist customers with product questions, special orders, and department requests.
• Ensure associates provide prompt service at the counter and maintain appropriate customer service standards.
• Maintain department cleanliness and ensure equipment, work areas, service cases, coolers, storage areas, and preparation areas meet sanitation standards.
• Ensure associates follow food safety, personal hygiene, temperature control, and safe food-handling procedures.
• Promote safe working practices and immediately address potential safety hazards.
• Assist with associate scheduling and daily work assignments based on business and production needs.
• Help monitor labor and productivity while maintaining appropriate service and production coverage.
• Support department sales, profitability, shrink, and operational goals.
• Conduct department walks and identify opportunities related to merchandising, cleanliness, freshness, food safety, and in-stock conditions.
• Assist with opening and closing responsibilities as assigned.
• Take responsibility for department operations in the Deli Manager's absence.
• Partner with store leadership and other departments to support overall store priorities and events.
• Perform additional duties as assigned based on business needs.

Leadership Expectations

• Lead by example and demonstrate a positive, professional attitude.
• Provide associates with clear expectations, priorities, and daily assignments.
• Coach associates on customer service, productivity, food safety, quality, and department procedures.
• Recognize strong performance and provide appropriate feedback when improvement is needed.
• Encourage teamwork, accountability, and effective communication throughout the department.
• Maintain a strong sense of urgency while balancing food production, merchandising, cleanliness, and customer service.
• Monitor department conditions throughout the day and address issues promptly.
• Help create an environment where associates feel supported, respected, and accountable.
• Support the Deli Manager in developing a knowledgeable, dependable, and customer-focused team.

Customer Service

• Greet and assist customers in a friendly and professional manner.
• Provide prompt and attentive service at the deli counter and throughout the department.
• Help customers with product selections, special orders, quantities, and general product information.
• Ensure products are sliced, prepared, packaged, and presented according to customer requests and department standards.
• Respond professionally to customer concerns and work toward timely solutions.
• Monitor service levels during busy periods and adjust associate assignments as necessary.
• Maintain department conditions that reflect high standards for freshness, quality, cleanliness, and presentation.

Food Safety & Sanitation

• Follow and reinforce established food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Ensure proper product rotation, date management, labeling, and temperature control.
• Monitor refrigeration, hot-holding, cold-holding, preparation, storage, and display conditions.
• Ensure work surfaces, slicers, utensils, equipment, service cases, and preparation areas are properly cleaned and sanitized.
• Reinforce proper handwashing, glove use, personal hygiene, and safe food-handling practices.
• Help ensure raw and ready-to-eat foods are handled appropriately to prevent cross-contamination.
• Ensure proper cleaning procedures are completed throughout the day and during closing.
• Immediately communicate food safety, equipment, sanitation, or temperature concerns to appropriate leadership.

Production, Inventory & Merchandising

• Assist with daily production planning based on anticipated customer demand.
• Monitor production levels throughout the day and adjust when necessary.
• Help ensure popular and promotional products remain available during peak business periods.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while controlling waste and shrink.
• Ensure products are properly rotated using established rotation procedures.
• Assist with ordering and receiving department merchandise and supplies.
• Maintain organized coolers, freezers, storage areas, and backroom inventory.
• Support promotional displays, seasonal programs, and merchandising initiatives.
• Monitor product conditions and remove items that do not meet quality or freshness standards.

Qualifications & Skills

• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to lead, coach, and motivate a team.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic understanding of deli operations, food preparation, merchandising, inventory, and food safety practices.
• Strong attention to product quality, cleanliness, and presentation.
• Ability to follow recipes, preparation procedures, and established department standards.
• Ability to safely operate department equipment after appropriate training.
• Ability to work collaboratively with associates and store leadership.
• Dependable, flexible, and able to work effectively with limited supervision.
• Willingness to learn new processes and take on increased leadership responsibilities.

Physical & Scheduling Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, reach, lift, carry, push, and pull merchandise, equipment, or supplies as required.
• Ability to safely work around slicers, ovens, fryers, refrigeration, hot surfaces, and other deli equipment.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures associated with food preparation, refrigeration, freezer, and storage areas.
• Ability to perform repetitive food preparation and customer service tasks throughout the workday.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, which may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

· Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream