Cheese Manager

Description

The Cheese Manager oversees daily operations of the cheese department, including product selection, cutting & wrapping, merchandising, sanitation standards, and team leadership. This role blends deep product knowledge with strong operational skills to create exceptional customer experience and a distinctive, high-quality specialty foods department.

Key Responsibilities

Product Management & Merchandising

• Manage a broad and dynamic cheese assortment along with complementary products including crackers, nuts, jams, and spreads.
• Maintain attractive, well-organized displays; monitor for quality issues such as mold, damage, or improper storage.
• Hand-cut, portion, wrap, and label cheese to maintain product integrity and maximize yield.
• Research new products, trends, and seasonal opportunities; recommend additions to the assortment.
• Research new products, trends, and seasonal opportunities; recommend assortment updates and limited-time offerings.
• Ensure all promotional signage, tags, and displays are current, correctly placed, and aligned with advertised pricing.

Inventory & Ordering & Price Accuracy

• Coordinate inventory levels and order cheeses, crackers, and related items as needed.
• Conduct inventory counts and ensures accurate stock rotation (FIFO).
• Work with vendors to schedule demos, negotiate pricing, and manage promotional opportunities.
• Ensure all items are correctly tagged and priced, including PLUs, unit of measure, and promotional pricing.

Customer Service

• Provide expert guidance on cheese selection, pairings, and usage.
• Offer samples, respond to customer questions, and cut to order.
• Educate customers on product origins, flavor profiles, and serving recommendations.

Communication & Outreach

• Draft product descriptions and contribute to newsletters or digital content promoting cheese offerings.

Team Leadership

• Oversee team management including hiring, scheduling, training, and performance feedback.
• Build a strong, knowledgeable, customer-focused team.
• Maintain high standards for accuracy, safety, and professionalism.

Food Safety & Sanitation

• Ensure all cheese preparation, handling, and storage meet sanitation and regulatory standards.
• Maintain clean cutting, wrapping, and display areas at all times.
• Monitor and document compliance with internal and external food safety guidelines.

Required Skills:

• Strong knowledge of cheese styles, production techniques, and handling best practices.
• Proficiency in weights, measures, and yield optimization.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and remain organized during peak hours.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff.
• Comfort using POS systems, scales, labeling tools, and basic inventory software.

Who Are We?

Woodlands Market is a leader in gourmet retailing, service and innovation in the grocery industry. We are a flourishing Marin County-based employer who believes in supporting our community in many ways. One of these ways is to employ talented individuals from within our communities and surrounding areas. We currently operate grocery stores in Kentfield, Tiburon and San Francisco. We also operate a Pet Shop in San Francisco as well as an off-site kitchen in San Rafael.

We engage approximately 330 individuals on staff, many of whom have come to us with an in-depth knowledge of the specialty food industry. These members of our extended Woodlands family and their commitment to community, food, service and to each other are what set us apart from other grocery stores.

Who Are We Looking For?

At Woodlands Market, we are delighted to be able to share our passion for food and fresh produce with our customers. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are looking to continue your career alongside an awesome team, then join the family!

Benefits of working at Woodlands Market include:

• Competitive wages
• Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision Insurance*
• Full-time employees receive a generous benefits package including Health/Dental/Vision Insurance, 401(k), paid vacation and paid holidays
• Holiday premium pay for time worked on recognized holidays
• 35% employee store discount
• $50 subsidy towards non-slip shoes every 6 months.
• Aweso…