Lead Customer Service Associate- Req 11762

Are you interested in joining an industry leader who is passionate about growth? At Southern States Cooperative (A Farmer Owned Cooperative since 1923); we are focused on helping our employees and our customers grow, by being the very best at offering challenging and rewarding career opportunities to our employees and providing superior products, services and growing solutions for our valued customers. We want to hear from you, so come grow with us!!!The Lead Customer Service Associate will open and close the convenience store, receive deliveries from vendors, manage the work schedules, provide training, approve time off for the Customer Service Associate and provide input on their performance review. Direct supervision of the part-time Customer Service Associates resides with management. How you will impact Southern States Cooperative:

• Greets customers in a welcoming and professional manner. Utilizes customer-focused interpersonal skills which include, but is not limited to, smiling, making eye contact, providing undivided attention, assisting customers in locating items, acknowledging they will be assisted soon if waiting for another transaction and thanking each one for their business. 
• Opens and closes the convenience store adhering to proper policies and procedures as a key holder for the store. 
• May serve as back up to management in their absence. 
• Ensures surveillance cameras are on and recording to ensure the safety of employees and customers. 
• Ensures proper signage is in the store as it relates to the sale of tobacco products, hours of business, pricing, etc. 
• Opens mail and forwards/handles accordingly. 
• Works with the management team in the recruitment/hiring process of store employees. 
• Provides assistance to co-workers and requests support as needed. 
• Makes recommendations to management on the efficient operation of the store, policies, procedures, selection of merchandise, etc. 
• Solicits customer feedback, input and information through various communication vehicles. 
• Receives and signs for deliveries from vendors. Obtains management approval on invoices and submits to appropriate parties for payment. 
• Orders supplies and other merchandise as directed. 
• Delivers bank deposits to financial institution. 
• Communicates with the management team regarding customer requests and vendor-related concerns. 
• Complies with federal and state laws by requesting personal identification from customers who are purchasing any type of tobacco product which includes nicotine vapor products or alternative nicotine products. Must adhere to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control law by refusing to sell these items to anyone who is under 18 years of age. 
• Turns gas pumps on and off.

What you need to succeed:

Education: Requires a High School Diploma or equivalent. 

Experience: Requires at least one year of previous work experience in a convenience store or retail setting. 

• Requires excellent communication skills
• Comfortable serving in a lead role and providing guidance to Customer Service Associates
• Superior relationship building/mentoring skills
• Flexibility to meet customer and business needs
• Ability to handle uncomfortable situations in a professional manner such as credit card denials, refusal to sell tobacco to underage customers, pricing discrepancies, rude customers, etc.
• Ability to learn and effectively apply knowledge of a variety of store merchandise in order to correctly answer general customer questions and make recommendations
• Excellent customer service skills
• Attention to detail

Some of the many benefits we offer:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Accident Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Paid Time Office
• Vacation Buy-Back
• Company Holidays
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Legal Services
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Merchandise Discounts
• Wellness Program
• Volunteer Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program   

Southern States Cooperative, Inc., is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on their race, color, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, family medical history or genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws, or regulations.