Butcher

Role overview

Whole Foods Market is hiring a full-time Butcher in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This position focuses on preparing, cutting, presenting, and selling meat items while delivering a courteous, efficient, and customer-friendly experience. The role must be carried out in line with store and team standard operating procedures, food safety rules, and all other applicable health and safety requirements.

Team members are expected to represent the company positively, support store and regional initiatives, and be ready to take on related duties that may be assigned across the team. The position also includes working in a fast-paced retail environment and maintaining high standards for quality, cleanliness, and service.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare, cut, arrange, and merchandise meat products such as beef, pork, lamb, veal, and poultry.
• Create specialty meat items, including sausage, oven-ready products, and cured meats.
• Inspect products to confirm they meet the company’s quality expectations.
• Support the sampling program and help reduce spoilage through proper handling and monitoring.
• Guide and assist assigned Meat Cutter Trainees when needed.
• Arrive on time, maintain proper grooming and dress, work all scheduled shifts, and attend required meetings and training sessions.
• Deliver prompt, helpful customer service and use suggestive selling techniques appropriately.
• Answer phone calls and pages quickly and politely.
• Improve sales by following proper procedures for prepping, storing, rotating, stocking, and displaying products.
• Follow established procedures related to weights and measures, sanitation, and safe work practices.
• Keep the work and shopping areas clean and sanitary, and maintain equipment to company safety and cleanliness standards.
• Complete opening, mid-shift, and closing tasks as assigned, including correct signage and pricing.
• Report safety issues and violations immediately.
• Carry out other duties assigned by store, regional, or national leadership.

Skills and qualifications

The ideal candidate should have a solid understanding of meat department processes, strong knife and cutting skills, and familiarity with different meat and seafood cuts as well as cooking methods. The role also calls for good judgment when evaluating freshness and quality, clear communication, teamwork, customer service, organization, and the ability to work efficiently in a busy environment.

Experience and physical demands

A minimum of 14 months of retail experience is required. Candidates must also have completed the Whole Foods Market Butcher Apprentice Program or an equivalent training program, with UK exceptions noted in the source.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand and walk for 6 to 8 hours in an 8-hour workday, and perform motions such as bending, twisting, squatting, reaching, single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, and pulling. The role involves exposure to FDA-approved cleaning chemicals, temperatures below 32°F, refrigerator temperatures between 32 and 40°F, and heat above 90°F. It also requires working in wet and cold conditions, handling knives and other cutting tools, and using equipment such as box cutters, electric pallet jacks, and other heavy machinery.

Schedule and working conditions

This is a flexible-schedule role that may require nights, weekends, and holidays. The company notes that job duties, assignments, and requirements can vary by business needs, department, and location, and that some responsibilities may expand as a team member advances through job levels. Promotion to a higher-level role depends on strong current performance, a business need, and being the most qualified candidate.

Compensation and benefits

The hourly pay range for this position is $15.50 to $29.20, depending on experience. Whole Foods Market also offers Whole Benefits for full-time and part-time team members, which may include a store discount, paid time off, financial wellness resources, health and wellness support programs, and access to other team member perks. Benefit eligibility depends on the applicable plan terms at the date of hire and may vary by location, length of service, and job type.

Equal opportunity statement

Whole Foods Market is committed to fair and equal employment practices and considers candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Hiring and promotion decisions are based on qualifications and business needs.

Application notice

The company cautions candidates that third-party career sites may not always display accurate or current information and may be fraudulent. Applicants are encouraged to use the company’s own hiring channels.