The General Manager reports to the Board of Directors, which is elected by the members of the cooperative. The General Manager has the authority to hire and direct all other staff.

Financial and Planning

• Develop and recommend to the Board of Directors long-and short-range plans to achieve co-op purposes
• Prepare operating and capital budgets for approval by the board and be held accountable for control of resources
• Direct all financial operations of the cooperative
• Investigate new business opportunities and make recommendations to the Board of Directors on expansion, relocation, and acquisitions; conduct negotiations as agreed
• Provide monthly financial information to the Board

Operations

• Maintain knowledge of natural and conventional foods retailing and industry trends
• Maintain effective and productive relations with wholesale distributors, local markets, and other industry sources
• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of a product mix that meets shopper needs
• Plan and execute a margin strategy designed to be price competitive and maintain adequate profit

Personnel

• Oversee compliance with the cooperative’s personnel policies and recommend updates as needed
• Hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate, management staff, including taking disciplinary action as needed
• Support department managers in the supervision and management of staff, providing supervisory coaching as needed
• Develop a staff organizational structure that promotes fair distribution of work while maintaining maximum service to customers
• Prepare a yearly payroll budget that meets operating budget constraints
• Ensure a safe, healthy workplace for employees
• Ensure adequate training of staff

Marketing

• Develop an advertising and marketing strategy to increase public awareness of the cooperative’s products and services
• Execute the advertising and marketing plan within budgetary guidelines
• Working with the Outreach Coordinator, communicate information about the store to members using various types of social and print media
• Prepare or oversee store displays, signage, and other promotions to maximize marketing impact

Perform other related duties assigned by the Board of Directors

Strategic thinking: Thinks conceptually, imaginatively and systematically about the success of the co-op, while taking into account the big picture and the long term.
Business planning: Takes vision and strategies and turns them into operational plan(s) aligned to ends/mission, vision and values.
Financial management: Knows meaning of financial variables, how to find them, and how to place them in business context. Uses meaningful business and financial reports. Creates and manages operating, capital, and cash budgets.
Knows how to adjust key operational variables to respond to negative trends.
Building and leading teams: Effectively facilitates the formation of teams by creating a climate of trust, encouraging information sharing, active collaboration, and teamwork.
Developing talent: Develops staff to increase their capabilities, contribution and engagement.
Problem-solving: Accurately diagnoses root causes of issues and correctly identifies and implements appropriate solutions.
Managing people: Has experience of managing managers. Makes good hiring decisions. Inspires people to do their best
through performance feedback, recognition, timely coaching and guidance, and appropriate delegation of work.
Collaboration: Cooperation and teamwork in groups. Open to hearing multiple voices and participating in democratic processes.
Relationship building with the board: Understands the need to build trust and a healthy working relationship with information-sharing and transparency. Sees the GM and board as filling different roles but working on the same team.

Retail grocery experience: Has been a store or at least an operations manager. Familiar with how stores operate to meet goals, understands key metrics. Knows enough about administrative departments to effectively manage them.
Open mind: Demonstrates curiosity about processes and people, listens to new ideas and actively considers alternatives.
Willing to challenge assumptions. Demonstrates respect for others, even when a conflicting opinion is held.

Physical Demands

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a grocery store setting with extensive public contact and frequent interruptions.

Benefits:

Paid time off. Health Reimbursement Account. Retirement Plan. Potential bonus. Merchandise discount.