Deli Kitchen Manager

La Montanita Food Cooperative is a community-focused grocery store committed to providing high-quality, fresh, and sustainable products to its customers. With a strong emphasis on cooperative values, La Montanita fosters an inclusive and collaborative workplace environment that supports team members and prioritizes customer satisfaction. The cooperative operates in a unique retail sector focusing on local and organic products, aiming to enrich the community by offering nutritious food options alongside excellent customer service and educational opportunities regarding healthy living and sustainability. As a cooperative, it promotes shared ownership, democratic decision-making, and community involvement, which motivates employees to contribute positively and develop within their roles.

The role of Kitchen Manager at La Montanita Food Cooperative is a full-time position responsible for overseeing and directing the operations within the Deli Department. This role steps in during the absence of the Deli Department Team Leader and works closely under their guidance to maintain smooth day-to-day operations. The Kitchen Manager is integral to ensuring customers receive an exceptional experience characterized by high-quality products, knowledgeable service, and attentive customer care. They play an essential role in managing labor budgets, sales goals, margin control, and conducting team member training to optimize department performance.

This position involves leadership responsibilities, including supervising team members, facilitating performance management, and promoting positive workplace behavior aligned with the cooperative's values. The Kitchen Manager also develops and mentors their team, ensuring compliance with food safety and sanitation regulations, labor guidelines, and company policies. They actively participate in inventory management, ordering, merchandising, and maintaining product freshness to meet federal and local standards. Moreover, the Kitchen Manager is tasked with creating a welcoming environment where customers feel valued and informed through excellent communication and product knowledge.

Salary for this role ranges from $20.50 to $24.00 per hour, reflecting the combination of leadership responsibilities and specialized deli department experience required. The position demands strong organizational skills, a commitment to food safety certification, and proficiency in technology applications such as Microsoft Office. Overall, the Kitchen Manager contributes significantly to achieving La Montanita Food Cooperative's mission of fostering a sustainable food system and an engaged community through outstanding deli department management.