New Store Perishable Team Leader (Department Manager) - Bradenton, FL - Fall 2026

Responsible for all aspects of daily operations, including profitability, expense control, buying, merchandising, labor, regulatory compliance, and special projects as assigned. Accountable for daily operations including profitability, expense control, merchandising, labor management, regulatory compliance, and Team Member hiring, development, and performance management. Lead cross-functional collaboration, implement new processes, and gather feedback to drive innovation in customer and associate experiences. Ensure all operations align with Standard Operating Procedures, Whole Foods Market core values, and health and safety regulations while fostering a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities

• Maximize productivity and efficiency through proper scheduling and analysis

• Ensure Team Members operate and sanitize all equipment properly

• Ensure proper care and maintenance of all equipment

• Monitor and achieve sales, margin, expense, and labor targets

• Maintain proper product assortment, merchandising, and inventory control

• Ensure products are cross-merchandised in accordance with guidelines

• Ensure adherence to category management schedules and planograms

• Ensure nutritional information is displayed correctly

• Hold ATLs, supervisors, and Team Members accountable for delivering outstanding customer service

• Maintain clear expectations to achieve the highest standards of retail execution

• Effectively delegate to and empower ATLs and Team Members

• Select, train, develop, mentor, motivate, and counsel Team Members to sustain a high-performance team and minimize turnover

• Provide timely, thorough, and thoughtful performance evaluations

• Foster and encourage a positive environment of outstanding teamwork, mutual respect, and exceptional morale

• Consistently communicate and model WFM vision and goals

• Maintain awareness of customer flows and needs; direct Team Members to satisfy and delight customers

• Respond promptly to customer needs and questions

• Establish and maintain collaborative and productive working relationships with departmental and store leadership

• Attend all meetings assigned by Leadership, including daily huddles.

• Promotes company program and initiatives as needed

• Maintains operational standards including but not limited to safety and store security protocols

• Ensure adherence to all company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements

• Performs other duties as assigned by store or company leadership

Job Skills

• Clear communication and team collaboration skills

• Strong organizational skills

• Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks effectively

• Ability to visually examine products for quality and freshness

• Sustains exceptional level of knowledge and awareness of relevant competitors and industry trends.

• Advanced knowledge of products, buying, pricing, merchandising, and inventory management.

• Food safety certification, for some roles. If not currently certified, will commit to completing certification within 6 months.

• Excellent interpersonal, motivational, team building, and customer relationship skills.

• Capable of teaching others in a positive and constructive manner.

• Thorough product knowledge.

• Advanced knowledge of regulatory and safety policies and procedures.

• Proficient mathematical skills for assessing financial performance, monitoring profitability, and managing inventory.

• Demonstrated decision-making ability, leadership skills, and ability to prioritize and delegate.

• Proficiency with email, Microsoft Office, and operations-related applications.

Experience / Qualifications

• 24+ months retail experience including 12+ months of team leadership experience.

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred

• Must be 18+ years old

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

• Stand/walk for 6-8 hours per shift

• Lift up to 50 pounds

• Work in various to temperatures: <32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing), 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit (refrigerators), >90 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Perform work in a wet and cold environment.

• Perform repeated motions: bending, reaching, grasping, twisting, squatting

• Operate standard retail equipment safely including box cutters, knives, electric pallet jacks, forklifts, ladders, hand trucks, six-wheel carts, balers, and other heavy machinery.

• Exposure to refrigerated areas and FDA approved cleaning chemicals

• Flexible availability including nights, weekends, and holidays

• Thrive in a fast-paced retail environment

Bradenton Structure (Echelon Model)

The Bradenton location will function with a consolidated team operational model with two key structural changes: First, a unified operations model that combines Center Store (Grocery, Specialty, Whole Body) and Perishables (Meat, Seafood, Produce) teams. Second, the creation of a dedicated Inventory Management Team to centralize and optimize store inventory operations and order writing. This transformation is a cornerstone initiative which strengthens our labor management foundations with a customer-obsessed, forward-thinking innovative approach to operational organization. Benefits include:

• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined team structures eliminate redundancies and create clearer execution pathways, reducing administrative burden on leadership while improving task completion rates.

• Enhanced Team Member Development: Cross-functional team design provides team members with diverse experience across multiple operational areas, creating transparent career pathways and building versatile skill sets.

• Improved Customer Experience: Demand-responsive scheduling and clearer role accountability ensure the right people are in the right place at the right time to serve customers.

Team Leader Preferred Qualities

Leadership & People Development

• Experience leading teams of 15-30+ associates in retail or grocery settings

• Track record of coaching and developing team leads and supervisors

• Ability to build trust with frontline teams and drive accountability through clear expectations

Innovation & Adaptability

• Comfortable implementing new processes and programs at the store level

• Experience supporting pilot programs and providing feedback on operational changes

• Willingness to test new approaches and adapt based on results

• Demonstrates flexibility when priorities shift or new initiatives roll out

Operational Excellence

• Strong working knowledge of store operations: inventory, merchandising, shrink, safety, and compliance

• Consistent delivery of departmental goals for sales, shrink, labor efficiency, and customer metrics

• Experience working across multiple departments to support store needs

Self-Starter Mindset

• Takes initiative to solve problems within their area of responsibility

• Identifies and implements small-scale process improvements

• Makes decisions independently on day-to-day operational issues

Customer Focus

• Consistently models excellent customer service behaviors

• Coaches team members on customer-first approaches

• Responds quickly to customer concerns and escalations

The wage range for this position is $22.40-$40.40 Hourly, commensurate with experience. Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits". Whole Benefits offers a wide range of benefits for Full and Part-Time Team Members, including eligibility for a store discount, paid time off, financial wellness, health & wellness support programs, and access to other Team Member perks. Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined under the terms of the applicable Whole Benefits plan at a person's date of hire and may vary based on work location, length of service, and job type (such as regular or seasonal). Click here for benefit details.

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.

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