Front End - Department Assistant

Front End Assistant

Front End Assistant reports to the Front End Manager. The role involves ensuring the highest level of service to Outpost's internal and external customers, supervising and motivating front end staff, ensuring accurate cash handling, and maintaining a well-organized front end department.

The work environment is fast-paced, with moderate to loud noises and exposure to moving mechanical parts. The position requires working during busy retail times, including weekends, afternoons, and evenings.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Customer service: Treat people fairly, consistently, and with respect. Ensure efficient, informative, and friendly service according to established customer service vision and standards.
• Front end department responsibilities: Plan, organize, and supervise all department operations in the absence of the front end manager. Ensure that adequate register supplies are available. Order as directed. Ensure register equipment and work areas are clean and organized. Provide back-up to scanning functions of the front end department. Clean up spills and messes. Uphold department safety guidelines to ensure the safety of all department staff. Advise the front end manager of equipment/replacement needs. Attend department meetings as scheduled.
• Customer service: Ensure professional and friendly service from front end staff. Handle all customer questions and complaints including on the premises and follow up phone calls. Handle product returns. Assist customers with special orders. Assist customers in establishing and renewing of Outpost memberships.
• Cashiering: Ensure that cashiers are available to check out customers with minimum waiting. Answer cashier's questions and assist in their education about store products and policies. Ensure adequate cashier coverage during peak times. Fill in for cashier's breaks and back up the registers. Assign cashiers' drawers, verify drawers, and do pick ups. Organize carts and baskets and maintain a tidy and well supplied front end. Assist with bagging and carry-outs. Assign cashiers stocking, cleaning, and fronting and facing duties during down time.
• Money handling: Count out cashier's drawers at the end of shift. Ensure accuracy and security of accounting for all cash received through front end including preparation of daily deposits, change requests, and paid-ins. Perform all the required record keeping and reports including late AMEX, late checks, late MC/VISA, NSF checks, paid-ins, and cashier over/short record. Be accountable for cashier's drawers and security of cash. Investigate and follow up on questionable transactions and drawer balances. Provide change to cashiers. Act as a liaison with register company in absence of front end manager, ensure proper functioning, prompt repairs, and programming changes.
• Scanning: Provide back-up to scanning functions of front end department.
• Personnel: Assign daily tasks to front end staff and ensure they are always busy. Positively encourage department staff to excel at their job. Provide guidance and motivation and properly answer questions for department staff. Replace vacant shifts when call ins, etc. occur. Notify manager of these occurrences. Assist in training department staff. Ensure front end staff is following department standard operating procedures. Assist front end manager with employee job performance. Properly document employee performance during shift, when necessary. Assist front end manager in informing staff of any changes in policies and procedures affecting department staff.
• Other: Perform all duties included in department journeyperson and clerk job descriptions. Perform manager duties in their absence.
• All staff duties: Abide by all Co-op policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook and other company documents. Keep store orderly and clean. Maintain a positive attitude. Perform all other duties as assigned by department manager.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Outstanding customer service skills
• Previous retail experience
• Experience in money handling
• Proficiency in math