Assistant Meat Manager

The Assistant Meat Manager supports the Meat Manager in leading daily department operations, maintaining high standards for product quality, freshness, food safety, merchandising, and customer service. This position helps coordinate production, manage inventory, develop associates, control shrink, and ensure the department operates safely, efficiently, and profitably.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Meat Manager with the overall operation and performance of the Meat Department.
• Provide leadership, direction, and support to meat department associates throughout the workday.
• Help train, coach, and develop associates on department procedures, product handling, food safety, sanitation, merchandising, and customer service.
• Coordinate daily production and work assignments based on sales, customer demand, and business needs.
• Ensure meat products are properly cut, prepared, packaged, weighed, labeled, priced, displayed, and rotated according to established standards.
• Monitor product freshness, quality, presentation, temperature, and availability throughout the department.
• Maintain attractive, full, and properly merchandised service cases, self-service cases, and displays.
• Assist with production planning to maintain appropriate product levels while controlling shrink and reducing waste.
• Help manage inventory, ordering, receiving, rotation, and product availability.
• Monitor out-of-stocks and take appropriate steps to maintain strong in-stock conditions.
• Ensure advertised, promotional, and seasonal items are properly stocked and merchandised.
• Provide friendly, knowledgeable service and assist customers with product selections, special cuts, quantities, and special orders.
• Maintain department cleanliness and ensure equipment, work areas, coolers, freezers, cases, and storage areas meet sanitation standards.
• Ensure associates follow food safety, personal hygiene, temperature control, and safe product-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 customer service and production coverage.
• Support department sales, profitability, shrink, inventory, and operational goals.
• Conduct department walks and identify opportunities related to merchandising, cleanliness, freshness, food safety, pricing, and in-stock conditions.
• Assist with opening and closing responsibilities as assigned.
• Take responsibility for department operations in the Meat 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 maintain a positive, professional attitude.
• Provide associates with clear expectations, priorities, and daily assignments.
• Coach associates on customer service, productivity, product quality, food safety, 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 production, merchandising, sanitation, 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 Meat Manager in developing a knowledgeable, dependable, and customer-focused team.

Customer Service

• Greet and assist customers in a friendly and professional manner.
• Provide knowledgeable assistance regarding meat products, cuts, quantities, preparation options, and product availability.
• Assist customers with special cuts and special orders when requested.
• Ensure customer requests are completed accurately and efficiently.
• 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.
• Maintain proper refrigeration, freezer, preparation, storage, and display conditions.
• Ensure work surfaces, cutting equipment, grinders, utensils, cases, and preparation areas are properly cleaned and sanitized.
• Reinforce proper handwashing, personal hygiene, and safe food-handling practices.
• Ensure raw products are properly handled and stored to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
• Monitor cleaning schedules and ensure sanitation tasks 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 sales trends, anticipated demand, promotions, and inventory levels.
• Monitor production levels throughout the day and make adjustments when necessary.
• Maintain sufficient product levels during peak business periods while minimizing overproduction.
• Help maintain accurate inventory levels and control product loss and shrink.
• Ensure products are properly rotated and older inventory is prioritized appropriately.
• 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.
• Verify products are correctly priced, labeled, and signed.
• Remove products that do not meet established quality, freshness, or appearance standards.

Safety & Equipment

• Follow all established safety procedures when using department tools and equipment.
• Ensure associates use appropriate equipment and personal protective equipment when required.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment to reduce potential safety hazards.
• Immediately report damaged or malfunctioning equipment.
• Reinforce safe lifting, cutting, grinding, stocking, and product-handling practices.
• Ensure department equipment is operated only by properly trained associates.

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.
• Working knowledge of meat department operations, merchandising, inventory, sanitation, and food safety practices.
• Strong attention to product quality, freshness, presentation, and detail.
• 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 perform repetitive cutting, wrapping, stocking, and product-handling tasks.
• Ability to safely work around cutting equipment, grinders, refrigeration, freezers, and other department equipment.
• Ability to work in cold and refrigerated environments for extended periods when necessary.
• Ability to safely handle packaged and unpackaged meat products.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, which may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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