Job Overview:

The Sales Floor Manager is the third leader in line for overall store performance. This hands-on leadership role is accountable for the on the floor training of Crew, directing daily priorities, and driving consistent results across the Front End, Grocery, Bulk, Dairy/Frozen, Vitamins, Body Care, Produce, and Receiving. The Sales Floor Manager maintains a detailed view of the store as a whole ensuring consistency and accuracy—from accurate receiving and organized backroom flow to timely stocking, full shelves, fresh product, clean departments, accurate pricing, and world-class customer service. This position develops Crew from general-level proficiency through department leadership readiness while building its own capability and desire to advance into Assistant Store Manager and Store Manager roles.

Main Responsibilities:

1. Lead Storewide Sales-Floor Execution
   1. Remain visible and engaged on the sales floor, continuously assessing customer traffic, department conditions, workload, staffing, and operational risks.
   2. Ensure all departments are covered from open through close, including breaks and lunches; the store opens on time with required signage illuminated; phones are answered before opening, after closing, and throughout the day; and training the department managers in their roles when “manager on duty” and to remain on the sales floor for the majority of their shifts.
   3. Conduct priority walks at the start, middle, and end of the shift; identify the highest-impact opportunities and assign clear owners and completion times.
   4. Direct and follow up on the master schedule, master daily, posted daily schedule, weekly department task lists, opening and closing checklists, temperature checks, maintenance maps, tag audits, and cleaning standards. Ensure daily tasks are assigned before opening, completed work is signed off, and completed task lists are filed in the appropriate department binder each week.
   5. Reallocate Crew as business conditions change so customer service, register coverage, stocking, freshness, safety, and time-sensitive work remain protected.
   6. Verify work is complete and meets standards; do not rely on task assignment alone. Coach gaps in the moment and escalate recurring performance concerns to the Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager.
2. Own Results Across Every Department- Train, ensure, assist and audit Crew on the following
   1. Front End: Fast, accurate, friendly service; proper use of the 8 Steps to a World Class Transaction; enthusiastic customer greetings and gratitude; calling for back up as needed, appropriate register and backup coverage; timely breaks, cart runs, stocked box bins and sellable bags, correct bagging or boxing, and clean, faced register areas. Support register opening, closing, and accounting processes while requiring each cashier to count and safeguard their own drawer, promote Nutrient to Know About, {N}power, and events, and resolve customer concerns and MOD calls promptly.
   2. Grocery and Bulk: Fast, accurate, friendly service; maintain great stock on hand, set integrity, well-maintained displays, top sellers, drink coolers, endcaps, and Natural Grocers nut butters; assign grinding and grinder-cleaning work as needed. Ensure accurate tags and ordering, timely load completion, daily backstock work, clean and organized storage, date checking and Julian-date rotation, cycle counts, Out-of-Stock follow-up, and accurate shrink and swell processing at least weekly.
   3. Dairy/Frozen: Fast, accurate, friendly service; maintain great stock on hand, set integrity, top sellers; protect the cold chain through cooler and freezer temperature checks recorded three times daily, product rotation, freshness, cleanliness, slack-out execution, timely stocking, markdowns, and organized walk-in and backstock areas with no product left on carts. Keep eggs stocked, label use-first egg cases with expiration dates, and complete eligible egg credits promptly.
   4. Vitamins and Body Care: Fast, accurate, friendly service; maintain great stock on hand, set integrity; close management of top sellers; Crew to use approved department resources, including customer literature files, to locate products and provide customer information; maintain accurate stocking and set integrity; keep aisles clean and shop-ready; complete maintenance and inventory processes; and actively support Nutrient to Know About and promotional priorities.
   5. Produce: Fast, accurate, friendly service; maintain great stock on hand, top sellers; produce is ready at opening and remains full, fresh, abundant, clean, and safely merchandised; ensure continuous culling, rotation; manage proper receiving practices, quality control, stocking, backstock, crisping. Manage organic standards, verify COOL, price audits, temperatures checks. Ensure properly dated “Use First” product, credits, quality, signage, and closing preparation for the next day.
   6. Receiving: Deliveries are received accurately, safely, and efficiently; advanced shipping notices and purchase orders are closed after receipt; product is checked for quality and guaranteed dates; and damages, shorts, mispicks, returns, DSD deliveries, recalls, and credits are processed correctly. Ensure five-gallon water bottle returns, receipt, and credits are handled correctly, stocking carts are organized by aisle, and carts are clearly identified as “Received—Ready to Stock” or “Not Received—Do Not Stock.”
3. Manage Flow of Operations- Product from Receiving to the Sales Floor
   1. Train, audit, and verify department managers maintain accurate inventory levels.
   2. Own the flow of operations from order and delivery through inventory management, receiving, staging, stocking, backstock, replenishment, and sale to the customer.
   3. Coordinate with the Receiving Manager and Department Managers to prioritize perishable, frozen, refrigerated, promotional, out-of-stock, and high-velocity product.
   4. Ensure load is sorted and staged to support safe, efficient stocking and that received product moves to the sales floor the same day as delivered.
