What are the responsibilities and job description for the General Manager - Chicago position at Levain Bakery?
Brief Description
Competitive triathletes and passionate bakers, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald left their careers to open a small bread shop in New York City in 1995 — Levain Bakery.
One day, they baked a BIG chocolate chip walnut cookie as energy for triathlon training. At Levain, a batch of these 6-ounce cookies flew off the shelves, and an icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious visitors from around the world, hungry for “the cookie.”
From the start, Pam, Connie, and the team baked everything fresh on-site each day, donating the day’s leftovers to charity — and we still do, nearly 30 years later. Today, Levain has bakeries across the country (with more to come!), plus ecommerce gift boxes to treat cookie lovers in every state.
Every day, we strive to embody our company’s five core values:
General Managers collaborate with District Managers to oversee all operations, and the overall financial wellbeing of the bakery. General Managers provide on-the-ground support and ensure retail, baking production, and operations needs are met. The ideal General Manager candidate has strong problem-solving instincts, decision making and leadership skills, and the ability to manage a clear growth path for the bakery.
What you’ll do:
Competitive triathletes and passionate bakers, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald left their careers to open a small bread shop in New York City in 1995 — Levain Bakery.
One day, they baked a BIG chocolate chip walnut cookie as energy for triathlon training. At Levain, a batch of these 6-ounce cookies flew off the shelves, and an icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious visitors from around the world, hungry for “the cookie.”
From the start, Pam, Connie, and the team baked everything fresh on-site each day, donating the day’s leftovers to charity — and we still do, nearly 30 years later. Today, Levain has bakeries across the country (with more to come!), plus ecommerce gift boxes to treat cookie lovers in every state.
Every day, we strive to embody our company’s five core values:
- Welcome All- We are all in it together
- Work Hard and Be Kind- We pull our weight, we do our best, and take care of each other
- Lead with Heart- We operate with empathy and integrity
- Rise Up- We take initiative to make things better
- Savor It- We are present and find the fun!
General Managers collaborate with District Managers to oversee all operations, and the overall financial wellbeing of the bakery. General Managers provide on-the-ground support and ensure retail, baking production, and operations needs are met. The ideal General Manager candidate has strong problem-solving instincts, decision making and leadership skills, and the ability to manage a clear growth path for the bakery.
What you’ll do:
- Act with care, agility, and integrity that promotes our values and culture
- Oversee day-to-day operations of bakery and production, including maintaining DOH standards, creating the weekly schedule, administering accurate and on-time payroll, and performing regular preventative maintenance of equipment
- Manage COGS by monitoring and adjusting PARS, overseeing on-time ordering practices, and ensuring accurate weekly and end of period inventories
- Able to perform every role within the bakery and production to assess and achieve optimal performance
- Own 4-wall P&L; partnering with operations to identify liabilities and opportunities to achieve financial goals
- Coach, develop, and train team members, addressing areas for growth and fostering high-potential talent at every level
- Cultivate an inclusive culture and positive work environment for all team members
- Model superior customer service, providing a warm and welcoming environment for every customer that walks into one of our bakeries
- Create a succession plan to prepare bakery and production for growth and labor changes
- Partner with Cookie Suite, Operations, Finance, Marketing and People, on larger initiatives and projects related to operational procedures, forecasting and reporting, recruitment, and coaching
- Strategize and recommend changes to hit sales goals, increase foot traffic, manage costs, and improve relationships with vendors and community members
- Passion for what you do – you love both the people and business sides of the food industry and are great at thinking through both challenges and opportunities in either area
- Adaptability and flexibility – you recognize that in the food industry, anything can – and will – happen and you’re able to calmly troubleshoot issues
- Eye for detail – you understand how to break down larger goals into day-to-day action and are inherently meticulous and strategic
- Collaborative spirit and commitment to Levain’s core values – you’re a team player and willing to lend a hand or elevate those around you and you’re the first to jump in if extra help is needed in either the front of back-of-house. You add your own individuality to an already positive and uplifting work environment. A good sense of humor doesn’t hurt either!
- Minimum of 4-5 years of food service, QSR, or retail experience, with at least 2-3 years of management experience required
- Open availability: ability to work mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays
- Ability to lift/push 25-50 pounds
- Stand/walk for an 8-hour shift (excluding a ½ hour break); some locations require walking up and down stairs
- Read and communicate in English, both verbally and in writing
- Utilize basic computer skills (Email, Microsoft Office)
- Must have DOH Certification
- $80k-$90k 20% quarterly bonus potential
- Health, Vision, Dental Insurance
- Employer-funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account
- Additional supplemental benefits: Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Bike-Share Reimbursement
- 14 Weeks Fully Paid Parental Leave
- Three Weeks of Paid Time Off
- 401K with 3.5% Company Match
