Merchandising Manager

Retail Manager – Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties

Come join our F.A.M.I.L.Y.!

Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties is seeking a strong, hands-on Retail Manager to support and lead operations across our Point Pleasant Beach and Manasquan locations.

This role is built for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume retail and food service environment and takes pride in leading teams from the front, maintaining high standards, and delivering an exceptional guest experience every day. This is not a sit-back management role—this is a position for a leader who is fully engaged in the operation.

Compensation: $20.00 – $30.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

The Role

The Merchandising Manager oversees the daily execution of merchandising operations across our retail locations, ensuring products are properly stocked, rotated, organized, and presented to Joe Leone's standards. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires strong inventory management skills, attention to detail, product knowledge, and the ability to lead a team in a fast-paced, high-volume retail environment. You will be responsible for maintaining inventory accuracy, minimizing shrinkage, maximizing product availability, and creating attractive, well-organized displays that enhance the guest experience and drive sales. Success requires strong organizational skills, accountability, operational efficiency, and a working knowledge of Italian specialty foods and merchandise.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee daily merchandising operations, ensuring shelves, displays, refrigerated cases, and retail areas are fully stocked, organized, clean, and visually appealing.

• Lead, train, coach, delegate, and hold merchandising team members accountable for productivity, performance, and established standards.

• Maintain accurate inventory through routine cycle counts, inventory adjustments, proper documentation, and investigation of discrepancies.

• Enforce proper product rotation using FIFO (First In, First Out), expiration-date monitoring, and established freshness and quality standards.

• Identify, monitor, and reduce product shrinkage, spoilage, damage, and unnecessary waste through proactive inventory controls.

• Coordinate with Purchasing and Receiving to maintain appropriate inventory levels, monitor product availability, and prevent overstocking and out-of-stock conditions.

• Ensure all merchandise is properly priced, labeled, displayed, and organized according to company standards.

• Develop and maintain attractive product displays, seasonal merchandising presentations, and promotional features that encourage purchases and increase sales.

• Monitor product movement, sales trends, and inventory turnover to identify opportunities for improved merchandising and profitability.

• Maintain strong knowledge of Italian specialty products, including imported groceries, pasta, sauces, olive oils, cheeses, cured meats, confectionery, and seasonal merchandise.

• Delegate daily assignments, utilize task sheets effectively, and ensure timely completion of stocking, replenishment, rotation, and merchandising responsibilities.

• Coordinate product transfers and inventory needs between locations while maintaining accurate records and clear communication.

• Ensure merchandising areas, storage spaces, and backstock locations remain clean, organized, accessible, and compliant with food safety standards.

• Partner with Purchasing, Retail Management, and senior leadership to improve inventory efficiency, product presentation, and overall merchandising performance.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven merchandising or inventory management experience in a high-volume retail, grocery, specialty food, or similar environment.

• Strong understanding of inventory control, cycle counting, product rotation, shrinkage management, and stock replenishment.

• Knowledge of Italian specialty foods, imported merchandise, and related products, with the ability to identify, understand, and effectively merchandise these items.

• Experience creating visually appealing retail displays, maintaining merchandising standards, and optimizing product placement to drive sales.

• Strong leadership, coaching, delegation, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate team assignments, and maintain productivity in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience using inventory management systems, point-of-sale systems, and digital tools for tracking merchandise and inventory accuracy.

• Ability to analyze inventory discrepancies, identify operational inefficiencies, and implement practical solutions.

• Understanding of product shelf life, proper storage conditions, food safety, and sanitation requirements.

• Strong attention to detail, accountability, and a proactive approach to maintaining operational standards.

• A hands-on leadership style and willingness to work alongside the team to ensure merchandising responsibilities are completed efficiently and accurately.

• Working knowledge of food safety and sanitation; ServSafe certification is preferred.

Requirements

• Ability to remain actively engaged on the sales floor, in stockrooms, and throughout merchandising areas during the shift.

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift or move ordinary retail merchandise, inventory, and supplies, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to work at both retail locations and respond to merchandising and inventory needs during peak periods.

• Flexibility to work varying schedules, including weekends, holidays, and high-volume seasonal periods as business needs require.

The essential functions of this position must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

Benefits include medical and dental insurance after 90 days of service, subject to plan eligibility and terms; paid time off and New Jersey earned sick leave, subject to applicable policy terms; on-the-job training; the employee discount program; team events; and fitness incentives.

Employment Information

Joe Leone's is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to any status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application process and employment.

Employment with Joe Leone's is at will. Either the employee or Joe Leone's may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law. This posting describes the general nature of the position and is not a complete list of every duty. Responsibilities, schedules, and assignments may change based on business needs.

Why Joe Leone’s

We operate at a high level with a strong commitment to quality, consistency, and team culture. Our stores are fast-paced, detail-driven environments where execution matters. This is an opportunity to be part of a leadership team that values accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. If you take pride in running a tight operation and developing strong teams, this role offers real opportunity for growth and impact.

Co-founded in the spring of 1997 in Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ by Joseph Leone Introna and John Hilla, Joe Leone’s originated from the passion for baking, cooking, and dedication instilled by Joe’s grandparents and John’s determination to achieve success for himself and his brother-in-law.