Butcher

Overview

This role involves preparing, cutting, displaying, and selling various meat products while maintaining high-quality standards at all times. The position requires delivering courteous, friendly, and efficient service to customers and coworkers, following all company policies, health, and safety regulations, and supporting team and store initiatives related to quality and service goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Cut, prepare, and visually present products including beef, pork, lamb, veal, and poultry for sale.
• Make specialty meats such as sausages, oven-ready items, and cured meats.
• Ensure all products meet the company’s quality standards consistently.
• Manage the sampling program to engage customers.
• Monitor inventory to reduce spoilage and waste.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to trainee meat cutters assigned to you.
• Maintain punctuality, appropriate appearance, and readiness for assigned work shifts and required trainings.
• Deliver excellent customer interactions, employing suggestive selling and responding promptly to inquiries.
• Optimize sales by following correct product handling and merchandising procedures including prepping, rotating, and stocking.
• Comply with regulations concerning weights and measures, health and sanitation, and safe working practices.
• Keep the work area and equipment clean and sanitary, meeting company standards.
• Perform opening, mid-day, and closing tasks, ensuring accurate signage and pricing on products.
• Report any safety hazards or violations immediately.
• Carry out additional duties as assigned by store or company leaders.

Qualifications and Skills

• Practical knowledge of meat department operations and procedures.
• Strong cutting skills with ability to process meat into sub-primal and retail cuts.
• Comprehensive understanding of meat and seafood cuts and cooking methods.
• Ability to assess product quality and freshness visually.
• Skill in gathering and sharing market information relevant to customer needs.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Clear and respectful communication with team members, customers, and suppliers.
• Customer service proficiency that meets company standards.
• Capacity to follow directions, organize time effectively, and manage tasks.
• Passionate about natural foods and supportive of company mission and values.
• Strong dedication and ability to work in a fast-paced environment with urgency.
• Commitment to uphold company quality goals.

Experience

• At least 14 months of retail experience is required.
• Completion of the Whole Foods Market Butcher Apprentice Program or equivalent training is necessary.

Physical and Working Conditions

• Ability to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand or walk for 6 to 8 hours per 8-hour shift.
• Physical tasks include single-grasping, fine motor skills, pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.
• Exposure to FDA-approved cleaning chemicals.
• Work environments range in temperature from freezing (<32°F) to refrigerated (32-40°F) and hot conditions (>90°F).
• Ability to work in damp and cold conditions is required.
• Competence in handling knives and other cutting instruments safely.
• Flexible scheduling including some nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Experience using tools and equipment such as box cutters, electric pallet jacks, and heavy machinery is required.

Additional Information

The listed responsibilities offer a general scope of this position and may vary by store or business need. Advancement to higher positions depends on successful performance, qualifications, business requirements, and is not guaranteed by tenure or completion of certifications alone.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay ranges from $17.50 to $30.20 per hour, based on experience. The company offers comprehensive benefits including store discounts, paid time off, financial and health wellness programs, and other perks for eligible full and part-time employees. Eligibility depends on work location, job type, and length of service.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is an equal opportunity entity committed to hiring and promoting without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Employment decisions are made based solely on job-related qualifications and business needs.