State College, Pennsylvania

Retail Wine Specialist - Southridge Plaza, State College

Onsite$50,680 - $71,824/yrPosted 1 week ago

Job details

Location: State College, Pennsylvania
Work type: Onsite
Compensation: $50,680 - $71,824/yr
Posted: 1 week ago
Apply on: governmentjobs.com

About this role

About the Department

Are you passionate about fine wines and enjoy sharing your expertise with others? Do you have experience selling wine and a strong desire to elevate your career? We have an exciting opportunity for a Full-Time Retail Wine Specialist at Fine Wine & Good Spirits Store on Southridge Plaza in State College. Apply today!

Note: Store #1412 will soon be relocating to new store #1410.
The address for the new store is 2127 South Atherton Street, State College, PA

Position Duties

As a Retail Wine Specialist, you will play a key role in enhancing the shopping experience for our customers. You will provide expert advice on wine selections and introduce customers to new and exciting options they may not have considered. You will engage with shoppers, assist with product selection, build relationships with repeat customers, and offer personalized service. As a Retail Wine Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

Customer Guidance: Provide tailored wine and food pairing suggestions that meet customer needs
Active Engagement: Interact with shoppers and offer expert support that enhances their experience
Tasting Events: Organize and host wine tastings that promote learning and enjoyment
Event Support: Recommend and order wine selections for weddings and special occasions
Inventory Care: Maintain and replenish specialty product stock to ensure a well-organized store
Store Upkeep: Keep the store clean, welcoming, and prepared for customers

If you have a passion for fine wines, a flair for customer service, and are ready to take your career to the next level, we want to hear from you!

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

Free - Secure - Onsite Parking
Full-time employment
Work hours will vary, totaling 75 hours biweekly
Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
Salary: The starting salary for this position for new Commonwealth employees is fixed at the minimum salary listed above and is not negotiable.
You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

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.

Other Requirements:

You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

You must pass a background investigation. An applicant with a felony conviction within the last ten years of their prospective date of employment is not permitted to work for the PLCB, per section 210(c) of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code. Other criminal convictions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply:

Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

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.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

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.

Other Qualifications

Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
You must provide complete and accurate information or:
1. your score may be lower than deserved.
2. you may be disqualified.
You may only apply/test once for this posting.
Your results will be provided via email.

Benefits

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video!

See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our benefits calculator.

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning
We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance
We know there’s more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*

Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks
Sometimes, it is the little “extras” that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit www.employment.pa.gov and click on the benefits box.

*Eligibility rules apply.

Supplemental Questions

Do you possess three or more years of full-time retail experience in a PLCB liquor store and have completed the PLCB's Advanced level Wine Education?

If you answered "Yes" to the question above and any of your experience is part-time, please provide the job title, the length of employment and hours worked per week on a part-time basis.

If you are claiming experience in the above questions, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

Do you possess four or more years of full-time wholesale or retail experience in the sale of wine that includes experience in stock handling and inventory control, merchandising, and marketing?

Do you possess four or more years of full-time wholesale or retail experience marketing, selling, and managing wine inventory and storage in the hospitality, restaurant, or food and beverage industries?

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

Have you completed any college education or training in the fields of Viticulture or Enology or related wine coursework? If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) or post high school vocational training record for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted. If you answer "Yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting https://www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services link.

You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application, or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each work behavior carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose for each work behavior must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

WORK BEHAVIOR 1 – MANAGES A PREMIUM WINE INVENTORY Manages a premium wine inventory. Analyzes industry information to determine where the better products for a given season will be produced, and recommends a selection of premium wine products for the store from the Offering List. Analyzes premium product performance and redistributes slower-moving inventory. Analyzes inventory and orders premium wine products based upon customer expectations. Levels of Performance Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

A. I have work experience in a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) store managing a premium wine inventory, analyzing industry information, recommending a selection of premium wine products for the store, and ordering premium wine products based on customer expectations.
B. I have work experience managing a premium wine inventory, analyzing industry information, ordering, and recommending a selection of premium wine products for a restaurant, distributor, winery, or business.
C. I have work experience selling wine, or managing wine inventory and storage, in a restaurant, distributor, winery, business, PLCB store, or warehouse.
D. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
Details related to your experience working with wine products, e.g., managing a premium wine inventory, analyzing industry information, ordering, and recommending the selection of premium wine products for a restaurant, distributor, winery, or business; or managing wine inventory and storage, in a restaurant, distributor, winery, business, PLCB store, or warehouse.

