Fresh Merchandising Operations Lead

Coborn's is hiring a Fresh Merchandising Operations Lead to support the successful execution and continuous improvement of all merchandising programs within their assigned Fresh department. Operating from the Coborn's Support Center in St. Cloud, MN, your role will bridge strategy and execution-translating category direction into operationally sound programs that deliver sales, margin, and shrink results in stores.

If you have a passion for training, you will develop Fresh Department merchandising tools and training content and partners with the Training Lead and Store Operations leadership to ensure consistent understanding and adoption across all locations. You will influence execution outcomes through partnership and collaboration with Store Operations.

If you have a passion for leading and training other and enjoy the world of fresh merchandising, join our team today!

Fresh Department Readiness & Execution Leadership:

• Serve as the operational lead and primary support-center contact for the assigned Fresh department (e.g., Produce, Meat, Deli, Bakery, or Floral).
• Translate Fresh department strategies into executable plans, ensuring operational readiness and alignment with Store Operations.
• Monitor Fresh department performance metrics (sales, shrink, waste, compliance) and drive improvement actions in partnership with the Category Manager and Store Operations leaders.

Program Coordination & Rollout:

• Manage the end-to-end coordination of Fresh department merchandising programs, including seasonal events, new item introductions, and display transitions.
• Develop and distribute clear execution instructions, calendars, and store communication in collaboration with Category, Space, and Marketing teams.
• Ensure that all Fresh department initiatives are operationally feasible and aligned with company standards and timing.

Compliance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement:

• Monitor store-level compliance data, audit findings, and exception reports for the assigned department.
• Identify execution gaps or recurring issues and partner with Store Operations and Category leadership to develop corrective plans.
• Track completion of corrective actions and document improvements for future planning cycles.

Shrink & Waste Management:

• Analyze shrink and waste trends within the assigned department and identify root causes tied to merchandising execution.
• Collaborate with Finance, Category, and Store Operations to reduce product loss through improved operational practices and display management.
• Support the development of tools and guides that improve store teams' ability to manage product freshness and rotation.

Tools, Process, & Communication Enablement:

• Develop and maintain Fresh department category-specific execution tools, visual playbooks, and training materials (job aids, quick-reference guides, videos, and presentation decks) used to communicate program standards to store teams.
• Partner with the Training Lead to translate technical and merchandising content into clear, engaging field-training resources.
• Ensure that all training content and execution tools are accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with operational processes, food-safety requirements, and merchandising objectives.
• Collect feedback from Store Operations and the Training Lead to refine and simplify training content for future use.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence:

• Act as the key liaison between the assigned Category Manager/Director and Store Operations.
• Influence Store Operations leaders by using data, insights, and clear communication to drive execution excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Category, Space, Marketing, Finance) to ensure program feasibility and store readiness.

What's In It For Me?

Our remarkable employees are at the heart of everything we do. At Coborn's, we're committed to creating a supportive and rewarding workplace-one that offers a vibrant, team-oriented environment, ongoing career growth, and meaningful benefits. As an employee-owned company, we believe in investing in our people and their futures.

We're proud to offer a variety of benefits to both our full-time and part-time employees, including:

• 10% employee discount on grocery items, with additional franchise-specific discounts available at company owned Ace Hardware, Caribou Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert's, and Pet Supplies Plus locations.
• Get Paid Daily with DailyPay - for employees who would like access to their pay before payday, we offer this great benefit!
• Paid Time Off (PTO/Vacation)
• Paid Floating Holidays & time and a half (1 ) paid for hours worked on a company-recognized holiday!
• Sunday Premium Pay - an extra $1 per hour for hours worked on Sundays (some exclusions apply)
• Paid Military Leave
• Employee recognition programs with monetary rewards including in-store vouchers, years of service, and employee of the month
• Employee Health & Wellness Programs, Challenges and Resources - to assist our team members in living a life of wellbeing!
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - unlimited phone access to legal, financial, and work-life services and up to five free in-person counseling sessions, per situation/issue, per year
• Access to a national discount marketplace for travel, electronics, auto/home insurance , entertainment and more!
• Tools, resources and opportunities for career growth and development
• 401(k) plan options - we also match up to 20% of the first 5% contributed
• Participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) - yes, we're employee-owned! Our team members benefit from the success of the company through this company-sponsored benefit!
• Education benefits including tuition discount and scholarship programs
• Additional Voluntary Benefits - such as vision, accident and critical illness insurances

If you're hired or promoted into a full-time position with our company, you will also be eligible for: Medical & Dental Insurance, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Adoption Reimbursement, Paid Family Caregiver Leave, as well as company-sponsored Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, and Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance!

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Merchandising, Operations Management or related field preferred.
• Coursework or certification in retail operations, merchandising execution, or food safety preferred.
• 3-5 years experience in grocery retail merchandising, store operations, or category support, with emphasis on fresh departments.
• Proven ability to influence Store Operations and cross-functional teams from the Support Center to achieve execution and compliance results.
• Experience managing timelines, coordinating multiple programs, and partnering with Category and Store Operations.
• Knowledge of food safety and merchandising standards required.

Are you friendly, dependable, and passionate about working with people? At Coborn's, Inc., we love serving our guests, supporting our communities, and helping our team members grow their careers. If you're looking for a place where you can build a future while making a positive impact every day, we'd love to talk to you about joining our team!

Coborn's, Inc. is a fast-growing, employee-owned grocery retailer proudly serving communities across the Midwest. Our family of grocery stores includes Coborn's, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher's, Tadych's Marketplace Foods, Sullivan's Foods, and Kessler's. We offer our guests an elevated shopping experience-both in-store and online-focused on freshness, value, and convenience. Guided by our company vision to inspire happiness, healthy living, and simplicity, this principle has fueled our growth for more than 100 years and is at the heart of everything we do.

Coborn's, Inc. also owns and operates liquor stores under the Coborn's Liquor, Cash Wise Liquor, Andy's Liquor, and Captain Jack's brands. In addition, we operate fuel kiosks and convenience store locations under the Little Dukes and Coborn's Express names. Many of our grocery stores also feature full-service pharmacies to support the health and wellness of our guests. We manage a variety of other retail businesses in markets where the fit is right, including Ace Hardware, Country Floral Gifts & Greenhouse, Caribou Coffee, Dunn Brothers Coffee, Erbert and Gerbert's, Godfather's Pizza, and Pet Supplies Plus. To support our diverse retail operations, we operate our own central bakery, fresh foods commissary, and grocery warehouse and distribution center.