Complex Retail and Bakery General Manager

Goodwin Recruiting; Norwich (VT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision

Life and disability

401K and other retirement plan options

Generous bonus

Ample vacation / PTO

Technology package

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Goodwin Recruiting is seeking a General Manager for a beloved bakery cafe in Norwich, VT. This on-site leadership role focuses on delivering exceptional hospitality, managing labor and margins, upholding food safety and quality, and inspiring teams on the floor daily.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years leading bakery/restaurant operations, a strong P&L mindset, and a genuine passion for mentorship, process improvements, and guest experience.

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive leadership in bakery/restaurant environments.
• Experience leading food service and bakery operations including labor, margin, safety, quality.
• Proven success leading diverse teams and developing talent.
• P&L ownership with budgeting and forecasting.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and handle packaged dry foods.
• On-floor leadership with a hospitality focus.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Hospitality

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, hospitality, foodservice management, or related field

Job description

Company with incredible tenure and established history, is looking for a new General Manager for their retail and bakery cafe location.

Integrity, genuine hospitality and passion for caring about the team are essential in this role!

General Manager Benefits

• Health, dental and vision
• Life and disability
• 401K and other retirement plan options
• Generous bonus
• Ample vacation / PTO
• Technology package
• Relocation assistance

General Manager Requirements

• 8 years of progressive leadership in complex, high volume bakery, café, restaurant, or multi-department retail environments
• Significant experience leading food service and bakery operations, including responsibility for labor, margin, food safety, quality, service standards, inventory, and operational performance
• Proven success leading leaders and large, diverse teams, with a strong record of building trust, developing talent, improving engagement, and delivering results through others
• Experience building a strong leadership bench and creating opportunities for growth, mobility, and succession
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, margin management, and performance analysis
• Ability to handle, stock, and organize packaged dry food products, including lifting and carrying items of varying weights (typically up to 40 pounds), with or without assistance or adaptive equipment
• Ability to regularly work, touch and taste food products in an environment where food allergens may be present

General Manager Soft Skills Requirements

• Integrity and moral compass
• Genuine hospitality demeanor and evident joyful mindset
• Excellent communication, collaboration, judgment, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Strives to continually improve and implement new processes to reduce environmental impact
• Creates the clarity, support, coaching, and accountability people need to grow, perform at their best, and deliver results
• Balances genuine care for people with high expectations for business performance
• Highly visible, hands-on leader who spends time on the floor and will jump in when needed
• Builds trust through active listening, curiosity, humility, and follow-through
• Makes employees feel valued, heard, and connected to the business
• Naturally thinks about hospitality and creating memorable experiences
• Can articulate a compelling vision that motivates teams
• Sets clear priorities when there are competing demands
• Converts vision into operating expectations and measurable outcomes
• Drives continuous improvement rather than simply maintaining the operation
• Influences effectively without relying solely on authority
• Knows when to ask for help and brings others into problem-solving

General Manager Preferences:

• Bachelors degree in business, hospitality, foodservice management, or related field
• Deep respect for the craft of baking, and champions exceptional product quality, fostering curiosity and appreciation for the ingredients, techniques, standards, and expertise behind our products and baking experiences
• Cares about company-wide green norms, and looks for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle
• Understands and embraces an employee-ownership / ESOP culture

JOB ID: 182865#post

Miko Lukas