Retail Operator Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Now Hiring Retail Specialist in Chicago, IL!

About Us: Empire Marketing Strategies has been a leader in delivering exceptional in-store execution for over 40 years, enhancing the customer experience in grocery retail. Operating in all 18 Kroger divisions across the U.S., we partner with some of the world's top brands to optimize their presence in over 2,500 store locations. Our team thrives on tackling diverse challenges in the fast-paced retail industry. We value dedication, talent, and a passion for excellence.

Why Join Us?

• Flexible, M-F Work Schedule, 9 Holidays off
• Earn a competitive salary plus 80% employer-covered benefits
• Full-Time Associates: Eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability coverage, a retirement program, mental health support, paid time off, and 9 paid holidays annually.
• Part-Time Associates: Eligible for our retirement program and access to mental health support resources
• A dynamic work environment where you’ll make a real impact.

Job Summary:

Empire supports Meat/Seafood, Deli/Bakery, Produce, and Grocery suppliers in the Kroger stores which includes calling on all the stores in assigned territory within the established call frequency. The Retail Specialist will sell and ensure best in class in store merchandising to include building displays, packing out product, and replenishing permanent secondary displays and maintain salability of all authorized items.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

• Shelf Maintenance
• Product Analysis & Reporting
• Promotional Display Maintenance
• Customer Support and Training
• Other Administrative Duties
• Physical Requirements

Core Functions:

• Shelf Maintenance
• Rotate product as required by manufacturer for perishable merchandise and for merchandise requiring freshness checks.
• Conduct regular checks of store shelf tags to ensure continued distribution and assist with reordering of product.
• Ensure that all retail objectives and shelf standards are met and maintained in assigned territory.
• Keep sections set to customer’s schematic or stocking plan as is required or beneficial to manufacturer or clients.
• Maintain 100% distribution of all manufacturer-client products approved by the Kroger family of companies or Planogram (POG) team.
• Sell and service all principal accounts represented by Empire to ensure all the authorized items are on shelf and priced and tagged properly.
• Product Analysis & Reporting
• Maintain and update all territorial records.
• Carefully review all sales reports to maintain awareness of progress toward assigned goals.
• Maintain competitive awareness and promptly report all information through proper channels.
• Report completely and on time using forms supplied and with the frequency requested.
• Utilization of reporting tools such as PowerBI or Go Spot Check to report on specific goals and targets.
• Promotional Display Maintenance
• Set up displays of manufacturer or client brands while working within the guidelines of customer regulations and manufacturer/client display objectives.
• Coordinate activities and cooperate with Operations regarding the execution of promotional programs, including reporting and future order requirements.
• Execute point-of-sale material and Instant Redeemable Coupons to stores as required by the manufacturer or client and approved by the retailer.
• Customer Support and Training
• Establish and maintain rapport with all store personnel in assigned territories.
• Perform training demonstrations for customer employees regarding proper preparation and/or display of product.
• Other Administrative Duties
• Timely communication requirements including email and telephone.
• Maintain territory files and company owned office equipment.
• Attend and participate in all scheduled company meetings.
• Exercise expense control within guidelines.
• Other duties as required.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Driver’s License and clean Motor Vehicle Report required.
• 1-2 years of CPG/grocery/retail industry related experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel regularly between work sites.
• Additional travel as needed, which may include overnight stays.
• Prolonged periods of standing – 80% of the time.
• Ability to change positions between sitting, squatting, standing and kneeling on a regular basis.
• Regular lifting and moving up to 25-35 pounds from one location to another, sometimes several feet away from each other.
• Occasional lifting and moving up to 40-60 pounds from one location to another, sometimes several feet away from each other.
• Regular use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to see objects, information on computer screens, and/or view written information, from distances of 20-40 feet.

Tools and Equipment:

• Regular operation of a personal motor vehicle to and from work sites.
• Regular operation of manual pallet jacks and hand trucks on work sites.
• MS Excel

Work Environment:

• Duties are typically performed in a retail grocery store setting, which could include refrigerated or freezer environments.
• Also required to be in outside facilities, including but not limited to, customer warehouses, kitchens, and manufacturer-client facilities, all of which require more safety precautions than a normal office environment.
• Noise levels – typically moderate.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to write clear and concise correspondence.
• Ability to accurately exchange information.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to be able to operate autonomously, with strong personal drive for results.
• Ability to effectively present information in one on one or group situations.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple to sometimes complex instructions, correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.