Durban: Fresh/Service Department Manager

Key Responsibilities: Department Oversight & Operations: Oversee day-to-day operations for all assigned departments, ensuring smooth, efficient service, and high standards of product quality and customer satisfaction. Product Range & Market Understanding: Have a deep understanding of the local customer base and target market. Use this knowledge to implement and adjust product ranges to meet customer preferences, seasonal demand, and trends. Team Management & Training: Lead, motivate, and develop department staff, ensuring they are trained on best practices for product knowledge, customer service, and food safety. Create a positive work environment and encourage collaboration across departments. Stock Control & Inventory Management: Oversee stock levels, ordering, and inventory management to avoid wastage while ensuring sufficient stock is available. Monitor stock rotation to maintain freshness. Sales & Profitability: Drive sales growth within the departments by setting clear goals, identifying opportunities for upselling, and ensuring competitive pricing and promotions. Regularly assess financial performance and work to maximize profitability. Customer Engagement & Feedback: Maintain a strong focus on customer service, engaging with customers to gather feedback, address concerns, and improve offerings. Implement strategies to increase customer loyalty and satisfaction. Health & Safety & Compliance: Ensure all departments comply with relevant health and safety regulations, food safety standards, and company policies. Conduct regular audits and implement improvements where necessary. Visual Merchandising & Store Presentation: Ensure that the departments are visually appealing, clean, and well-organized. Collaborate with the marketing team on promotions, seasonal displays, and in-store signage. Product Knowledge & Innovation: Stay current with industry trends and competitor offerings, bringing innovative product ideas to the table to keep the departments fresh and exciting for customers. Collaboration with Other Managers: Work closely with the store management team, ensuring alignment across all departments. Participate in meetings and strategy sessions to drive overall store performance. Requirements: Experience with range planning and product curation in fresh food sectors. Previous experience in a similar multi-department management role. Proven experience in management, ideally within the supermarket or retail food sector. Strong understanding of local market demographics and customer preferences. Excellent leadership skills with experience in managing and motivating a diverse team. Strong business acumen with the ability to drive sales, manage budgets, and optimize stock. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Solid understanding of food safety and health & safety regulations. Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Proficient in Microsoft Office and any relevant supermarket management software. Flexibility in working hours, including weekends and holidays as required. Strong attention to detail with a passion for fresh food. Proactive problem-solver with excellent decision-making skills. Adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-changing environment. Customer-focused with a high level of professionalism.