General Manager

Lodge Bread Company; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Lodge Bread Company in Culver City, CA is seeking a General Manager to oversee daily bakery café operations, ensure service quality, and drive profitability while upholding brand standards. You will lead staff, manage inventory, and maintain a positive work environment.

You will handle cost control, budgeting, purchasing, P&L review, invoicing, and payroll, while ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, or related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a management position in the food and beverage industry, preferably in a bakery and café environment.
• Knowledge of financial statement analysis (P&L) and budget management.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership skills and experience managing teams.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations in the food industry.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with customers and employees.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operations of the café and bakery, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with company standards.
• Manage and motivate the team to ensure exceptional customer service, a positive work environment, and the achievement of sales and service goals.
• Ensure that workstations, kitchen areas, and the dining room are organized, clean, and operating in accordance with health and safety regulations.
• Implement and ensure consistency with operational policies and procedures.
• Manage inventory of food, beverages, and supplies according to operational and production needs.
• Place orders for supplies and products as needed, ensuring availability without overstocking.
• Control the efficient use of resources, minimizing waste and ensuring product freshness.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate prices and delivery times, and ensure timely deliveries.
• Review and analyze monthly financial statements (P&L), identifying areas for improvement in costs, sales, and profit margins.
• Implement strategies to improve profitability through process optimization and cost control.
• Ensure operations comply with assigned budgets and established financial goals.
• Oversee vendor invoicing, review and approve invoices to ensure they are accurate and paid on time.
• Manage employee payroll, ensuring that payments are correct, timely, and comply with labor laws.
• Monitor employee time records, vacation requests, and absences to ensure compliance with company policies.
• Hire, train, and develop team members, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their duties efficiently.
• Schedule work shifts and ensure adequate coverage during peak hours.
• Manage performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to employees.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and motivating work environment.
• Ensure an exceptional customer experience is maintained at all times.
• Address customer concerns promptly and professionally, ensuring their satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to implement promotions and strategies to increase sales and brand presence.
• Maintain accurate records of daily operations, including sales reports, inventories, and other administrative reports.
• Ensure all licenses, permits, and safety regulations are adhered to.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Budget management

P&L analysis

Cost control

Operations management

Customer service

Health & safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Hospitality management

Food & beverage management

Tools

Accounting software

Payroll software

Inventory management tools

Invoicing software

Microsoft 365

Job description

Reports To: Owner / Operations Director

Exempt Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The General Manager is responsible for overseeing all daily operations of the business, including managing staff, ensuring service quality, operational efficiency, and profitability. This person will ensure that the bakery café operations align with Lodge Bread Company's established standards while maintaining a positive and efficient work environment. Additionally, the General Manager will handle inventory management, cost control, budget preparation, purchasing, P&L review, invoicing, and payroll.

Primary Responsibilities

Operations Management

• Oversee the daily operations of the café and bakery, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with company standards.
• Manage and motivate the team to ensure exceptional customer service, a positive work environment, and the achievement of sales and service goals.
• Ensure that workstations, kitchen areas, and the dining room are organized, clean, and operating in accordance with health and safety regulations.
• Implement and ensure consistency with operational policies and procedures.

Inventory and Purchasing Management

• Manage inventory of food, beverages, and supplies according to operational and production needs.
• Place orders for supplies and products as needed, ensuring availability without overstocking.
• Control the efficient use of resources, minimizing waste and ensuring product freshness.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate prices and delivery times, and ensure timely deliveries.

Cost Control and P&L Review

• Review and analyze monthly financial statements (P&L), identifying areas for improvement in costs, sales, and profit margins.
• Implement strategies to improve profitability through process optimization and cost control.
• Ensure operations comply with assigned budgets and established financial goals.

Invoicing and Payroll

• Oversee vendor invoicing, review and approve invoices to ensure they are accurate and paid on time.
• Manage employee payroll, ensuring that payments are correct, timely, and comply with labor laws.
• Monitor employee time records, vacation requests, and absences to ensure compliance with company policies.

Staff Management

• Hire, train, and develop team members, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their duties efficiently.
• Schedule work shifts and ensure adequate coverage during peak hours.
• Manage performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to employees.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and motivating work environment.

Customer Service and Marketing

• Ensure an exceptional customer experience is maintained at all times.
• Address customer concerns promptly and professionally, ensuring their satisfaction.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to implement promotions and strategies to increase sales and brand presence.

Administrative Tasks

• Maintain accurate records of daily operations, including sales reports, inventories, and other administrative reports.
• Ensure all licenses, permits, and safety regulations are adhered to.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, or related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a management position in the food and beverage industry, preferably in a bakery and café environment.
• Knowledge of financial statement analysis (P&L) and budget management.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership skills and experience managing teams.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations in the food industry.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with customers and employees.

Tools and Technology Used

• Accounting and payroll software
• Inventory management tools
• Order processing and invoicing software
• Email and digital communication tools
• Microsoft R365 and relevant office suite

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receiveconsideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any othercharacteristic protected by law.

HOW LODGE GOT GOING

At Lodge Bread Company, we are dedicated to crafting artisanal, naturally-leavened sourdough breads and pastries that celebrate the artistry of local farmers and millers. Our menu reflects a passion for the classics combined with our Middle Eastern heritage. Born from the shared dream of two friends in a backyard bakery, our mission is to create simple yet delicious food while fostering a sense of community and family.

Guided by the vision of our founder, Or Amsalam — a two-time James Beard Award Semifinalist — we strive for excellence in all that we do. We invite everyone to experience the warmth and camaraderie that defines Lodge Bread Company — creating food that’s real, shared, and filled with soul.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

Or first met Arthur in 2015 at a dinner party where their wives introduced them. That evening, Arthur had his first taste of Lodge Bread, and he was instantly hooked.

Fast-forward to 2022, when Or reached out to Arthur seeking guidance on expanding Lodge Bread. Their shared vision and passion for quality led to a strong working partnership, and soon Arthur joined full-time to work alongside Or, helping to grow the business.