Deli – Prepared Meals Program Manager
Position Summary
Military Deli & Bakery Services (MDBS) is seeking an experienced and innovative Prepared Meals Program Manager to lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of our prepared meals program across more than 100 deli departments located within military commissaries nationwide.
This position serves as the bridge between product innovation and field execution, ensuring new prepared meal programs are operationally practical, consistently executed, and successfully adopted throughout the organization. Working closely with Operations leadership, Regional Directors, and District Managers, this role develops programs that drive sales, improve profitability, simplify store operations, and deliver exceptional customer experience.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing new meal concepts, building standardized operating procedures, training field leadership, and measuring program performance to ensure long-term success.
Work Environment
This is a hybrid position with the flexibility to work remotely. Required to be in- office once per week, unless traveling. Travel of up to 50% is required to commissary locations, program launches, store visits, and industry events.
Key Responsibilities
Prepared Meals Strategy
- Develop and execute a long-term strategy for the Prepared Meals program.
- Partner with Operations leadership, Regional Directors, and District Managers to identify operational opportunities and develop meal programs that stores can successfully execute.
- Build a balanced assortment of everyday favorites, seasonal offerings, limited-time offers, and new product launches.
- Continuously evaluate opportunities to improve sales, profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
Product Development
- Develop innovative recipes, meal kits, family meals, grab-and-go offerings, and other prepared food solutions.
- Standardize recipes, production methods, merchandising standards, and operating procedures to ensure consistent execution across all locations.
- Ensure products meet quality, food safety, nutritional, shelf-life, and operational standards.
- Evaluate existing products and recommend improvements based on customer feedback, sales performance, and operational input from the field.
Program Implementation
- Lead the implementation of new prepared meal programs from pilot through nationwide rollout.
- Create recipes, SOPs, production guides, merchandising standards, job aids, and training materials.
- Partner closely with Regional Directors, District Managers, and Operations leadership to ensure successful implementation and consistent execution.
- Monitor program adoption and proactively identify and remove barriers to successful implementation.
Operational Excellence
- Train District Managers and Operations leaders on new prepared meal programs and standardized operating procedures.
- Coach field leadership on best practices that improve execution consistency across all locations.
- Conduct store visits with District Managers to evaluate execution, identify opportunities, and develop action plans for continuous improvement.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to program adoption, execution consistency, labor efficiency, salvage, sales, and profitability.
- Identify operational challenges and develop practical solutions that simplify production while improving quality and consistency.
Category Performance
- Analyze sales, gross margin, product loss, customer feedback, and execution metrics to evaluate overall program performance.
- Measure program adoption, execution consistency, and operational effectiveness across all locations.
- Recommend assortment, merchandising, pricing, and production improvements based on business performance and field feedback.
- Prepare regular performance reports and recommendations for senior leadership.
Qualifications
Required
- Five or more years of experience in category management, prepared foods, retail grocery, food service, product development, food manufacturing, or a related field.
- Experience leading multi-location operational initiatives from concept through implementation.
- Experience developing operational programs, procedures, or training for field teams.
- Strong understanding of retail merchandising, food production, and consumer buying trends.
- Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Ability to travel up to 50%.
Preferred
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Culinary Arts, or a related field.
- Experience managing prepared meals or deli categories.
- Experience training, coaching, or influencing Regional, District, or multi-unit Operations leaders.
- Experience developing standardized operating procedures and training materials.
- ServSafe Manager Certification or equivalent food safety knowledge.
What Success Looks Like
In this role, you will:
- Successfully launch and implement prepared meal programs across all locations.
- Increase prepared meals sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
- Drive strong adoption of new programs through effective training and partnership with Regional Directors and District Managers.
- Ensure stores consistently execute recipes, merchandising standards, and production procedures.
- Equip Operations teams with the tools, training, and confidence needed to execute programs successfully.
MDBS considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran, or disability status in accordance with federal law. In addition, MDBS complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it maintains facilities. The above description identifies the essential job functions and skills needed by the person or persons assigned to this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The information contained herein is subject to change at the company's discretion.
Military Deli & Bakery Services, Inc. (MDBS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). MDBS is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Aurora, IL 60504