How to hire a grocery manager

How to hire a grocery manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step grocery manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a grocery manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new grocery manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your grocery manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a grocery manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A grocery manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, grocery managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of grocery managers.

   Type of Grocery Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Grocery Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$12-25
   Team Lead/Manager	A team lead or manager is a professional who is responsible for guiding and directing employees so that they can achieve efficient operations within the organization. Team leads manage all the activities of their employees and distribute information to them as well as stakeholders... Show more	$25-69
   Department Manager	Department managers oversee the operations of the department they are assigned to. They manage all aspects of the operation, including finance, sales, quality control, and human resources... Show more	$18-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • Food Safety
   • Role Model
   • Wine
   • Math
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Complaints
   • Customer Service
   • Front End
   • Good Communication
   • Store Operations
   • Store Management
   • Inventory Control
   • Sales Floor

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Direct and manage all functions of the dairy department including departmental ordering using an RF system.
   • Manage dairy levels in store, maintaining inventory levels
   • Create displays; print and run tags/signs.
   • Have ran the general merchandise department to insure fully stock by morning.
   • Break down pallets, rotate stock, discard outdate or damage products.
   • Oversee general appearance of sales area, backroom and store OSHA conditions and compliance.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your grocery manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A grocery manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, grocery managers' average salary in maine is 58% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level grocery managers earn 53% less than senior-level grocery managers.
   • Certifications. A grocery manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a grocery manager's salary.

   Average grocery manager salary

   $36,769yearly

   $17.68 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level grocery manager salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a grocery manager job description

   A grocery manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a grocery manager job description:

   Grocery manager job description example

   The position starts between $750-$800 weekly.

   Benefits include

   Employee discount

   Retirement plans 401K and ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).

   Health, Dental, Vision and additional insurance options

   Paid Vacation, Personal days, and Holidays

   FLSA Status - Exempt
   Supervises Other Employees - Yes
   Trains Other Employees
   
   Requirements
   · EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma or General Education Degree(GED) and two(2) to four(4) years related experience and/or training.

   · LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions for equipment, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. The ability to speak effectively to our customers and employees.

   · MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest and percentages.

   · REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
   Management Responsibilities

   Essential Job Responsibilities

   · Achieve goals set for the department in sales and gross profit.
   · Maintain supply control, payroll expenses and inventory controls.
   · Maintain transaction report: invoices, transfers, inventories, etc.
   · Follow through on correct accounting procedures: invoices, transfers, inventories, etc.
   · Responsible for ordering sufficient quantities product and correctly pricing.
   · Responsible for the quality and freshness of product with proper rotation and temperature maintenance.
   · Directs the stocking, display and rotation of the Produce in the selling area, making sure that seasonal items, sale items and demand items are properly displayed and with eye appeal to the customer.
   · Work with the Store Manager and Produce Specialist in regards to merchandising, planning and scheduling, sales trends, potential problems and potential improvements.
   · Maintain sanitation standards as established by the Company and by State and Federal regulations.
   · Responsible to see that all Produce Department employees follow policies and procedures as outlined by the company.
   · Responsible for proper and preventative maintenance of all company equipment in his/her department.
   · Responsible to obey all safety standards as outlined by the company.
   · Cooperate with other departments when inter-department or store wide sales promotions take place.
   · Perform other appropriate duties as directed by the Assistant Store Manager or Store Manager.
   

   Supervisory Responsibilities

   · Directly supervises employees in the Produce Department.
   · Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organizations policies and applicable laws.
   · Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring and training employees planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

   JB.0.00.LN

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right grocery manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with grocery managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit grocery managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your grocery manager job on Zippia to find and recruit grocery manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit grocery managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new grocery manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect grocery manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new grocery manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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