Cider Mill Manager

Blake Farms; Michigan; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Blake Farms in Michigan seeks a Cider Mill Manager to oversee all aspects of the retail cider mill operation, including supervising daily store activities, staff management, scheduling, and profitability. You will implement SOPs, drive customer sales and service, and mentor the team to align with company goals and values.

The role requires leadership, merchandising expertise, and strong financial awareness to maintain margins and grow sales while ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Prior food retail or grocery management experience required.
• Experience with P&L reporting.
• Ability to lead a multi-location operation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds.
• Willingness to work weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day operations to provide the highest level of customer service.
• Oversee merchandising and maintain stock levels through proper ordering.
• Decide on promotions, displays, pricing, and store advertising.
• Manage weekly schedules and staffing levels.
• Coordinate with shipping, supply chain, bakery, marketing, and finance for smooth operations.
• Handle customer concerns and provide resolutions.
• Conduct staff meetings and performance evaluations.
• Ensure compliance with safety, signage, and regulatory standards.
• Assist in hiring and interviewing candidates.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Communication

Merchandising

Staff management

Scheduling

Budgeting

P&L reporting

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Job description

Description

The Cider Mill Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of successfully running the retail Cider Mill operation. You’ll be involved in supervising day-to-day store activities, ensuring overall store performance, identifying staffing needs, managing schedules, creating, and implementing standard operating procedures, customer sales & service, staff management, financial control and developing operational action plans while mentoring and developing the team. In this position it is critical to manage through action by working alongside employees in any and all tasks

The Manager is vital to the success of the company and must ensure that the owners’ strategies and goals are met, and that the overall customer satisfaction provided by the company is conducive to building sales and maintaining profitability.

The Cider Mill Manager will contribute to a work environment that fosters pride in being part of a winning team and promotes personal growth. You and your team are responsible for supporting the company vision and mission. Because you will be in contact with current and prospective customers, and you are in a strong position to influence their satisfaction and our company prosperity, this position requires tact, sensitivity, and professionalism.

Responsibilities and Duties

Operations

• Supervise the day-to-day operations and performance of the team to provide the highest level of customer service for the customer
• Oversees product merchandising and maintains proper stock levels through appropriate product ordering
• Ability to make decisions regarding the sales floor, sales promotions, merchandising displays, pricing, and store advertising
• Maintain awareness of all available promotions and assist customer with all inquiries and assisting in locating products within the store.
• Ensures proper store signage is always maintained, as well as the quality and freshness of all non-perishable and perishable products
• Monitors the competitive environment within the community and makes recommendations regarding adjustments necessary to maintain a competitive position
• Ability to research and recommend new products to carry and/or those that should be discontinued based on data and trends in the industry.
• Understands the overarching company strategy, as well as communicates and models the core values of the organization, to create a sense of teamwork and membership among employees
• Handles customer concerns and ensures an appropriate resolution
• Assists in the hiring of store personnel by reviewing resumes and employment applications, as well as interviewing candidates
• Prepares, manages, and revises weekly schedules to ensure appropriate store staffing levels
• Coordinates with other intercompany departments including shipping/receiving, supply chain, bakery, sweet cider, marketing, finance/accounting to ensure smooth operations.
• Other duties as assigned

Financial

• Achieves financial objectives by preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.
• Conducts store inventory counts and reconciliations according to company guidelines
• Ability to understand and calculate cost of goods & sales volume to ensure proper margins and department financials are met
• Manages store payroll, labor, and overtime budgets in accordance with the annual budget
• Manages cash control and cash procedures to minimize loss

Management & Leadership

• Conduct store/department meetings
• Identifies training and development opportunities that will assist direct reports in achieving enhanced performance
• Conducts annual performance evaluations, recommending store personnel for advancement and termination as appropriate
• Complies with all established company policies and procedures while upholding the security and confidentiality of documents and data
• Establishes and communicates job responsibilities and performance expectations to direct reports to ensure mutual understanding and desired results
• Ability to manage 2-8 revenue centers (café, snack shack, Apple Barn, donut express) depending on the season.
• Management of as few as 25 employees, up to as many as 250+ employees.
• Provides a safe environment for employees, customers, and vendors by identifying and rectifying hazards, ensuring proper ergonomics, and maintaining store equipment in proper working order
• Ensure compliance with state regulations regarding meal times and breaks for minor workers in the department.
• Support cashiers and other retail associates as needed. Leadership by example. Willing to do any job asked no matter the size or request.
• Must be available to work weekends and Holidays
• Strength in coaching young leaders to be larger players in our company.

Requirements

Education, Knowledge & Skills

• High School Diploma or equivalent; Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Prior Food Retail or Grocery/produce management experience required
• Experience with P&L Reporting
• Experience managing a multi-dimensional operation
• Knowledge and/or experience with creative merchandising of a retail operation
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task in an ever changing, intense environment
• Knowledge of inventory management
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Must be a self-starter with minimal supervision and good follow-through
• Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and integrity a must
• Ability to lift and move up to 75 pounds

Working Conditions

• The work for this position will be divided between a climate controlled, smoke free office environment, outside and in other business locations. Normal outdoor weather and travel hazards apply.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud at times requiring ear protection.
• Work will be performed from eight to ten hours per day, five to six days per week. Weekend work will be required for busy weekends. Some days you may be working with computer terminal and monitor for up to 8 hours.
• The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold and extreme heat. Eye protection is required around moving parts.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and/or use a computer.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed. You will be expected to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested by your supervisors.

Disclaimer:

The Blake’s family of companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.