General Manager

Job Description

Context:

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The Common Market is a nonprofit social enterprise building a more resilient and equitable food system. Through our regional chapters, we connect family farmers with schools, hospitals, universities, and community organizations.

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Our Great Lakes distribution center handles and delivers fresh, perishable food to institutional customers. We are seeking a General Manager to lead daily operations across warehouse, fleet, food safety, and frontline teams.

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Role Description:

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The General Manager owns the daily performance of the Chicago food distribution center, from inbound receiving and inventory control to accurate order fulfillment and on-time delivery. This hands-on leader is accountable for service, safety, staffing, cost, and continuous improvement.

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Working with the Executive Director, Sales, Customer Support, and VP of Operations, the GM makes day-to-day decisions independently, develops staff, and ensures that warehouse and transportation operations can support growth.

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Candidate Profile:

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We are seeking a hands-on distribution leader who can supervise warehouse associates and drivers while addressing operational issues directly in a lean, fast-paced facility. Experience with foodservice, fresh produce, refrigerated distribution, or comparable perishable-food operations is particularly valuable.

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The strongest candidates pair warehouse and fleet leadership with food safety knowledge, sound financial judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities without large support teams.

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Key Responsibilities:

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Food Distribution & Warehouse Operations

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Lead receiving, storage, picking, packing, staging, and shipment of fresh and perishable products, maintaining safe handling and cold-chain practices.

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Maintain inventory accuracy, product rotation, traceability, and effective controls to limit shrink, spoilage, and waste.

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Manage warehouse staffing, equipment, workflow, order accuracy, productivity, and service-level performance.

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Oversee procurement coordination, inventory availability, and product flow while partnering with Sales and Customer Support to meet customer commitments.

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Transportation & Fleet Management

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Direct route execution, driver scheduling, safe loading, dispatch, and on-time delivery.

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Oversee the five truck fleet, including preventive maintenance, vehicle inspections, repairs, and operational readiness.

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Supervise drivers and oversee applicable DOT compliance, vehicle safety, route efficiency, and transportation costs.

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Food Safety & Quality

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Oversee site-level implementation of the SQF food safety program, including audit readiness, corrective actions, documentation, and staff compliance, in coordination with designated food safety personnel.

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Maintain compliance with applicable HACCP, FSMA, sanitation, temperature-control, and customer requirements.

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People, Financial & Operational Leadership

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Lead hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, and performance management for warehouse and driver teams.

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Develop and manage site-level labor and operating budgets; analyze costs and make decisions that directly affect site-level financial performance.

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Track operational KPIs, including productivity, order accuracy, safety, on-time delivery, labor efficiency, and product waste.

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Resolve operational problems proactively and implement practical process improvements.

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Success in This Role

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Consistent delivery performance, inventory accuracy, safe food handling, and reliable fleet operations.

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Successful food safety audits, timely corrective actions, and effective labor and operating cost control.

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Strong frontline accountability and issues resolved without unnecessary escalation.

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Qualifications:

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·      Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.

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·      7–12+ years in operations, logistics, or distribution, including 3–5+ years leading frontline or supervisory teams.

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·      Experience in a food-handling environment required; direct food distribution, foodservice, fresh produce, refrigerated distribution, or comparable perishable-food operations strongly preferred.

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·      Demonstrated experience with warehouse operations, inventory management, and order fulfillment.

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·      Experience overseeing delivery drivers, transportation operations, and fleet maintenance; refrigerated trucking preferred.

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·      Working knowledge of SQF, HACCP, FSMA, or comparable food safety systems, including audit or corrective-action processes.

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·      Experience managing operational budgets, analyzing costs, and making decisions that affect site-level financial performance.

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·      Ability to lead multiple functions in a lean operation; strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

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Location & Travel:

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Full-time onsite at the Great Lakes distribution facility.

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Address: 7424 S Lockwood Ave, Bedford Park, IL 60638

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Compensation & Benefits

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Salary: $100,000 annually

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Medical, dental, and vision benefits

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SIMPLE IRA with 100% employer match

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Employer-paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability

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Paid vacation, sick time, and public holidays