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Description
~ Having deep roots in our community, the Newark Natural Foods Co-op incorporated in 1975 to provide local, healthy foods to our members and have since grown to a 10,000 square foot grocery store, 2,500 square foot café, and 6,000 square foot community space that has over 4,000 active member-owners, 65 employees & $7.8M in annual revenue. ~
Position Overview
Newark Natural Foods Co-op is seeking an engaging visionary General Manager to lead our community-owned food cooperative and café into the future in an increasingly competitive environment. For more information about Newark Natural Foods and Café 67, please visit our website.
- The ideal candidate must demonstrate successful careers (10+ years) in business and personnel management in the grocery and/or retail industry;
- Outstanding communication skills;
- The proven ability to lead and motivate others; and
- The highest integrity, personal responsibility, and personal and social values required for continued growth of our community-owned cooperative.
- Qualified candidates will be experienced grocery and/or retail managers with the ability to integrate daily business management practices with visionary thinking to implement the Co-op’s Ends Policy.
The General Manager is responsible for the operational leadership of the Co-op. In this position, the General Manager implements Board policies and management of the business in a manner that enhances the cooperative principles for member-owners, employees, members, and community connections.
Note: This position reports to Board of Stewards (please note the Co-op operates under Policy Governance)
Responsibilities
The General Manager will oversee and lead the management team to:
- Ensure operational excellence by providing a variety of healthy, high-quality, and locally produced foods/goods.
- Provide superb customer service from well-trained, educated and motivated employees under strong governance.
- Be supportive of a thriving, ethical, sustainable, and economically sound enterprise for our member-owners, employees, stakeholders, and local connections.
Board Relations
- Attends all monthly Board Meetings and Finance Committee meetings.
- Submits outcomes of the Board of Stewards’ overall policies, objectives, and metrics for the Board’s approval.
- Provides the Board with financial and operational reports as required and/or requested.
- Advises and informs the Board on current operations, including potential threats and opportunities.
- Oversees and coordinates implementation of Board policies.
- Provides necessary information to the Board within the required time frame.
- Demonstrates ability to present material and ideas to the Board in an effective and well documented manner.
- Demonstrates openness to questions, suggestions and constructive comments from the Board.
- Manages senior management, including hiring, training, and discipline.
Financial Accountability
- Establishes operating and capital budgets within time frame required.
- Demonstrates effective budget control.
- Provides monthly financial reports to the Board.
- Controls cash flow to ensure regular discounting of bills, enhance purchasing power, meet all obligations when due, and meet all commitments.
- Measures and evaluates revenue generating department performance to ensure appropriate contribution total financial performance.
- Ensures highest level of credit standing.
- Maintains necessary financial records.
Operations
- Develops and implements policies and procedures required to achieve operational excellence for a superb shopping experience by providing high quality goods and services, local and organic products, food safety and hygiene best practices, and outstanding customer service from well-trained, educated, and motivated employees.
- Directs and supervises management team.
- Reviews achievement of performance and service standards, taking corrective action when needed.
- Oversees advertising and promotion strategy.
- Observes proper and safe procedures for handling shoplifting, theft, robbery and inappropriate behavior at the Co-op.
Personnel
- Responsible for selection, employment, training, performance review, and discipline of management with emphasis on internal advancement.
- Develops pay and benefit programs to provide internal and external equity.
- Encourages employees’ involvement as a resource for generating new ideas, high lighting and resolving existing problems, and identifying opportunities for improvement for sound policy development.
- Maintains good working relationships with employees and is accessible.
- Provides fair grievance procedures.
- Oversees establishment and maintenance of training programs for job performance, safe working environment, and job advancement.
- Follows store-wide policies and procedures as set out in the Employee Handbook and by the management team.
- Ensures that the Co-op meets local, state, and federal regulations regarding wages, hours, and working conditions.
- Member-owner/Community/Cooperative Relations
- Directs and maintains the business as a cooperative society.
- Obtains necessary input from members, stakeholders, and community connections about products, services, and issues affecting the Co-op.
- Establishes and maintains excellent member relations.
- Establishes and maintains ongoing cooperative and consumer goods-related education programs.
- Establishes and maintains positive cooperative profiles in the local community and cooperative community.
- Cultivates and maintains relationships with local food organizations and partners including local farms, natural foods producers, and related community-based organizations.
- Provides education and support to local officials on matters related to regulations and other policies regarding local and natural foods and products.
Qualifications
- Excellent supervisory, organizational, and training skills.
- Ability to understand and work effectively in a cooperative environment.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining strong relationships within a diverse community.
- Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office, web-based communication boards, and electronic mail.
- Proven ability to understand, interpret, and present financial data.
Required Experience
- 10 years in business and personnel management in the grocery and/or retail industry; or
- Bachelor’s degree in management or related field, and 3 years in business and personnel management in the grocery and/or retail industry; or
- Any equivalent combination of education, experience or training.
- Preference will be given to applicants with cooperative grocery experience and experience managing a grocery/café combination.