Quest Outreach Society is looking for the newest member of our Head Office Team. As District Market Manager your job will be to support the overall operations of Quest’s five Grocery Markets located across Metro Vancouver. If you’re an experienced supervisor of people with a background in food retail and food logistics and carry a passion for food security, then this role is for you!
About You: You are an experienced manager who can maintain high standards of efficiency, operations and beautification of our markets while, at the same time, supporting the staff who work day-to-day in each market. Your strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple priorities make you an invaluable asset to any team. The ideal candidate will bring with them team supervision and high standards for client service.
About Quest: Quest Outreach Society exists to disrupt cycles of food insecurity through access to healthy and affordable food. By bridging the gap between food banks and grocery stores, Quest provides a shopping experience for those in need based on principles of dignity, access and sustainability. Quest believes in a grocery model that simultaneously supports the community while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A leader in redistribution, we work to actively redirect healthy, good food that would otherwise end up in the landfill and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Almost all of Quest’s food is donated by local food partners from across British Columbia and delivered across our five Lower Mainland markets at reduced cost to our client communities. Quest’s five grocery markets are located in Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, East Vancouver, and the Downtown Eastside.
Duties & Responsibilities: Reporting directly to the Director of Food Logistics and working closely with our Manager of Food Logistics, the District Market Manager works with the senior leadership team to ensure our markets are meeting expectations and delivering high standards of service. The District Market Manager is responsible for assisting with operations and performance of Quest’s five grocery markets across Metro Vancouver.
This position will be responsible for the following:
Market Operations & Performance:
- Responsible for ensuring each market has the required resources to serve Quest’s clients
- Demonstrate exemplary customer service across Quest’s markets
- Implement market security protocols and enhancements
- Monitor weekly, monthly and year-to-date cost recovery data (provided via report) for all markets and lead/engage discussion of appropriate action to ensure that cost recovery targets are met and exceeded
- Rotate schedule between in-office and market visits on a daily basis to ensure that duties are performed in a consistent manner
- Maintain regular communication with Director of Food Logistics and between markets and distribution regarding all aspects of food cost recovery and operations
- Daily monitoring of product viability and product selection across all Markets
- In conjunction with Director of Food Logistics, action product transfers between Markets as required with Distribution Team
- Establish weekly/daily pricing per categories and maintain consistent pricing across all Markets
- Continue to optimize operations and beautification of all market-related spaces including repair/maintenance needs and raise with Director of Food Logistics as needed
- Assist Director of Food Logistics with market moves, temporary relocations and establishment of new markets should the opportunity arise
- Recommend strategies and tactics to limit food waste and/or compost
- Liaison with the Repack Department on incoming products to the markets
- Ensure all signage/wayfinding is up to date within Quest Marketing Brand guidelines across all markets
Staffing, Training & Recruitment:
- Document health and safety of market employees raised and prioritized with the Director of Food Logistics including any arising operational issues
- Maintain oversight of Market Managers scheduling budgets and make recommendations regarding market hours and staffing to the Director of Food Logistics
- Assume Market Manager’s role to cover vacation and absences at the market
- Ensure adequate staffing issues and staffing challenges are raised with Director of Food Logistics
- Assist Managers with recruitment and training of new Market Clerks
- Ensure performance reviews are completed in time with all Market employees with support from Director of Food Logistics
Quality Control:
- Maintain knowledge about food safety standards that are customary within the food industry and monitor and ensure all required and legislated standards including sanitation and Canadian Food Inspection Guidelines are being met
- Monitor markets and ensure that food is inspected, sorted, stored and rotated so that food distributed meets standards for nutritional quality and product condition
- Monitor food recalls and communicate as needed to Market Managers
- Monitor best-before-dates and other requirements of inventory at Market level
- Communicate with Markets daily and collaborate with Distribution Centre regarding outbound products to markets
- Plan, set and perform monthly audits (temperature control, loss audits, cash audits) at all markets and document results for reporting purposes
- Monitor and, in collaboration with the Director of Food Logistics, ensure all Markets meet Health and Safety and Work Safe BC standards
Pricing & Inventory:
- Maintain oversight of central product pricing, as determined by the Director of Food Logistics, ensuring consistency throughout the markets
- Communicate with markets about new products including price, ingredients, purchasing limits, etc. as needed
- Address inventory and merchandising market needs as they arise
Other Tasks/Assignments:
- Participate in training and workshop opportunities as required and directed by Quest Senior Management
- Undertake special projects as required
Required Skills & Experience:
- Must have a vehicle and valid BC driver’s license in order to make market visits
- Exceptional communications and writing skills
- 3+ years in a supervisory position
- A team player with excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work well under pressure and to tight timelines
- Familiarity with the food and grocery sector
- Patient and compassionate and able to work with vulnerable individuals
Nice-to-Haves:
- Post-secondary education or training that supports the skills and expertise required
- Understanding of Quest’s grocery model
- Working knowledge of CFIA labelling requirements for “best before”, “expiry dates” and nutrition labeling
- Current Food Safe Level 1 certification
- Food related discipline or food quality safety standards an asset
- Passion and/or familiarity with issues related to food security, food justice, and food economics.
Compensation & Commitment:
This is a full-time position with Quest. The annual salary range proposed for this role is between $57,000 and $62,000, depending on previous experience and qualifications. This role also includes a competitive benefits package, fuel stipend and three weeks’ paid vacation. This position is based out of Quest Head Office, 2020 Dundas Street in Vancouver, BC.
The District Market Manager will be expected to visit our market locations three days per week and check-ins with market management covered by the fuel stipend upon mileage approval by the Director of Food Logistics.
Application Deadline: April 21, 2024
Proposed Start Date: May 6, 2024
To Apply:
Please include the following in an email with the subject heading: “Quest District Market Manager” to Quest’s HR Manager, Diana Pemberton at [email protected].
- Your resume
- Your cover letter, in approximately 200 words, describing your experience and interest in working with Quest
We recognize the importance of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from Indigenous people, women, LGBTQIA+ people, people of colour, people with disabilities, and people who identify as neurodiverse.
If there are any accommodations we can provide to make our hiring process more accessible, or if you have ideas for improving our hiring process, please reach out to us directly. We’d be happy to do our best to set you up for success.
After You Apply:
We appreciate the time, consideration and effort of all applicants. Only individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. Qualified candidates who submit their application ahead of the deadline may be contacted sooner for an initial interview.
Thank you for your interest in working with Quest!
