Assistant Store Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Us

We are a family-owned and operated neighborhood grocery store in Chicago, proudly serving our community with fresh foods, Latino grocery products, everyday essentials, and friendly customer service. Our 20,000 square foot store includes grocery, bakery, butcher, hot and ready foods, cold bar, alcohol, and fresh food departments.

We are looking for a hands-on leader who enjoys working alongside employees, building strong relationships, and helping create an outstanding shopping experience for our customers every day.

Reports to: Store Owner

Position Summary

The Assistant Store Manager is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of our neighborhood grocery store. This hands-on leadership role helps ensure excellent customer service, efficient operations, strong employee performance, and well-stocked, clean, and safe departments throughout the store. The Assistant Store Manager partners closely with the Store Owner and department leads to maintain high operating standards while supporting continued business growth.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily store operations across grocery, bakery, butcher/meat, hot foods, cold bar, alcohol, and other departments.
• Prepare employee schedules to ensure appropriate staffing levels while managing labor costs.
• Supervise department leads and store employees during daily operations.
• Foster a positive, respectful, and accountable workplace through clear communication, coaching, and consistent leadership.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Respond to customer complaints and resolve issues respectfully and efficiently.
• Work with vendors on orders, deliveries, credits, pricing, and product issues.
• Check merchandise, displays, inventory levels, product rotation, and store presentation.
• Help reduce shrink, waste, out-of-stocks, and unnecessary labor costs.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and safety throughout the store.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and all applicable food safety, sanitation, health department, OSHA, and alcohol sales regulations.
• Support fresh food departments, including bakery, meat, hot foods, and cold bar.
• Communicate daily priorities clearly to employees.
• Report operational issues, staffing needs, and vendor concerns to the Store Owner.
• Help maintain a positive, respectful, and productive work environment.
• Open and close the store as scheduled, ensuring operational and security procedures are followed.
• Assist with moving products, supplies, and merchandise as needed during daily operations.

Requirements

• Must be bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Previous management experience in grocery, supermarket, food retail, restaurant, meat market, or high-volume retail required.
• Experience supervising employees and creating schedules.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build rapport, trust, and open communication with employees and direct reports.
• Ability to set clear expectations, hold employees accountable, and support team performance.
• Strong customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle customer complaints and employee issues calmly and professionally.
• Basic understanding of inventory, merchandising, ordering, and vendor relations.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and health department standards.
• Must be dependable, punctual, organized, and hands-on.
• Must be available to work weekends, holidays, and flexible hours as needed.
• Ability to lift, move, or carry up to 30 pounds as needed for store operations, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of management experience preferred.
• Experience with fresh food departments such as meat, bakery, deli, hot foods, cold bar, or produce.
• Experience hiring, training, and developing employees.
• Experience with Latino grocery products, vendors, or customer base.
• Polish language proficiency is a plus, but not required.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification preferred. If not currently certified, candidates must be willing to obtain certification after hire. The company will provide training and cover the cost of certification.
• Alcohol sales compliance experience preferred.
  

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Health insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave
• Growth opportunities within a growing company
  

Work Environment

This is a hands-on store management position in a busy grocery store environment. The role may require standing, walking, bending, lifting, moving merchandise, and assisting departments during busy periods. The Assistant Store Manager should be comfortable working throughout the store, supporting employees, and helping maintain a clean, safe, organized, and welcoming shopping environment.