Bennington Community Market 

Job Description- General Manager

We’re hiring an upbeat, financially focused General Manager to run the Bennington Community Market, a non-profit community grocery with a mission to increase local food access in downtown Bennington, VT. Our ideal candidate has a strong management background, understands the grocery/produce/cafe business, and likes working with people. The General Manager is a critical role at the market, overseeing all staff positions, all ordering, maintaining communication with an active board of directors, and determining how to arrange resources for maximum productivity. 

Compensation 

$1000/week 

As we move out of the startup phase, this position will be instrumental in researching and implementing our benefit package and vacation/time off policies.

The role will be split three ways:

1) administrative: fine tuning and carrying out the business plan, overseeing financials, working with the Board of Directors. 

 

2) management: hiring, training & overseeing staff, working with the board on job descriptions and benefits for staff.

 

3) hands on support across the market during business hours.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

 

• Managing the market business plan and budget in collaboration with the Board of Directors.

 

• Creating and maintaining relationships with the town, health department, and other bureaucracies to ensure legal compliance in all store activities.

 

• Running the market: hiring staff, stocking the store, coordinating volunteer work days, working with contractors on renovation projects.

 

• Maintaining relationships with farm partners and distributors and processing invoices promptly and accurately.

 

• Supervising retail employees in all of their shift duties, and/or delegating supervisory support in their own absence.

 

• Maintaining personnel details including timekeeping, performance documentation, and emergency contact information for all retail employees.

 

• Conducting performance reviews for all employees on an annual basis and delivering constructive performance feedback on a rolling basis.

 

• Placing and adjusting orders in accordance with the needs of the store and its customer base to achieve sales goals and reduce inventory shrink.

 

• Setting standards of sanitation, site and equipment maintenance, and proper use of facilities; ensuring that all retail staff are aware of and adhere to state and federal regulations regarding personal and tool hygiene, sanitation, cross-contamination, and safe food handling.

 

RESULTS

 

• Running a financially sustainable store that supplies local food to the community and pays a living wage to employees.

 

• Fostering a communicative, equitable, and fun work environment.

 

• Inspiring excellence in both the individual and group.

 

REQUIREMENTS 

 

• Successful record of food business management.

 

• Experience with financial administration, payroll, and benefits.

 

• Drive to research and implement systems to increase team efficiency. 

 

• Community minded and fundamental belief in using business to grow our local food system.

 

• Being a good, active listener.

 

• Have excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

 

• A love for building/managing teams using a strengths-based approach.

 

• Highly organized.

 

• Quick, efficient, multi-tasking and highly attentive to detail.

 

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

 

To apply: 

Please send a 1) cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) the contact information for 3 professional references to,  [email protected]