General Manager - Fresh Food Kitchen & Retail

Just-Food-For-Dogs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

JustFoodForDogs in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL is seeking a General Manager to own the four-wall operation, champion guest experiences, and drive exceptional service. You lead by example, develop people, and solve operational challenges while achieving sales and profitability goals.

Responsibilities include staffing, onboarding, scheduling, maintaining brand standards, food safety, and coaching the team to deliver a warm, efficient guest experience across front- and back-of-house.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2–3 years of progressive leadership experience in a high-volume quick-service or fast-casual restaurant environment (as a GM, AGM, or high-level Service Leader).
• ServSafe and Food Manager’s Card Required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong emotional intelligence and sense of team dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations with a customer-first mentality to deliver great service.
• Maintain a strong floor presence during peak hours; greet guests and handle feedback with empathy.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and regular talent benchmarking to ensure optimal staffing.
• Build a transparent, collaborative, and motivating work environment with ongoing coaching and development.
• Deliver results by coordinating front- and back-of-house teams to exceed sales and profitability goals.
• Oversee opening/closing procedures, brand standards, inventory control, and SOPs.
• Manage labor schedules, control waste, optimize ordering, and analyze P&L for profitability.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Emotional intelligence

Team dynamics

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL, US

7 days ago Requisition ID: 2761

Salary Range: $65,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually

Reports to: Regional Director

Company: JustFoodForDogs, LLC

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt

About JustFoodForDogs:

JustFoodForDogs, the #1 vet recommended fresh food for dogs, is dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives through real, whole-food nutrition. Founded in 2010, JustFoodForDogs revolutionized the fresh whole food movement for dogs when it opened the first open-to-the-public kitchen cooking food for dogs. All of our recipes are formulated by veterinarians and made with 100% human-grade ingredients. Today, consumers can find JustFoodForDogs at JustFoodForDogs retail locations, their favorite retailers and on-line at JustFoodForDogs.com. The company’s offerings include daily meals, shelf-stable products, supplements, and treats. To learn more about JustFoodForDogs, visit JustFoodForDogs.com

Job Summary

When it comes to pets, pet parents, and our people – we are Raving Fans! As the General Manager, you will "own your four-wall operation"—championing exceptional guest experiences, driving high operational execution, and cultivating a positive workplace culture where people can be successful. You are a hands-on individual who leads by example, excels at developing people, and can critically think to problem-solve operational challenges; all while achieving success through your team!

Key Responsibilities

• Live our Misson: Lead each day with a customer-first mentality, inspiring the team to find creative ways to say “yes” to guests and deliver great service.
• Model the Standard: Maintain a strong floor presence during peak hours to greet guests, ensure speed of service, and immediately handle guest feedback with empathy and professionalism.
• Foster a Positive Attitude: Ensure the team maintains a warm, welcoming, and positive atmosphere that keeps guests returning.
• People Planning & Talent Acquisition: Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and regular talent benchmarking to ensure the store is optimally staffed with highly performing individuals.
• Be a Team Player: Build a transparent, collaborative, and motivating work environment. Address behavioral and performance issues promptly and respectfully through active coaching and corrective action. Provide ongoing training, intentional career growth pathing, and constructive feedback to direct reports.
• Deliver Results: People and performance go together. Work through your front and back-of-house teams to deliver a consistently exceptional guest experience, rooted in operational excellence to exceed sales and profitability goals.

3. Operational Standards & Execution

• Maintain Peak Excellence: Oversee daily opening and closing procedures, ensuring strict compliance with brand standards, product quality, inventory control, and standard operating procedures.
• Safety & Compliance: Enforce rigorous food safety, sanitation, and physical security measures, ensuring the kitchen and sales areas pass all audits.
• Financial Stewardship: Manage labor schedules, control food waste, optimize supply ordering, and analyze P&L statements to drive profitability without compromising on quality or service.

4. Agile Problem Solving

• Navigate High-Volume Environments: Anticipate bottlenecks during rush periods and make quick, calculated adjustments to staffing positions or workflows.
• Adaptability: Welcome change and adapt smoothly to new corporate initiatives, product rollouts, or unexpected mechanical/facilities challenges; and can independently solve problems.
• Conflict Resolution: Serve as the ultimate problem solver for interpersonal team conflicts or intricate customer complaints, resolving issues with an open mind and structured judgment.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 2–3 years of progressive leadership experience in a high-volume quick-service or fast-casual restaurant environment (as a GM, AGM, or high-level Service Leader). ServSafe and Food Manager’s Card Required
• Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong emotional intelligence and sense of team dynamics.
• Work Ethic: "Hungry and Humble"—a self-motivated professional who takes immediate initiative, actions feedback, possesses a servant’s heart, and continuously looks for operational improvements.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, squat, and walk for extended periods, work in a fast-paced environment, and lift up to 50 lbs. Ability to work alone at times.
• Availability: Flexible schedule, including the ability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Tenets of the Pack (Company Values)

Live Our Mission –We believe this is more than a job. It’s a cause.

Be a Team Player – We put company goals and success first.

Maintain a Positive Attitude – We bring energy, enthusiasm, and drive to everything we do.

Deliver Results – We play to win.

JUSTFOODFORDOGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
JUSTFOODFORDOGS does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law.