Retail Wine Specialist Carlisle Location

THE POSITION

We're looking for friendly, motivated individuals to help deliver outstanding customer care in the fast-paced environment of our Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores! If you are interested in food and wine pairing and assisting customers, this would be an opportunity to share and expand your knowledge!

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST APPLY TO THIS VACANCY POSTING, MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, COMPLETE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE A SCORE. YOUR SCORE IS ONLY VALID FOR THIS SPECIFIC VACANCY. ONCE THIS POSITION IS FILLED, YOUR SCORE IS NO LONGER VALID.

• Full-time employment
• Work schedule will vary

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position is responsible for providing retail customers with detailed advice regarding wine selections and solutions to wine and food pairings, as well as situational wine needs; and encouraging customers to try options that may have not yet been under consideration. The incumbent is expected to openly engage shoppers and solicit inquires for service and assist customers in selecting products, recognize repeat customers, and build relationships with customers. Incumbents are further responsible for maintaining, stocking, inventorying, replenishing, cleaning, and servicing the specialty products section for one of the PLCB's Premium Collection Stores.

Floor Duties: Gauge customers' anticipated service needs and provide the appropriate level of service. Engage customers in conversation on a frequent basis in order to assist customers in selecting appropriate wines or suggest other products based upon customers' particular taste profile, need, or anticipation. Remember customers, preferably by name, and ask for their feedback on previous selections. Build relationships with returning customers; solicit email or telephone numbers and send customers the results of your research efforts. When appropriate, encourage customers to trade-up in their purchases or to purchase products they may not have otherwise chosen upon their own. Encourage customers to branch out and try new varieties or products with an expectation of broadening the taste profile for each customer. Identify food pairings with particular products and make recommendations as a result. Relocate slow moving inventory to a more highly trafficked area in order to increase the likelihood of sales. Dust bottles and maintain sales floor hygiene according to the Agency's specifications.

Inventory Duties: Organize the receipt of specialty product, rotate stock, and maintain overflow area in a neat and orderly fashion. Stock shelves, rotate stock, and face shelves. Take inventory of existing stock. Produce stocking orders based upon the offerings provided by Central Office. Identify slow moving inventory via quantifiable analysis. Produce signage to draw attention to slow moving inventory. Upon approval, destroy products with an expired shelf life.

Planning: Return all customer inquiries (e-mail, phone, written) in a timely manner. Keep a running log of such calls. Research customer inquiries and keep abreast of the current events within the industry via a variety of resources such as the internet, periodicals, vendor contacts, licensee contacts, or Central Office contacts, and provide detailed answers to customer inquiries. Responsible for ensuring that all specialty signage is consistent with Central Office guidelines and adheres to the various marketing efforts established in Central Office. Responsible for recommending wines for In Store Tastings. Conduct public tastings according to an approved schedule. Record inventory before and after each tasting and advise the General Store Manager of required inventory adjustments.

Miscellaneous: Provide ad hoc training and mentoring to store staff in order to raise general product knowledge among staff. Brief staff on updates from meetings and communications from central office related to specialty product initiatives. When operationally necessary, this position may conduct work more closely associated with standard retail clerk work. These duties are not the primary function of this position, but due to operational needs, such assignments may be necessary. Duties relating to retail clerical work are as follows: Count out a register drawer and account for all assigned cash, ring sales during peak times to assist in moving customers through the check-out lines, follow all counter procedures, unload shipments and assist other employees in putting away inventory, and assist customers in locating products.

Essential Functions:
1. Lifts and carries approximately 50 pounds.
2. Stocks shelves.
3. Communicates orally.
4. Works in a typical store environment.
5. Operates a personal computer with various software packages.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

Qualifications:

• Must meet PA residency requirement – For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• Minimum Experience and Training Requirements: Three years of retail experience in a PLCB liquor store and completion of the PLCB's Advanced level Wine Education; OR four years of wholesale or retail experience in the sale of wine that includes experience in stock handling and inventory control, merchandising, and marketing; OR four years of wholesale or retail marketing, selling, and managing wine inventory and storage in the hospitality, restaurant, or food and beverage industries; OR an equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Post Employment Requirement: Employees who qualify under the second, third or fourth Minimum Experience and Training option must successfully complete the PLCB's Advanced Level Wine Education program within 6 months of employment.
• Must be able to perform essential job functions

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation. If you have been convicted of a felony within the last 10 years, you cannot work in this job. Any other criminal convictions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans: Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans’ Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals)

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Score valid for this specific posting only
• Score based on information reported on application and supplemental questions
• Provide complete and accurate information or:
  • score may be lower than deserved
  • application processing may be delayed
  • disqualification may result
• May only test once under this announcement
• Email notice of test results provided

Health & Wellness
We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Work/Life Balance
We understand that there is more to life than work – and we want you to enjoy it!
For most positions, we offer paid vacation days, paid sick days, military leave, as well as paid time off for most major U.S. holidays. Alternate work schedules and telecommuting arrangements are available for certain positions.

Career Development
We want to help you grow and see your goals become a reality! Supervisors and human resource staff are available to help employees create a plan to develop skills for their current jobs or prepare for the next step in their careers. Employees can easily transfer between positions or agencies to expand knowledge and pursue new challenges while retaining leave and benefits. Additionally, there are a variety of programs available to help get you where you need to be.

Other Rewards
Commonwealth employees enjoy many other rewards, including opportunities for recognition, workplace charitable giving, and even special employee-only discounts.

For more information about benefits, health and wellness, work-life balance, career development, and other rewards go to www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.

• Eligibility rules apply.