WORK BEHAVIOR 2 – PROVIDES WINE PRODUCT INFORMATION Provides premium wine product information to customers. Determines customer needs and recommends products to meet those needs. Reads product reviews and industry-related news and information to discuss with customers. Identifies appropriate wine and food pairings and recommends premium wine products and options to customers. Addresses and resolves customer complaints and inquiries concerning premium wine products. Levels of Performance Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

A. I have work experience providing premium wine product information to customers of a retail store; determining customer needs and recommending products to meet those needs; identifying appropriate wine and food pairings; and reading product reviews and industry-related news and information to discuss these with customers.
B. I have work experience recommending wine products or appropriate wine and food pairings to customers of a restaurant, winery (including the retail operations of a winery), distributor, or other related business.
C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework or formal classroom training related to wine or wine and food pairing.
D. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
Details related to the wine product information you provided to customers.

If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework or training, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

College/University/Training Source
Course Title(s)
Credits/Clock Hours

WORK BEHAVIOR 3 – MANAGES RETAIL MERCHANDISING OF WINE PRODUCTS Manages the retail merchandising of premium wine products. Produces signage and ensures that premium wine products are appropriately labeled and correctly priced. Ensures that the premium wine product sales floor is neat, clean, and presentable. Monitors the visual merchandising of premium wine products within a store to ensure that items are adequately stocked and displayed in an esthetically pleasing manner. Levels of Performance Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

A. I have work experience managing a retail store with the responsibility for ensuring that all premium wine products are appropriately labeled and correctly priced. I have ensured that the premium wine product sales floor is neat, clean, and presentable. I have monitored the visual merchandising of premium wine products within a store to ensure that items are adequately stocked and displayed in an esthetically pleasing manner.
B. I have work experience stocking or labeling wine products in a restaurant, distributor, winery (including the retail operations of a winery), business, or PLCB store.
C. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
The details related to ensuring that wine products are appropriately labeled, correctly priced, adequately stocked, and displayed in an esthetically pleasing manner.

WORK BEHAVIOR 4 – PROVIDES EDUCATION CONCERNING WINE SALES AND MERCHANDISING Educates consumers or employees in wine knowledge (e.g., the various types of wine, their regions of origin, their classification terms, their organoleptic characteristics, and appropriate matching with foods), and in the sales and merchandising of premium wine products. Levels of Performance Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

A. I have work experience PROVIDING FORMAL EDUCATION IN A STRUCTURED SETTING by developing lesson plans, presentations, and instructional materials for consumers or employees concerning wine knowledge (e.g., the various types of wine, their regions of origin, their classification terms, their organoleptic characteristics, and appropriate matching with foods), or concerning the sales and merchandising of premium wine products.
B. I have work experience TRAINING EMPLOYEES using existing instructional materials concerning wine knowledge (e.g., the various types of wine, their regions of origin, their classification terms, their organoleptic characteristics, and appropriate matching with foods), or concerning the sales and merchandising of premium wine products.
C. I have work experience providing education to consumers or employees IN INFORMAL SETTINGS concerning wine knowledge (e.g., the various types of wine, their regions of origin, their classification terms, their organoleptic characteristics, and appropriate matching with foods), or concerning the sales and merchandising of wine products.
D. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
Details related to the education or training you provided, the types of subjects you covered, the instructional materials you developed, and the recipients.

Have you completed the PLCB's Advanced Level Wine Education Program?

Have you completed other wine education concerning the various types of wine, their regions of origin, their classification terms, their organoleptic characteristics, and appropriate matching with foods, or concerning the sales and merchandising of wine products?

If you answered 'Yes' to the previous question, please provide the number of clock or credit hours, the name of the training source, and a description of the content related to wine, wine and food pairing, etc. in the text box below.

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaAddress 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120 Website http://www.employment.pa.gov

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About Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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