General Manager - Berkshire Food Co-op - Great Barrington

This is a turnaround role for a leader who wants to rebuild a beloved community institution. Fewer shoppers are coming through the door, and those who come are spending less per visit.

The fundamentals are still here: thousands of loyal owners, a modern store in the center of town, deep ties to local farms and makers, and a board committed to change. We need a General Manager who can grow sales quickly, run a disciplined store, and give owners, staff and shoppers a reason to choose the Co-op again.

Position summary

The General Manager is the Co-op's chief executive and its only direct report to the Board of Directors, which owners elect. The GM is responsible for the Co-op's financial health, its operations and its people.

• Reports to: Board of Directors
• Direct reports: Department leads; oversees a total team of 40
• Location: On-site in Great Barrington, MA. Great Barrington sits in the heart of the Berkshires, about 2.5 hours from Boston and New York City, with a strong arts, farm and food community.
• Status: Full-time, exempt

Key responsibilities

Sales growth and the shopper experience

• Lead a plan to reverse the decline in both customer count and average basket size
• Ensure the Co-op is a joyful shopping experience and a vibrant source of meaningful connections
• Direct merchandising, pricing, promotions and product mix so the store is competitive on value and distinctive on local and specialty goods
• Oversee marketing, owner recruitment and community partnerships that bring new and lapsed shoppers back

Financial management

• Own the P&L: sales, gross margin, staff, operating expenses, cash flow and net income
• Prepare the annual budget and capital plan; monitor results weekly and correct course quickly
• Manage inventory, shrink, vendor terms and the lease relationship
• Use National Co-op Grocers programs and peer benchmarks to improve margin and buying

Operations

• Oversee all departments: Grocery and Wellness, Produce, Fresh Foods, Meat, Seafood & Cheese, Customer Service, Marketing, Administration and Maintenance
• Ensure food safety, sanitation, OSHA and all regulatory compliance
• Keep systems, equipment and technology (POS, scheduling, accounting) working and up to date

People and culture

• Build a culture of inclusion, empathy and respect.
• Recruit, develop and hold accountable a strong management team
• Ensure the team thrives in their individual and collective growth.

Owners, community and governance

• Be the Co-op's public face with owners, local producers, civic partners and the press
• Grow ownership and owner engagement, including owner drives and owner investment campaigns
• Work with the Board on strategy; deliver timely, candid monitoring and financial reports

• 5+ years of senior retail grocery management (store manager, operations manager or GM), including managing managers
• A track record of growing sales and improving profitability, ideally in a turnaround
• Strong financial skills: budgeting, forecasting, P&L, margin analysis and cash flow
• Hands-on knowledge of grocery operations, merchandising, pricing and buying
• Clear, candid communication with staff, owners, the Board and the public
• The courage to make hard decisions, and the ability to lead through change
• Belief in the cooperative model and community ownership

Preferred

• Co-op or natural foods retail experience
• Experience with National Co-op Grocers programs, and a  co-op board
• Experience running owner loan, capital or fundraising campaigns
• Knowledge of local food systems and relationships with farmers and producers
• Proficiency with grocery POS systems (for example, Catapult or CoPOS) and QuickBooks
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring and leadership