Cashier/Sales Associate

Cashier / Sales Associate

Job Description & Core Responsibilities

Reports To:  General Manager

Location:  Clear Lake, California 95422

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

Employment Status:  Full-Time & Part-Time Positions Available

Compensation Range:  $17 - $18 per hour

 

Position Summary

The Cashier / Sales Associate is the primary point of contact for guests at Quail Mountain Market. This position operates the cash register and point-of-sale system, processes fuel and merchandise transactions, and delivers fast, friendly customer service. The Cashier / Sales Associate maintains store cleanliness and merchandising standards, restocks product, and follows all age-restricted sales requirements.

Cashier / Sales Associates are cross-trained to support food service and kitchen operations, including basic food preparation, as business needs require. This position works under the direction of the General Manager to support daily store operations, protect company assets, and deliver an outstanding guest experience.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Cashier & POS Operations

• Operate the cash register and point-of-sale (POS) system accurately for merchandise, food, and fuel transactions.
• Accept and process cash, credit/debit, and other approved payment types. Make the correct change.
• Count and balance the cash drawer at the start and end of each shift per SOP.
• Process voids, refunds, and returns per store policy.
• Process lottery transactions, if applicable, per California Lottery and store procedures.

Age-Restricted Sales & Compliance

• Verify customer age and identification for all tobacco, alcohol, vape, and lottery sales per California law and store policy.
• Refuse the sale of age-restricted products when identification cannot be verified or is invalid.
• Complete required age-restricted sales training provided by the store.
• Recognize and report suspicious transactions, such as an attempted underage purchase or a fraudulent ID, to a supervisor.

Fuel Station Assistance

• Assist customers at the fuel island with pump operation, pay-at-pump issues, and general questions.
• Monitor fuel island activity and cameras for safety and security concerns.
• Follow store SOPs for reporting fuel spills, pump malfunctions, or safety incidents immediately.
• Report fuel outages, price changes, or pump issues to the General Manager.

Food Service & Kitchen Support (Cross-Trained)

• Prepare and serve grab-and-go, hot food, and beverage items (coffee, fountain drinks, roller grill, food-to-go) per recipes and SOPs.
• Follow food safety and temperature-monitoring procedures for food service items.
• Maintain cleanliness of the food service area, equipment, and coffee/fountain stations.
• Restock food service supplies and notify management of shortages.
• Support kitchen staff during peak periods as directed by the General Manager or Kitchen Manager.

Opening & Closing Duties

• Complete opening and/or closing checklists as scheduled.
• Count and secure the register drawer at shift start and end.
• Turn store equipment, lighting, and fuel systems on or off per SOP.
• Secure the store and complete required shift-close reporting.

Safety, SOPs & Teamwork

• Follow all company SOPs, safety procedures, and Tribal policies.
• Report safety hazards, spills, injuries, or incidents to a supervisor immediately.
• Complete required safety and compliance training.
• Support coworkers and other departments as needed. Perform other duties as assigned by the General Manager or designee.

Store Appearance, Stocking & Merchandising

• Restock and rotate shelf, cooler, and fountain/coffee station merchandise using FIFO (first-in, first-out) practice.
• Face, price, and tag merchandise to store standards.
• Monitor stock levels on the sales floor and notify the General Manager or Shift Lead when reorders are needed.
• Assist with receiving deliveries and checking them against packing slips.
• Report damaged, expired, or missing product to management.
• Maintain cleanliness and appearance of the sales floor, restrooms, coffee/fountain area, and fuel island per posted checklists.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Follow California retail food safety requirements that apply to cross-trained duties (food handling, storage, temperature, labeling).
• Follow posted cleaning and sanitation schedules for food service equipment and areas.
• Follow food safety practices per store SOPs, including handwashing and glove use.
• Report food safety concerns or equipment problems to the General Manager immediately.

Customer Service

• Greet and assist every guest promptly and courteously.
• Resolve routine customer concerns at the point of service. Escalate unresolved or significant issues to the General Manager or Shift Lead.
• Maintain a positive, welcoming guest experience at the register, sales floor, and fuel island.

Competencies

To perform this job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service Orientation, greets and assists every guest promptly and courteously; represents Quail Mountain Market's guest-first standard at every interaction.
• Reliability & Punctuality, reports to scheduled shifts on time and ready to work. Dependable attendance is essential to store operations.
• Integrity & Cash Handling, handles cash, register transactions, and merchandise honestly and accurately. Safeguards company assets.
• Teamwork & Adaptability, works well with coworkers across shifts and adjusts to changing tasks and schedules, including cross-training between the register and food service.
• Basic Problem Solving, handles routine customer and transaction issues calmly and escalates larger issues to a supervisor promptly.
• Communication, communicates clearly and respectfully with guests, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Attention to Detail, follows recipes, checklists, and SOPs accurately. Maintains store and food service cleanliness standards.
• Cultural Awareness, demonstrates respect for Tribal governance, sovereignty, and the community context in which this enterprise operates.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED preferred, not required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Prior cashier, retail, or customer service experience preferred but not required. Training provided.
• Basic math skills sufficient to make change and reconcile a cash drawer.
• Experience in a Tribally-owned enterprise or rural community retail context is a plus; a desire to understand and respect Tribal operations is essential.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to solve problems quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and point-of-sale systems.
• Ability to operate a cash register, POS system, and card payment terminal accurately.
• Ability to accurately handle cash, process transactions, and reconcile a cash drawer.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, California and Tribal requirements for age-restricted sales, including ID verification.
• Basic food handling and preparation skills, or willingness to learn, to support kitchen cross-training.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and work both indoors and at the outdoor fuel island.

 

Preferred Certifications

• California Food Handler Card
• ABC LEAD (Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs) training, voluntary but recommended for employees who sell alcohol or tobacco at an off-sale location.

Work Environment

The Cashier / Sales Associate works primarily at the sales counter, register, and fuel island of a busy travel center convenience store, with periodic work in the food service area during cross-trained shifts. The role involves exposure to varying weather at the fuel island, moderate noise, cleaning chemicals, and, during food service shifts, heat and food preparation equipment. The position requires flexibility in scheduling, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Requirements include the ability to stand and walk for extended periods, frequently lift and carry items up to 40 pounds, bend, stoop, and reach overhead, operate a computer and point-of-sale equipment, and work in outdoor fuel station conditions. Specific vision requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus for computer and register operation.

The employee must regularly:

• Standing/walking for extended periods
• Bending, kneeling, reaching to stock shelves and coolers
• Operating a register, POS, and card terminal
• Working outdoors at the fuel island in varying weather
• Working evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as business demands require.

Hiring Preference

Because this position serves the Elem Indian Colony, a federally recognized Tribe, Native American and Alaska Native applicants will receive hiring preference in accordance with Tribal employment policy and applicable Indian preference regulations.