   5. Prevent avoidable bottlenecks by monitoring receiving pace, cart availability, aisle readiness, backroom organization, and Crew assignments throughout load processing.
   6. Verify shelves are filled before product is returned to backstock and that backstock is organized, dated, accurately tagged, and worked routinely.
   7. Work backstock before order day to maintain accurate rotation of product; maintain clean, organized walk-ins and backrooms with no backstock carts left behind.
   8. Confirm all product orders are completed, transmitted, received, and reconciled.
4. Train, Coach, and Build the Leadership Bench
   1. Train Crew in all departments using a hands-on, Tell-Show-Do approach, department binders, task lists, LMS content, process documents, and hands-on practice. Audit for understanding, accuracy, and efficiency.
   2. Set clear expectations, explain the “why,” observe performance, provide timely feedback, recognize strong execution, and conduct retraining or follow-up when standards are not met.
   3. Cross-train general Crew in customer service, cashiering, stocking, backstock, department maintenance, cleaning, safety, inventory management, and store opening and closing responsibilities as appropriate.
   4. Identify Crew with the capability and interest to advance and work with store management to create practical development assignments that prepare them for growth.
   5. Coach Department Managers to lead their areas independently, understand their metrics, use their binders and task lists daily, plan for sales promotions and deliveries, and develop successors.
   6. Demonstrate personal readiness and a clear desire to advance into Assistant Store Manager and Store Manager roles by learning all store-management processes and consistently delivering storewide results.
   7. Ensure Crew complete hands-on floor training before related LMS learning, are trained to use and maintain approved equipment such as the Kaivac, floor scrubber, vacuum, and Amigo cart, and receive prompt training on new processes and systems.
5. Deliver a World-Class Customer Experience
   1. Model enthusiasm and visible, proactive customer service in every aisle; greet customers, offer assistance, locate products, answer question, and ensure concerns are resolved promptly and respectfully.
   2. Train Crew to escort customers to products rather than point, to place special orders accurately, recommend appropriate alternatives when items are unavailable, seek help when they do not know an answer, and ensure Department Managers follow up with customers on every special order.
   3. Maintain the foundations of an excellent customer experience: strong stock on hand, high-quality and fresh product, a clean and well-merchandised store, accurate pricing, and world class customer service.
   4. Conduct customer-service walks and assessments, provide immediate coaching and recognition, and redirect Crew when customer needs are not being prioritized or when customer service engagement is missed.
   5. Build engagement with {N}Power, Nutrient to Know About, promotions, special orders, and product education to strengthen loyalty and sales.
6. Drive Financial and Operational Performance
   1. Understand and teach how ordering, receiving accuracy, stock on hand, cycle counts, shrink, markdowns, credits, Crew efficiency, merchandising, and service affect sales, COGS, and profitability.
   2. Use department and store metrics to identify opportunities and set priorities with Department Managers, and communicate accountability needs to store management.
   3. Drive sales actively through customer engagement and product education, and passively through full shelves, compelling displays, correct tags, strong promotional execution, and fresh, high-quality product.
   4. Make effective use of labor by placing the right Crew in the right departments at the right time, maintaining productivity without sacrificing customer service, safety, or required standards.
   5. Protect store assets by following safety, food safety, organic certification, cash-handling, loss prevention, and regulatory requirements and by correcting or escalating risks immediately.
   6. Maintain safe, customer-ready interior and exterior conditions, including floors, restrooms, breakroom, lighting, signage, trash, water-machine areas, weather-related hazards, and a comfortable store temperature.
7. Serve as the Third Leader for Store Performance
   1. Partner with the Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager to translate store goals into clear daily execution and maintain consistency across all shifts and departments.
   2. Provide calm, decisive leadership during openings, mids, closings, peak periods, staffing challenges, incidents, and changing business conditions.
   3. Utilize tools: walkabouts, daily store priority walks, task lists, department inspections, customer service assessments and inspections, and store operations inspections to identify opportunities and priorities.
   4. Communicate opportunities and priorities, results, barriers, and follow-up needs through huddles, shift handoffs, one-on-ones, and established reporting tools.
   5. Model CAREing leadership, the Five Founding Principles, professionalism, integrity, accountability, urgency, flexibility, and respect in every interaction with Crew, customers, vendors, and business partners.
   6. Complete and verify required administrative work, including accurate posted schedules and dailies, timely order transmission, receiving reconciliation, and supply-booklet review and ordering. Ensure day and closing teams prepare the store for the next shift through completed loads, worked backstock, faced shelves, clean restrooms, clean floors and work areas, put-away returns, and completed assigned tasks.
   7. Follow up on action items from email communication, updated standard operating procedures, compliance tasks and surveys, and general communication from the Store Support Center.
   8. Roll up sleeves and work side by side with Crew and Department Managers, rolling up sleeves wherever needed to restore standards, complete critical work, and help the store thrive.

