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FEATURED JOB — Grocery Manager

Working at Outpost is a lot different than working at a conventional “big box” grocery store. At Outpost you’re not just a number on a time card, you’re among a diverse mix of people some of whom are here for a paycheck and health insurance until their band makes it big to employees who’ve been here since the co-op began nearly 50 years ago and can’t imagine working anywhere else…with everyone in between.

Frankly, working here is so unique that our managers and staff tend to stick around for a long time and opportunities on our management team don’t come up as frequently as you’ll see at other grocers. But now’s your chance to apply for a management position since our Grocery Manager at our Bay View store is leaving to pursue a career in Chinese Medicine.

So, who better to tell you about what it’s like to work as a Grocery Manager than the very Grocery Manager who’s leaving? Meet Shia Ames. 

What does a Grocery Manager do?

First of all it’s a lot of managing staff and problem solving. You’re maintaining inventory so you’re trying to see what’s selling and what’s not selling and making sure your staff is trained so they can manage each department. Not only do you have center store where all of the packaged stuff is you have like dairy, bread, frozen and bulk. You get a vast knowledge about basically the entire store. And you help mentor new employees coming in who don’t know how any of this works. It’s really rewarding to watch people grow.

When did you start working at Outpost?

I chose this job ten years ago because I was a huge hippy. Outpost is obviously a haven for those types of people. I loved it immediately. I enjoyed telling everyone I worked for Outpost. Now I have other things going on but I honestly wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

Why are you leaving?

Being here, basically growing up here, I realized that food is medicine and I was very fortunate to learn that because a lot of people don’t know that and that’s a lot of what Chinese medicine is based around and I just found my way through that. I’m working with the store manager to go down to part-time and in doing that I’m able to work part-time at the acupuncture clinic down the street so it’s kind of a dream for me since the clinic doesn’t have a full-time position just yet so I’m able to pick up those hours part-time and keep my health insurance by working here twenty hours a week.

Are you going to miss Outpost?

It’s going to be weird coming in here and not just walking into the back room but I feel like I’ll still have ties since I’ll still be in the community. I feel when I leave I’ll be ready to leave even though it will be sad.

Any other Outpost perks besides paid-time off, health insurance and employee discounts you’ve discovered?

When I’ve rented places the landlords will ask "Where do you work?" and I’ll be like “Outpost.” And they’ll say “I love Outpost!” I swear it’s helped me get apartments.

WE'RE HIRING!
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