General Manager

Drift Coffee & Kitchen; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Bonus based on performance

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Employee discounts

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Training & development

Wellness resources

Parental leave

Job summary

Drift Coffee & Kitchen is seeking a General Manager for our Chapel Hill location. You will lead both front-of-house and back-of-house teams, delivering an exceptional guest experience while driving store performance and brand consistency.

The role requires strong leadership, operations, and communication skills to manage staffing, scheduling, and daily store execution. Competitive benefits and opportunities for advancement are offered as part of our team-oriented culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full employee lifecycle from posting to onboarding, coaching, and performance management.
• Develop and implement coaching principles and corrective feedback for staff.
• Mentor the Assistant General Manager to prepare for future GM readiness.
• Uphold company policies and standards across all shifts.
• Oversee ordering, labor planning, and budget targets to achieve financial goals.
• Manage P&L, controllables, and bonus targets while ensuring guest satisfaction.
• Maintain the brand online presence and ensure staff are knowledgeable about Drift products.
• Translate company initiatives into actionable store plans and lead weekly performance reviews.

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Wellness resources
• Parental leave

Drift is a collection of independent cafes serving fresh, holistic foods and beverages while offering an interactive experience to each and every guest. The experience drives connections between people. As a team, we are united by this everyday. Founded in 2014, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on each guest through delicious coffee and made-to-order food.

We are looking for a General Manager to lead our Chapel Hill location. At Drift, leaders need to be comfortable managing front of house and back of house teams, while delivering an excellent guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development
  • Manage the full employee lifecycle, including job posting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management.
  • Develop and implement coaching principles and corrective feedback strategies for all staff.
  • Directly mentor and develop the Assistant General Manager (AGM) to prepare them for future GM readiness.
  • Uphold company handbook policies and standards throughout all shifts.
• Business & Financial Acumen
  • Manage all ordering processes with a focus on achieving COGS targets.
  • Develop and execute labor strategies, including writing schedules, to meet labor targets.
  • Oversee financial management, including reading the P&L and managing controllables to meet bonus targets.
• Guest Experience & Brand Management
  • Manage the brand's online presence, including writing professional review responses within 48 hours.
  • Ensure all staff are knowledgeable and articulate about the Drift product line.
  • Handle and resolve senior-level guest issues and manage customer-facing system issues that materially impact the guest experience.
• Operational Excellence & Communication
  • Translate company initiatives into actionable store plans and manage change rollouts.
  • Set weekly goals for the restaurant and communicate performance during regular meetings with the AGM.
  • Own and complete all administrative reporting, including payroll processing, weekly reports ("weekly 5"), managing deposits, and reviewing/correcting time punches accurately.
  • Manage vendor relationships, order uniforms, and track and maintain the entire store monthly.
  • Utilize the store dashboard to drive operational decisions.