Cheese Counter Associate About Citarella Led by owner Joe Gurrera and his commitment to exceptional quality, Citarella has grown from a respected New York City fish market into a premier gourmet food destination, with locations across New York City, the Hamptons, and Greenwich, Connecticut. As a family-run business, we're passionate about great food and delivering an outstanding guest experience. From premium seafood and prime dry-aged beef to chef-prepared specialties, handcrafted pastries, and international cheeses, we take pride in offering the very best. Join our team and become part of New York's vibrant food scene. Role Overview Citarella is seeking an enthusiastic, guest-focused Cheese Counter Associate to join our Cheese Department. In this role, you'll assist guests with our selection of domestic and international cheeses, provide knowledgeable product recommendations, and maintain exceptional standards of freshness, presentation, and service. The ideal candidate has a passion for specialty foods, enjoys engaging with guests, and is eager to develop their knowledge of cheeses, flavor profiles, and pairings in a fast-paced retail environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver exceptional guest service by assisting customers with cheese selections, product information, and personalized recommendations.
- Promote department sales through suggestive selling, product knowledge, and cheese-pairing recommendations.
- Cut, portion, weigh, wrap, and package cheeses according to department standards.
- Maintain attractive, well-stocked cheese displays, ensuring proper labeling, pricing, and presentation.
- Receive, inspect, rotate, and replenish products to maintain freshness and minimize waste.
- Monitor product quality, storage temperatures, and inventory levels, communicating replenishment needs to department leadership.
- Safely operate and maintain cheese knives, cutting boards, scales, deli slicers, and other department equipment.
- Clean and sanitize counters, equipment, display cases, and work areas in accordance with food safety standards.
- Follow applicable food handling, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures.
- Collaborate with department associates and leadership to support daily operations and guest satisfaction.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by management.
Qualifications & Experience
- Previous experience in grocery, specialty food retail, deli, hospitality, or customer service preferred.
- General knowledge of cheese and dairy products, with an interest in learning about varieties, flavor profiles, and pairings.
- Strong guest service, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Basic knife-handling skills and willingness to learn proper cheese-cutting and preparation techniques.
- Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and proper product storage practices.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
- Dependable, self-motivated, and comfortable working independently or as part of a team.
Physical & Scheduling Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.
- Ability to bend, reach, lift, carry, push, and pull products weighing up to 50 pounds, as required.
- Ability to work in refrigerated and temperature-controlled environments.
- Ability to safely operate knives, slicers, and other department equipment.
- Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Benefits
Citarella offers competitive wages and a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, employee discounts, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match, subject to eligibility. Equal Employment Opportunity Citarella is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider qualified applicants without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law and provide reasonable accommodations as required by law.