Full-Time

Meat Manager

Fresh Thyme

Fresh Thyme

1,001-5,000 employees

Regional grocery chain with fresh produce

Compensation Overview

$20.50 - $30.05/hr

+ Incentive bonus

River Forest, IL, USA

In Person

Category
Retail (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Office
Word/Pages/Docs
Customer Service
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Microsoft Outlook

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Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalency degree is required.
  • A minimum of 4 years of professional experience is required.
  • Maintain the highest level of customer service at all times.
  • Adapt to a changing, high-volume retail environment while working in a cross-functional team environment.
  • Take initiative when problems arise.
  • Adapt to a variety of situations and work varied hours or days as business dictates.
  • Maintain advanced attention to detail, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate written communication and documentation skills.
  • Demonstrate verbal communication and interpersonal skills for dealing cross-functionally with peers and senior management.
  • Have knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
  • Multitask and maintain strong organizational skills.
  • Lead, support, and contribute to team goals.
  • Be familiar with Health Department guidelines and regulations applicable to a grocery retail environment.
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge of mathematics, weights, and measures.
  • Analyze and interpret company financial statements and results.
  • Work safely and skillfully with knives, tenderizers, grinders, and general meat machinery.
  • Demonstrate expert packaging and wrapping skills.
  • Cut and weigh various amounts of meat and seafood.
  • Understand Country of Origin Labeling compliance for seafood products and the countries of origin for various products.
  • Meet the listed physical demands, lifting requirements, repetitive-motion requirements, and environmental conditions of the role.
Responsibilities
  • Prepare weekly sales and labor projections for the meat department to maximize sales and profits and keep department operations within the permitted labor percentage.
  • Monitor and control department costs and expenses, including ordering, inventory control, cutting procedures, shrink, and advertising displays.
  • Manage meat department staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, and initiating required performance reviews, and ensure staff training on all policies and procedures.
  • Oversee department shift operations, including writing or approving work schedules.
  • Ensure weekly flyer advertisements are in stock and ready for sale during business hours, and order and stock products for upcoming advertisements.
  • Stock meat cases by presenting, facing, filling, and organizing products according to department schematics, while ensuring tag and pricing accuracy.
  • Maintain cleanliness of meat aisles, storage areas, and work areas for safety, including cleaning shelves and products, keeping floors free of liquid spills or water, removing hazardous debris, and sweeping.
  • Respond to customer inquiries and assist with purchases, information, and product selection at the meat counter, including selling and cross-selling products.
  • Receive, inspect, and log products for shipment accuracy, temperature, and quality.
  • Operate equipment including knives, scales, wrappers, compactors, garbage disposals, pallet jacks, and hand trucks.
  • Monitor rotation of meat products, discard expired or spoiled items, and control outdated stock.
  • Balance the meat general ledger and financial statements.
  • Manage inventory preparation and control, including back stock, matching tags to products, preventing out-of-stocks, and maintaining accurate product accounting.
  • Use scales, weight measures, and tares to weigh and label meat products accurately, package and wrap products, and follow proper dating procedures.
  • Monitor proper temperatures throughout all stages of meat and seafood production.
  • Maintain safety practices when using meat department cutting accessories, including wearing mesh gloves while using a knife.
  • Maintain a high level of product knowledge and product preparation.
  • Walk the department regularly to ensure an organized, sanitary, and clean appearance.
Desired Qualifications
  • Preferred 3-5 years of grocery retail experience in meat department processes and procedures.
  • Previous experience in a natural foods industry is a plus.
  • Completion of a journeyman cutter program.

Fresh Thyme Market operates as a Midwest grocery chain with about 70 stores focused on helping people live healthier lives by offering real, healthy foods at real, affordable prices. Its product mix includes a wide selection of fresh, local, and organic produce and meat, alongside trusted national brands and local favorites. The company emphasizes the in-store experience and community orientation, highlighting its team members as integral to the brand. Compared with competitors, Fresh Thyme centers on healthful options and value, promoting local sourcing and a simple, community-driven shopping experience rather than premium-only or trend-focused offerings. The company’s goal is to enable healthy living for its customers through accessible, affordable, high-quality groceries and strong local community presence across the Midwest.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Downers Grove, Illinois

Founded

N/A

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • MyThyme Rewards Points launched April 27, 2026 with 10 points per dollar spent.
  • Fresh Thyme will add 200 Own Brand items and expand penetration 6% in 2026.
  • Foodshed.io’s 2026 Farmers Market pilot proved eight farms can supply six Fresh Thyme stores.

What critics are saying

  • Lakes Venture faces the Illinois BIPA voiceprint class action since 2022; damages stack fast.
  • Walmart, Kroger, and Aldi pressure Fresh Thyme’s value positioning after April 2026 points launch.
  • If private-label revival misses, Fresh Thyme stays a niche grocer with weak scale versus Meijer.

What makes Fresh Thyme unique

  • Fresh Thyme combines 69 Midwest stores with local-sourcing and wellness merchandising.
  • The April 9, 2025 Alive Academy certification deepens employee nutrition expertise.
  • Its February 25, 2026 Own Brand relaunch targets trend-forward better-for-you products.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Parental Leave

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

RetailDoc
Jun 8th, 2026
Latest retail industry trends, news & insights.

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Grocery Dive
Apr 30th, 2026
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FreshPlaza
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PR Newswire
Apr 9th, 2025
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CRO Commander
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