General Store Clerk

Store Clerk Job Description

Updated 1/23/24 by Chris Dilley

Purpose

To drive sales and support the goals of the co-op by ensuring fully stocked shelves while providing the highest standards of customer service. When needed, quickly, accurately and efficiently process register transactions, and bag groceries effectively and in a friendly manner.

Status

• Reports To: Department Manager or General Manager
• Status: Non-exempt; Full time or Part time, depending on the Co-op's needs
• Pay Rate: Starts at $14 per hour Part time, or $15 per hour Full time, $16 per hour for coordinators and leads

Essential Responsibilities and Functions

Customer Experience

• Exceed our customers’ expectations for service and provide a clean, organized, inclusive store environment and store experience for all people, in accordance with the Co-op’s customer service standards.
• Provide outstanding internal and external customer service: consistent, prompt, friendly, courteous and professional.
• Ensure quick response to customer questions and concerns. Maintain communication through the customer comment box and other methods as directed.
• Maintain a calm and friendly attitude with all customers and in all situations, striving to deescalate challenging situations with the support of the store team.
• Inform customers of co-op information, for example new products, specials, educational materials, and upcoming events.
• Understand and communicate the ‘cooperative difference’ and the particulars of membership to shoppers and staff alike.
• Work to advance the mission of the Co-op through outstanding service to everyone we touch every day.

Communications

• Communicate honestly, openly and respectfully with everyone in the organization; ensure that you have been understood.
• Stay informed by consistently reading and responding to all forms of communication from others; emails, time clock messages, texts, logbooks.
• Communicate needs promptly and efficiently.
• Resolve conflicts promptly; ask for assistance as needed.

Department Operations

Center Store (pkg grocery, bulk, wellness, beer/wine, frozen)

• Stock, rotate, front and face all displays and shelves.
• Check product condition and invoice accuracy on all deliveries.
• Coordinate storage of items for return with supervisor.
• Participate in re-sets as requested.
• Process invoices according established guidelines.
• Properly dispose un-sellable items.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisory personnel.

Fresh Departments (produce, meat, seafood, dairy, refrigerated)

• Abundantly stock, artistically arrange, rotate, front and face displays and shelves, always putting the best face of the product forward.
• Properly set up and break down wet rack.
• Constantly maintain wet rack, cleaning as directed.
• Trim and cull produce.
• Repack and label fresh items as needed, ensuring correct weights and pricing.
• Keep all product properly stocked and rotated.
• Check dates and pull product as needed.
• Receive deliveries according to department standards.
• Process invoices according established guidelines.
• Participate in re-sets as requested.
• Properly dispose un-sellable items.
• Coordinate storage of items for return with supervisor.
• Advise immediate supervisor of equipment repair/replacement needs.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisory personnel.

Front End

• Adhere to all training manual contents.
• Accurately operate cash register.
• Ensure security of money by following all established procedures.
• Bag groceries according to established guidelines.
• Retrieve carts from parking lot and return to cart corral.
• Maintain cleanliness of all workspaces.
• Properly dispose of unsellable items.
• Advise immediate supervisor of equipment repair and supply needs.
• Refer unanswered product questions to the appropriate department or employee.
• Assist with cashier or customer service training as requested.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisory personnel.

Personnel

• Adhere to all policy manual contents.
• Wear proper clothing in accordance with the Co-op dress Code during shift, including nametag.
• Coordinate break schedules to support staff while ensuring an excellent customer experience.
• Assist in inventory counts, storewide cleaning, and other projects as needed.
• Attend department meetings and training as requested.
• Participate in evaluations as requested.

Sanitation, Safety and Security

• Ensure that department display units, coolers, work areas, storage areas, and sales floor are clean and orderly.
• Use equipment and materials properly in a safe manner that will not lead to injury of self or others.
• Ensure equipment repair and maintenance is communicated to appropriate personnel and adjust until equipment has been improved.
• Protect the safety of self, co-workers, and Co-op customers at all times.
• Report any potentially harmful equipment or situations to co-op management without delay.
• Report safety-related accidents and incidents immediately to co-op management.
• Follow all safety policies and procedures outlined in the Emergency Preparedness Manual and other SOPs as needed.
• Follow all safe food handling guidelines as required by local, state, and federal laws.

General Professionalism

• Model high standard of customer service.
• Uphold all DPFC policies.
• Minimize absences and be punctual.
• Disseminate ideas, proposals and other information in a clear, effective and timely manner.
• Take frequent opportunities to recognize good work.
• Maintain positive relationships with outside professionals.
• Perform other duties and work as assigned.

The qualifications, responsibilities and job duties listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that an employee may be required to do. Detroit People’s Food Co-op reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and require that employees perform other tasks deemed necessary based on competitive, financial or environmental considerations.

Physical Job Requirements

The physical requirements described here are those that an employee must meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to use computer keyboard, monitor, mouse, telephone, and various office equipment continuously.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds frequently.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to be present and working in assigned area for up to 3 hours without rest.
• Ability to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, climb stairs or ladder.
• Ability to reach above shoulder height occasionally.
• Ability to talk and hear to communicate with customers.
• Finger and hand dexterity with ability to grasp and hold items of different sizes.
• Vision ability – close, distance, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Ability to read register screen and product and shelf labels.

Working Conditions

The work environment described here is representative of the conditions an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Frequent exposure to cold, hot, wet or humid conditions.
• Exposure to fumes, airborne particles, hazardous materials ranging from natural to chemical (store products, cleaning products, scents from working in a public setting).
• Exposure to and potential handling of fresh foods including meats and seafood.
• Handling objects that have been handled by the public.
• Frequently performs work standing on cement floors at the cash register.
• May work occasionally in temperature extremes (walk-in freezer, outside warehouse, hot kitchen, etc.).
• Noise level in the store is usually moderate to loud.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• Ability to work well with others in a cooperative environment
• Good communication and listening skills
• Ability to provide superior customer service
• Attention to detail
• Follow through with delegated tasks
• Basic math skills
• Comfort with technology-register functions, scanning technology
• Remain calm under pressure
• Accept direction willingly