General Manager

~ With two stores nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts, the Franklin Community Co-operative is a well-established, consumer-owned food cooperative with $8.5 million in annual sales and 85+ employees and 2,270 member-owners. ~ 

Position Overview 

The Franklin Community Co-operative is seeking candidates for the position of General Manager.   

Responsibilities  

• The General Manager (GM) reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for overall operations of our two retail grocery stores; 
• The GM leads the staff in providing exceptional customer service;
• The GM will maintain a financially thriving business in a competitive marketplace; 
• Is responsible for working towards organizational goals established by the Board of Directors; and
• In conjunction with the Board of Directors, employees, and member-owners, the ideal candidate will help to chart the future direction of the Co-op. 

Qualifications 

Required:  

• Experience managing a retail food business as general manager, store manager, or operations manager;
• Excellent communication skills that include the ability to write and speak clearly and concisely;
• The ability to give clear instructions;
• Responsiveness to inquiries from the board, staff, members, and customers;
• Listening skills;
• The ability to give and receive productive and constructive feedback;
• Proven ability to lead and motivate others to achieve a common vision, ability to create a participatory process to build a strategic plan for success and inspire those around them with passion and realistic vision;
• Working knowledge of how to use an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement to monitor and drive financial performance;
• Proven ability to establish goals, coach/mentor team members and hold them accountable for performance;
• Experience working with a Board of Directors; and
• High level of computer literacy. 

Highly Desired Qualifications: 

• 5-7 years experience managing a retail food business preferably in natural foods sector, as general manager, store manager, or operations manager;
• Three years of successful multi-department management experience;
• Extensive knowledge of trends in natural foods, including organic and fair-trade industries;
• Demonstrated ability to interpret financial statements to lay people;
• Proven ability to develop and evaluate retail systems;
• Familiarity with the cooperative economic model; and
• Experience in Open Book Management and its implementation. 

To Apply: 

Please use the email address below to send a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references to:

GM Search
Franklin Community Co-operative
144 Main St.
Greenfield, MA 01301