Although this is a general outline of job responsibilities all employees are expected to be “hands on” and do whatever it takes to get the job done and make the company thrive.

Criteria for Success:

1. Excellent customer service skills and a consistent record of putting customers first.
2. Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire, direct, coach, and hold Crew accountable while building trust and credibility.
3. Demonstrated success training individuals and groups through explanation, hands-on demonstration, observation, feedback, and follow-up.
4. Ability and willingness to learn, perform, and train core processes in Front End, Grocery, Bulk, Dairy/Frozen, Vitamins, Body Care, Produce, and Receiving.
5. Strong understanding of the relationship between ordering, receiving, stocking, inventory accuracy, shrink, labor, customer service, sales, COGS, and profitability.
6. Ability to assess the full store, identify the highest priorities, make sound decisions, delegate clearly, and verify results.
7. Ability to work effectively under pressure, remain calm in challenging situations, and adapt quickly as customer and operational needs change.
8. Patience and adaptability when developing Crew with different experience levels and learning styles.
9. Excellent organization, follow-through, attention to detail, problem solving, and deadline management.
10. Strong verbal and written communication skills for huddles, training, feedback, emails, and operational follow-up.
11. Self-motivated, hands-on, and capable of working independently while collaborating closely with Store Management and Department Managers.
12. Demonstrated interest in developing others and building a ready-now pipeline for Department Assistant and Department Manager positions.
13. A clear desire and demonstrated potential to advance into Assistant Store Manager and Store Manager roles.
14. Full schedule availability, including evenings, weekends, openings, closings, and peak business periods.
15. Interest in natural and organic foods, supplements, and Natural Grocers’ Five Founding Principles.
16. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook; working knowledge of company systems and SAP store operations is preferred.
17. Previous staff-management or multi-department leadership experience is preferred.
18. Demonstrated reliability- maintain a known track record for consistent attendance, punctuality and professionalism.

This job description is not an employment contract.  It does not guarantee a job or that the above listed duties are the limit of responsibilities.  The job and job description are subject to change with and without notice.  Employees are required to accomplish any and all tasks assigned to them by their Manager and/or other Store Support Center manager that might not be listed in this job description.