**PURPOSE: **Directs and controls the operation of the floral department according to Company standards. Trains and supervises personnel assigned. Ensures customer service, quality, freshness and selection. Orders, receives, prepares, prices and merchandises all floral products.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Champions Company and Division customer service programs to meet or exceed Division customer service goals. Handles customer relations in a positive manner, including effective resolution of customer complaints. Promotes Albertson's philosophy of personalized service in the floral department.

• Supervises, motivates, directs, trains and participates in the hiring of floral department personnel assigned. Monitors associate performance and recommends personnel action such as hiring firing, layoff and disciplinary action. Schedules associates assigned to ensure adequate coverage and service level.

• May order balloons, helium tanks, plants, flowers, accessories and supplies. Ensures product freshness and selection. Monitors and responds to special occasion merchandise requirements, sales trends, ad or seasonal promotions, and customer feedback.

• Performs receiving duties including breaking downloads, verifying orders against invoice, inspecting quality, reporting shortage, stocking and rotating product. Adheres to product temperature and storage guidelines and follows proper packaging techniques. Properly conditions and handles all indoor and outdoor plants, shrubs and flowers. Follow proper processing procedures for all cut flowers.

• Decorates plants. Makes bows and balloons. Prepares bouquets.

• Controls shrink and cost. Prevents the sale of product that does not meet standards.

• Complies with all workplace safety rules and regulations. Ensures proper signing and pricing.

• Performs periodic inventories. Process administrative paperwork and maintains accurate department records.

• Responsible for meeting customer service, sales and profit objectives.

• Implements correct product preparation techniques. Uses and operates related equipment such as pallet jack, hand truck, scissors, knives, safety cutters, stem cutters, wire, hot glue guns, spray paint, balloon heat sealing machines, helium tanks and garbage disposal.

• Assists customers by making product suggestions and engages in suggestive selling. Makes intercom announcements.

• Ensures safety, cleanliness and sanitation of work area, cooler, equipment and display area.

• Responsible for performing all job duties and responsibilities safely, accurately and with honesty and integrity.

• Other necessary and required duties.

SKILLS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Requires working knowledge of all job duties within the Floral Department. Requires a basic knowledge of botany, knowledge of perishability and seasonality of products, proper product conditioning and handling, and safety and sanitation procedures.

• Requires strong communication skills, good leadership and interpersonal skills, the proven ability to manage people and the ability to maintain composure in dealing with customers and co-workers.

• Requires knowledge of employment laws and workplace practices.

• Requires a good understanding of overall company practices and Floral Department policies and procedures. Requires analytical ability to handle administrative details such as planning orders, sales projections, scheduling and supervising. Requires the ability to judge and react to business activity.

• Frequently reaches, lifts, stacks and maneuvers objects of varying dimensions and weights up to approximately 60 lbs. Bends, stoops and reaches frequently. Pushes and pulls fully loaded hand trucks and pallet jacks. Performs repetitious arm movement to prepare, package and display products.

• Manual dexterity and good eye-hand coordination are necessary.

• Mental alertness is necessary to ensure safe and accurate completion of work activities. Requires knowledge of basic mathematics and weights and measures. Must have knowledge of produce variety, standards, perishability, product handling, sanitation, labeling and department policies and procedures.

• Operates telephones, knives, scissors, safety cutters, stem cutters, wire, staples, hot glue guns, spray paints, balloon heat sealing machines and helium tanks. Utilizes cleaning supplies and equipment. Utilizes knives and safety cutters. Hands are frequently exposed to cold water, rose thorns, and a wide variety of plants, flowers, soil mixtures, flower arranging materials and cleaning agents. Requires use of latex gloves.

• May be required to work nights, weekends and holidays. Scheduled hours will vary. Good attendance is required.

• Exposure to potential hazards exists with respect to equipment and work aids necessary to perform job duties.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Working conditions consist of a temperature-controlled store environment, backroom receiving and production area, and outdoor weather conditions.

• Exposure to 40˚ Fahrenheit while handling products and/or working in a cooler.

• Frequent exposure to outdoor weather conditions during times when plants, shrubs and trees are displayed outdoors.

 SAFETY-SENSITIVE POSITION:

Job responsibilities include tasks or duties that could affect the safety or health of the employee performing the task or others.

 DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work performed by employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company, Division and Store policies and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each store and from store to store.