General Manager / Grocery Store Manager

About KCFC

Kensington Community Food Co-operative (KCFC) is a Philadelphia-based member-owned cooperative grocery store that serves the neighbors of Kensington, Fishtown, Port Richmond, and beyond. Founded by a group of neighbors in 2008, the organization now has more than 1,500 member households and a 2,855 square foot store that typically takes in $1.7 million a year in sales. While the business is owned and guided by our member base, KCFC offers high-quality, local-first food and home goods to non-members and members alike, working to transform public access to fresh marketplace products with a commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. KCFC also has a liquor license and sells beer and wine to go, as well as has the capacity for food service and poured alcoholic beverages through the KCFC BrewCafe, situated next door to the grocery side of the business.

KCFC is looking for its next permanent General Manager to build on its recent relaunch and passionately lead KCFC into its future, which includes KCFC’s new membership in National Co+op Grocers. KCFC anticipates hiring the new General Manager to start in mid to late March 2023 with a handoff from the current interim General Manager, and requests that applicants submit their application by February 19, 2023, for priority consideration.

KCFC uses Policy Governance, an operating system for Boards of Directors, as our underlying framework to build agreement and make decisions. Within the context of Policy Governance, policies are the proactive articulation of KCFC’s mission and guide the Board’s and the General Manager (GM)’s actions. Additionally, KCFC's Policy Governance defines the responsibilities and accountability of the GM, as well as executive limitations (the negative situations/results that the GM must prevent). For more information, please see https://columinate.coop/policy-governance-quick-guide/.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the GM is to lead KCFC so that it achieves our Ends Statement, which is as follows:

Kensington Community Food Co-op will sustain:

• a thriving, healthy community and environment
• principles of equity and justice in the business of the co-op
• a vibrant cooperative economy
• an active and engaged membership
• and a community educated in social, economic and food justice.

The Board anticipates general responsibilities of the GM to include, but not be limited to, the following list.

General Responsibilities

• Ensure an excellent in-store customer experience in alignment with established KCFC vision, mission, and Ends Statement
• Effectively manage retail staff, other staff, and co-op volunteers, with an eye on effective delegation, empowering employees, identifying labor efficiencies, and maximizing employee output (sales per labor hour)
• Ensure adequate stock and timely order fulfillment to maximize sales
• Develop pricing, merchandising, and customer experience strategies that meet the needs of the membership and the diverse neighborhoods surrounding the co-op
• Oversee marketing activities to expand customer base and drive both membership and sustained customer engagement over time
• Actively engage members and be responsive to member communications and feedback
• Evaluate progress of the store toward its goals and make appropriate strategic changes and/or recommendations to the Board
• Ensure that the KCFC BrewCafe is effectively managed in alignment with KCFC’s mission, Ends Statement, and growth strategy
• Partner with the Board to sustain key stakeholder relationships, including with National Co+op Grocers, major funders, KCFC’s landlord, and other parties, through, but not limited to, timely communication and delivery of all reports, payments, and requested information
• Partner with the Board to implement fundraising and membership activities in the store and through KCFC’s marketing channels
• Complete a Monthly General Manager Report and attend monthly scheduled Board meetings
• Attend all Finance Committee meetings and work with the Board Treasurer to complete Quarterly Financial Reports and report on monthly Key Performance Indicators, as well as evaluate and update operating and capital budgets
• Work with committee leads to oversee all Operational Committees
• Ensure timely payment of all invoices and financial obligations
• Ensure completion of all financial and legal responsibilities, including compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and tax policies

Required Qualifications

• Cooperative and/or retail management experience (grocery management experience strongly preferred)
• Supervisory experience (hiring, training, evaluating, compensating, and firing)
• Strong leadership and communication skills (proven ability to motivate, lead, and coordinate)
• Good conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills, organization, and time management
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and the ability to evaluate and determine appropriate strategic changes
• Experience with operating, capital, and cash budgeting
• Ability to make financial investment decisions and interpret financial statements to laypeople
• Ability to handle multiple demands, be proactive, and keep momentum going for growth and change
• Ethics aligned with KCFC's mission and values, as well as respect and support for the Board’s process
• Digital literacy (basic computer skills, Google Suite, Microsoft Excel, point-of-sales systems, etc.)
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent certificate

Preferred Qualifications

• Independent (as opposed to chain) store management experience
• Experience supervising managers or senior staff
• Demonstrated ability to develop systems
• Bottom-line accountability experience
• Experience in or knowledge of current trends in the natural foods industry
• Experience in marketing and merchandising in highly competitive markets

Schedule

This position is a full-time, salaried position of 40 hours per week. Schedule will be flexible with the exception of scheduled meetings, including some daytime/evening/weekend availability when the GM’s attendance is required. The GM’s in-store and management schedule will be determined and managed by the GM. Performance review will be conducted on an annual or as-needed basis.

Reporting Relationships

Policy Governance defines the Board-GM relationship. The GM reports to the Board of Directors, which is elected by KCFC’s member-owners. The Board uses policy to define the results that the GM is expected to achieve within defined limits of prudence and ethics. The GM is given all authority to lead KCFC to successfully achieve its Ends Statement, within the executive limitations, as defined in our Policy Governance manual. (The Board’s Policy Governance manual is available upon request.)