Fish Department Manager

Fish Department ManagerAbout 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 experienced, hands-on  Fish Department Manager to lead our Seafood Department and uphold the exceptional quality and service standards that define our brand.

In this role, you'll oversee daily operations, develop and motivate your team, maintain the highest standards of seafood freshness and presentation, and drive department sales and profitability. The ideal candidate combines strong seafood expertise, proven leadership skills, and a passion for delivering an exceptional guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, train, and develop seafood associates while fostering a positive, service-focused team environment.

• Oversee daily department operations, including staffing, scheduling, workflow, and opening and closing procedures.

• Ensure exceptional guest service through product knowledge, personalized recommendations, and effective resolution of customer concerns.

• Manage seafood ordering, receiving, inventory, and product rotation to maintain freshness and availability.

• Inspect seafood quality, monitor storage temperatures, and maintain Citarella's standards for product handling and presentation.

• Oversee seafood preparation, including cleaning, cutting, filleting, portioning, and shellfish handling.

• Maintain attractive, well-stocked displays and execute merchandising initiatives to support sales.

• Monitor department performance, inventory levels, shrink, waste, and labor efficiency to support profitability.

• Coach associates on seafood knowledge, preparation techniques, suggestive selling, and food safety procedures.

• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety regulations.

• Collaborate with store leadership and purchasing teams to address operational needs and improve department performance.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe department while performing additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in seafood retail, fish markets, grocery seafood departments, or a related seafood operation.

• Previous supervisory or management experience in retail, grocery, or food service.

• Strong knowledge of seafood varieties, freshness, handling, storage, and preparation techniques.

• Proficiency in seafood preparation, including knife skills, cleaning, portioning, and filleting.

• Experience with inventory management, ordering, merchandising, and shrink control.

• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and temperature-control standards.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while balancing hands-on operations and team leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a seafood department in a premium grocery or specialty food retail environment.

• Familiarity with department sales, labor management, and profitability.

• Food safety certification and bilingual English/Spanish communication skills are a plus.

Physical & Scheduling Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and perform hands-on department tasks throughout the shift.

• Ability to safely lift and move merchandise and work in refrigerated environments.

• Ability to safely operate seafood preparation tools and equipment.

• Flexible availability, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Benefits

Citarella offers competitive wages and a benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, employee discounts, and retirement savings options, 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.