Advantage Solutions Looking for Merchandiser – Retail Grocery – Field Work at Reading, PA  Full Time

Training Specialist Fresh Foods

At our Company, we grow People, Brands, and Businesses! We are seeking a dedicated Training Specialist for Fresh Foods who will be assigned to a specific geography of customer’s retail locations and will function as a product expert in the proper handling, displaying, and preparation of our client’s products. This includes the certification of proper food handling guidelines and training from the customer’s training manuals. This individual will be the main go-to person within their assigned territory.

Take this opportunity to join North America’s leading business solutions provider and build your career working with amazing people in a growing industry! Apply today!

What we offer:

Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off

Responsibilities:

• Conduct Daily/Weekly training in handling of client Food Products with the assigned store personnel assigned to that particular store.
• Monitor Policies & Procedures which will include (updating training manuals).
• Make store calls to maintain an inventory of client products.
• Main Point of Contact for issues that may arise.
• Preparing food and use of Ovens, Fryers, Slicers, Scales, and other Equipment that may be present in the store locations.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required
• 2-3 Years of Experience in Retail Supermarket Fresh Departments (Deli, Bakery) or Food Service as a Lead Cooks/Meal Prep
• Intermediate knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Email, PowerPoint)
• 2+ Years of Training, Mentoring and Coaching Experience
• Ability to Travel up to 45% of the time (Overnight Travel Required at times)
• Multi-site (territory) experience Preferred

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Position Summary

The Specialist Fresh Foods will be assigned to a specific territory or geography of customer’s retail locations and will function as a product expert in the proper handling, displaying, and preparation of our client’s products primarily in the perimeter of the store. This includes the certification of proper food handling guidelines and training from the customer/client training manuals on various food preparation equipment.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct continuous training or assistance in the handling of the client’s products with store personnel due to turnover and monitor policies and procedures being adhered to on store calls. Preparations include training manuals and the use of ovens, fryers, slicers, scales, and any other such equipment that may be in a store location as part of the training or assistance process.

• Make store calls to check distribution, tags, out of stocks, voids, and correct any conditions that exist where necessary.

• Stock client’s products to the shelf if necessary on store calls to work closely with department employees in grand openings, reset cases, program roll outs along with filing associated paperwork from checklists.

• Engages in client interaction that may include; conducting retail rides both in the preparation and presentation, actively participate in client meetings, assist in client presentations from a headquarter, regional and local level, provide written or oral reports on the overall state of business in the territory and participate in discussions on how to improve the business in the market.

• Assist or train personnel in preparation of and during Grand Openings

• Assist store personnel in getting product back to shelf if out of stock situations occur; this may include assisting behind the counter as part of training employees.

• Act as client expert in the event of quality issues that may crop up, report any such quality issues back to Supervisors, and take steps that are communicated to correct existing issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct reports

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities

Indirect reports

Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction, and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

• Travel and Driving is an essential duty and function of this job
• Travel up to 45%

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED required
• At least 2-3 years of experience in retail supermarket’s fresh departments- meat, deli, bakery, produce or comparable food service experience in a kitchen environment
• May need to have current Food Handlers Certification (licensed by the State)
• Previous experience training, mentoring, and/or coaching is a plus

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, and Software/Tools

• Strong written communication and verbal communication skills
• Excellent customer service orientation
• Ability to develop strategic plans to grow the business
• Ability to work independently and prioritize duties with minimal supervision, in order to meet deadlines
• Team building Skills
• Basic computer skills including familiarity with Word, Excel, and Internet usage

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Field / Administrative Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work may be performed in an office, field, retail store, or warehouse environment. Typically requires the ability to spend 66%+ hours each work day doing the following activities: engage in considerable physical activity, ability to lift and/or push up to 50 pounds, stand on feet for long periods of time, use products or cook food as appropriate for the demonstration, and may be required to work in extremely cold conditions (i.e. refrigerated and freezer sections). Also required to travel and drive. The use of proper safety practices when handling the products and/or cooking is essential.

Additional Information Regarding The Company Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes. Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.