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General Manager Application

 

Position Details

Job Title: General Manager

Reports To: Board of Directors

Salary Range: $75,000 - 105,000

Position Type: Full-time, salaried

 

Who We Are

At Common Ground Food Cooperative, we support local farmers & producers. We are here to serve the local CU area by providing nutritious groceries, house-made delights, and natural products for body & home. We strive to create a place for all our neighbors to gather & learn. We believe that good people and good food combined with hard work and care for the community can bring great things to us all.

Common Ground isn't your average employer: we provide competitive wages and benefits, a great work environment, and plenty of opportunity for growth. You can make a difference here.

Common Ground offers:

  • Extensive training resources through National Co-Op Grocers

  • 3+ weeks paid time off (4+ weeks after 2 years service)

  • Sick pay

  • Staff discount for you and 2 others

  • Employee charge account

  • Medical, Dental, & Vision benefits

  • Life Insurance

  • Illness and Accident insurance

  • Sustainable transportation incentive program

  • Retirement Simple IRA & company matching

  • Relaxed dress code

Common Ground's first and most important End is "The Co-op is the center of an inclusive and vibrant community."  Everyone is welcome here. What this looks like for us regarding hiring: we do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

 

Who You Are

  • Our ideal General Manager is someone who leads with both heart and discipline. You believe in what a co-op stands for and bring that conviction to every decision you make. You're a natural collaborator who knows how to delegate effectively and follow through on your commitments. You set clear, achievable goals, manage competing priorities without losing sight of the big picture, and build genuine relationships with staff, customers, and the broader community. You see budgets and reporting as tools for keeping the co-op healthy and accountable.

Essential Responsibilities

  • Ensures that the Co-op is financially healthy by complying with financial controls and policies, monitoring financial performance and key metrics, and adjusting strategy accordingly.

  • Sets the store standards for customer service, employee relations, cleanliness, sanitation, professional appearance and overall profitability.

  • Collaborates with the Operations Manager and the Department Heads to develop and implement strategies for growth and efficiency.

  • Helps to develop the annual budget and ensures compliance with it

  • Submits required monthly reporting to the Co-op Board in a timely manner

  • Inspires employees with a shared sense of purpose and accountability.

  • Maintains a positive attitude and creates an environment that nurtures positive employee morale, friendliness, fun and inclusiveness.

  • Helps develop pricing structure and merchandising to plan and meet established goals.

  • Understands consumer trends and reacts to those trends in a timely and appropriate manner.

  • Reviews pricing and stays abreast of possible new items on a regular basis.

  • Reviews all aspects of the inventory process.

  • Represents the co-op in a positive manner and participates in local and community activities.

  • Ensures the store’s procedures are in place regarding safeguarding of financial assets.

  • Attends to the concerns and needs of the Co-op owners and employees.

  • Oversees, delegates, and evaluates the effectiveness of the following departments:

    • Marketing

    • Human Resources

    • Finance

    • Grocery

    • Produce

    • Kitchen

    • Facilities

  • Envisions and builds toward the long-term sustainability and growth of the Co-op.

 

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are those that an employee must meet, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

  • Must be able to physically perform light work exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently.

  • Visual requirements include vision from less than 20 inches to more than 20 feet with or without correction, depth perception, color vision, and field of vision.

  • Must be able to perform the following physical activities: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.

 

Desired Experience

At minimum, the General Manager should have the following experience:

  • Retail or small business management

  • Budget development

  • 5+ years of management leadership experience

  • Management of multiple aspects of an organization

  • Oversight of 15+ employees

Highly experienced candidates may also have the following experience:

  • Grocery management

  • Knowledge of co-op culture

  • Reporting to a board of directors

  • 10+ years of management leadership experience

  • Overseeing multiple teams with varying responsibilities

Note: Studies have shown that women and people of color may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We encourage you to apply for this job even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed.

 

Apply Here

 

Review of applications will begin on May 13th, 2026 and continue on a rolling basis until the right candidate is found.