General Manager

Digs Dog Care; Carmel (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental and vision benefits

401(k) with up to 4% company match

Medical benefits after 6 months

DigIn Shared Ownership Program

DayPlay discounts

Job summary

Digs Dog Care is seeking a General Manager for our Happy Dog location in Carmel, Indiana. You will lead daily operations, mentor a team of 5–20+ staff, ensure safe and excellent pet care, and drive customer satisfaction and business results.

You will collaborate with Area Managers to align on strategic goals, maintain high standards, and execute local plans that boost growth and operational efficiency in a fast-paced resort setting.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team in a pet care or service operation.
• Ability to manage staff, scheduling, and labor guidelines.
• Strong focus on customer experience and pet care standards.

Responsibilities

• Elevate the standard of care by ensuring cleanliness, safety, and compliance.
• Oversee staffing, training, and performance management.
• Manage P&L and budget adherence, identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Develop and execute local marketing plans and community engagement.
• Lead a team of 5-20+ direct reports and foster a positive culture.
• Build relationships with local veterinarians, rescues, and businesses.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Operations management

Communication

Customer service

Job description

About Happy Dog

Happy Dog is part of Digs Dog Care, a network of premium dog care resorts that offer DayPlay, Overnight Stays, Grooming, and Training. We're built on a simple belief: every pup deserves to feel safe, loved, and at home — and every team member plays a real role in making that happen. We work as a team and our shared ownership program means that teammates don't just work here, they have a stake in it.

About The Role

This is a General Manager position at our Happy Dog location in Carmel, IN. The resort offers daycare, overnight boarding, grooming & training. The General Manager is responsible for leading, mentoring, and guiding all team members to ensure smooth daily operations and deliver outstanding customer and teammate experiences. Staffing, retention, and morale all fall under this individual's responsibility, in addition to managing business outcomes such as financial performance and customer experience. The General Manager will work with the Area Manager to build an understanding of the location’s progress and develop a strategic vision for the future and is expected to be a key leader in our operations organization, collaborating with operations leadership, setting strategic goals for operational efficiency and productivity, and owning the execution of our plan relative to our annual budget/goals.

Responsibilities

Digs values and promotes a respectful, positive, and professional work environment and all teammates are expected to adhere to this. This role is a leadership position in the organization and will be critical in developing the culture of Digs. Additionally, you are accountable for the following:

Elevate the Standard of Care

• Meeting Digs and local Department of Ag standards in the cleanliness, maintenance, upkeep, and safety of the facility for our pups, team members, and customers
• Staffing – Always ensuring adequate shift coverage, while adhering to scheduling and labor guidelines
• Monitor, analyze, and respond with a plan of action to drive progress in key performance indicators for Elevating Standards of Care
• Maintaining Dig’s focus of “Treat our Pup Parents like Family” by maintaining excellent customer service metrics such as Net Promoter Score and customer feedback on Google and social media

Core Financials

• Responsible for P&L, including but not limited to meeting budget, notably in labor, maintenance, cost of goods, and other controllable expenses
• Analyze past, present, and future operating performance against budget and goals, and formulate a plan to meet misses, as necessary
• Devise strategies to ensure growth of programs, identifying and implementing process improvements that will maximize output and minimize costs. Thinks and acts like an owner

Business Health

• Build mutually beneficial relationships with local vet hospitals, rescues, shelters, local businesses, local contractors, and local Department of Agriculture representatives
• Execute Digs marketing plans, and implement local market plans such as community events, B2B
• Responsible for outperforming the stores Meet and Greet and Net New Customers goals

Building a team and managing 5-20+ direct reports

• Responsible for the entire employee lifecycle including, hiring, onboarding, training, development, and performance management, including corrective action
• Responsible for facility workforce planning, which includes the recruiting, hiring, training, upskilling and retention of all teammates
• Leverage all available resources at Digs to lead team with integrity and to establish and maintain a trusting, inclusive, and productive environment

Qualifications

These qualifications and experiences help ensure that a store manager can maintain high standards of care and safety, create a welcoming environment for pets and owners, and lead a team dedicated to excellent pet care and customer service. You’re right for this role if you can demonstrate competencies in the following areas:

• Ability to be on-site 5 days per week

Animal Care Knowledge & Experience

• Prior experience working with animals in a professional setting and familiarity with animal behavior, handling, and basic health needs
• Pet First Aid and Safety: Ability to recognize signs of distress or illness in animals and manage minor injuries or emergencies. Certification in pet CPR and first aid is not required, but nice to have
• Knowledge of health and sanitation standards for animals, including facility cleanliness and hygiene to prevent disease spread

Leadership and People Development

• Experience training and supervising staff, particularly in animal handling, safety, and customer service
• Ability to motivate and lead a team, with experience in setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and upholding high standards of care and service. Must also be capable of handling challenging situations, including conducting termination conversations when performance does not meet Digs standards

Pet-Parent Centric Approach

• Takes pride in making every interaction with pet-parents exceptional and navigates difficult conversations with poise and integrity
• Experience in client-facing roles, including handling client inquiries, addressing concerns, and ensuring satisfaction

Business Acumen

• Basic knowledge of budgeting, inventory control, and cost management to help the store remain profitable and efficient
• Capable of analyzing metrics and drawing insights that can drive results

Operations Excellence

• Monitors progress against key performance indicators and takes constructive feedback and applies it to drive performance
• Regularly improves processes that increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve compliance and safety
• Leads with a continuous improvement mindset to share best practices with the Digs operations team

Adaptability and Resilience

• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations, such as pet emergencies or client complaints, and find effective solutions
• Flexibility to adjust to changing needs, unexpected situations, and varying personalities and behaviors

Communication & Influence Skills

• Establishes strong professional relationships with different personalities; takes pride in ensuring information flows effectively throughout the team
• Articulates expectations to the team and provides constructive feedback on all job duties
• Ability to clearly communicate pet care instructions and facility policies to pet owners, as well as provide updates on their pets’ well-being

What We Offer

At Digs, we take care of our pack. Dental and vision benefits kick in shortly after your start date, and at 90 days you're eligible for a 401(k) with up to 4% company match. At 6 months, medical benefits become available to full-time teammates, and after one year you can join our DigIn Shared Ownership Program — because we believe the people who build Digs should share in its success. Many locations also offer teammates discounted DayPlay as a little extra perk. Digs Dog Care is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

The Pay Range For This Role Is

60,000 - 70,000 USD per year(Happy Dog)