Sr. Center Store Manager

ABOUT FESTIVAL FOODS:

At Festival, people are at the top of our list. You’ll see it in everything from our daily interactions to how we treat our guests – even in our extensive associate benefits and programs.

Job Title: Sr. Center Store Manager

Reports to: Store Director

Direct Reports: Center Store Manager(s), Wine & Spirits Manager, Lead Receiver, Center Store 3^rd Shift Supervisor

Indirect Reports: Center Store Assistant Manager(s), Center Store Assistant Manager-PM, Center Store Associates, Wine & Spirits Assistant Manager, Center Store 3^rd Shift Stockers

SUMMARY:

The Center Store Senior Manager provides strategic in-store leadership across Grocery, Frozen Food/Dairy, Natural/Organic, HBC/GM, Wine & Spirits and Receiving departments, ensuring alignment with storewide and company objectives. This role focuses on future-oriented planning, overseeing inventory management, vendor coordination, and department standards while directly leading the Center Store Manager, Lead Receiver, 3^rd Shift Center Store Manager, and Wine & Spirits Manager and providing indirect leadership to department Assistant Manager(s) and Associate(s) to drive operational execution. This role supports overall store operations by stepping in as acting Store Director when needed, managing storewide functions and covering store calls.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee Center Store, W&S, and Receiving Operations: Lead, coach, and develop Center Store associates across Grocery, Frozen Food/Dairy, HBC/GM, Wine and Spirits, and Receiving departments while ensuring department goals, policies, and procedures are met.
• Total Store Leadership: Serve as Acting Store Director as needed, including covering store calls and overseeing storewide operations.
• Develop Future Leaders: Train and mentor department leaders and associates, fostering growth and preparing helping them prepare for future advancement opportunities.
• Strategic Planning & Organization: Provide expertise and focused planning, ensuring efficiency in scheduling, balancing orders and vendor coordination across departments.
• Enhance Guest Experience: Set high expectations for customer service and department standards, ensuring all areas meet helpfulness and in-stock benchmarks.
• Oversee Scheduling: Finalize and approve weekly work schedules in alignment with labor and budget projections, making daily adjustments as needed for Center Store departments.
• Drive Inventory & Merchandising Excellence: Maintain proper inventory levels, ensure accurate pricing, and execute strong display standards for in-line, end caps, seasonal programs, etc.
• Cashier Trained: Ready to step in at the register, and support store closing procedures.
• Build Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with the Store Director, Guest Service Manager, Fresh Sr. Manager, and department teams to align on overarching programs, store initiatives, and operational improvements.
• Lead by Example: Train new Center Store, Receiving, and Wine & Spirits associates while fostering a positive, team-oriented environment.
• Vendor Partnership: Guides Wine & Spirits Manager and Center Store Leaders in maintaining appropriate inventory levels and ensuring accurate pricing on products received and sold.
• Ensure Compliance & Safety: Uphold safety policies, company procedures, and regulatory standards to maintain a safe and efficient store environment.
• Honor Commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences.
• Support the Team: Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• High school education or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience (at least 2 years as a Manager in retail or restaurant), with a strong ability to coach, motivate, and develop teams.
• Thorough knowledge of the retail food business, with experience in grocery or supermarket operations.  Prior experience managing a center store department preferred.
• Strong decision-making skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively lead diverse teams and interact with customers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and ability to learn and use various systems, including Point-Of-Sale register system.
• Understanding of store safety policies and ability to identify potential hazards.
• Ability to learn and safely use the following equipment:  power jack, walk behind lift, WAV, baler, compactor. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

• The associate must possess the ability to stand in place for long periods of time; walk in the store; bend, stoop and kneel regularly.  Requires fine finger and broad manual dexterity, and eye-hand-foot coordination in order to operate equipment. 
• The associate must have full range of upper body motion in order to lift stock.  Requires the ability to perform repetitive tasks for prolonged periods of time.
• Must possess functional sensory abilities in order to visually monitor the store, create attractive displays, and to operate equipment.
• The position requires the associate to lift up 50-60 pounds on an occasional basis.
• This role requires working in varying temperatures and humidity levels, moving between temperature-controlled areas, freezers, coolers, and the receiving area, with occasional outdoor tasks to inspect store property.

WORK SCHEDULE:

The Center Store Sr. Manager is a full-time position.  The work schedule will include mornings, afternoons (mid-shift), evenings (with ability to support closing shift), weekends, and holidays. 

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE: