General Manager

Job Description

The Carlisle Group is pleased to be partnered on a retained search with East End Food Co-op (EEFC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the search for their next General Manager.

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Founded in 1980, East End Food Co-op has grown into a respected community-owned grocery cooperative with more than $14 million in annual sales and over 15,500 member-owners . The Co-op's mission is rooted in building a prosperous, just, and vibrant local food economy by connecting consumers with local and organic food choices.

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For more than four decades, EEFC has been an important part of Pittsburgh's East End community and the region's natural foods movement. The Co-op is now seeking a General Manager who can build upon that history while leading the organization through its next phase of sustainable growth, financial stability, operational excellence, and community impact .

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This is an opportunity for an experienced grocery leader who understands that a successful cooperative must balance strong business fundamentals with a deep commitment to its members, employees, producers, and community.

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East End Food Co-op is located in Point Breeze North , a residential neighborhood in Pittsburgh's East End that combines historic character, green space, local businesses, and convenient access to the broader city. The neighborhood features a diverse collection of historic homes, apartments, and architectural styles, reflecting a rich history that includes connections to Pittsburgh industrialists George Westinghouse and H.J. Heinz.

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The neighborhood also places residents close to Westinghouse Park, Frick Park, Mellon Park, the Frick Pittsburgh campus, and the Pittsburgh Zoo , providing exceptional access to outdoor recreation, culture, and family activities. For someone seeking a neighborhood with urban accessibility, historic character, abundant green space, and a strong sense of community , Point Breeze North offers an appealing place to call home.

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Job Purpose

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The General Manager is responsible for leading East End Food Co-op so that it achieves the goals and expectations established by the Board of Directors and operates as a thriving, financially sustainable cooperative.

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Reporting to the Board, the General Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership across the organization, ensuring that EEFC continues to serve its member-owners and community while maintaining strong financial performance and a competitive position in the natural foods and grocery marketplace.

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The General Manager will lead an organization that values:

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• Cooperative ownership and participation.
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• Local and organic food systems.
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• Community engagement and economic vitality.
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• Financial sustainability.
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• Inclusivity and respect.
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• Employee development and engagement.
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• Learning, innovation, and continuous improvement.
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Overview of Responsibilities:

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Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership

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• Develop and implement long-range strategic plans that address EEFC's ends, policies, and organizational priorities.
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• Translate strategic objectives into measurable departmental goals and ensure that progress is regularly evaluated.
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• Review department reports with managers and hold leadership accountable for performance.
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• Provide regular written and verbal reports to the Board of Directors, including monthly Board meetings.
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• Identify new business opportunities and make recommendations to the Board regarding expansion, relocation, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives.
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• Lead negotiations and planning associated with approved business opportunities.
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• Plan and implement facility improvements, renovations, and updates while developing appropriate budgets and timelines.
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• Continuously evaluate the organizational structure and make adjustments necessary to support long-term success.
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Financial Management

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• Maintain accountability for the financial performance of a cooperative with more than $14 million in annual sales.
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• Work with accounting services to ensure accurate and timely financial statements.
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• Coordinate development of the annual business plan, including operating, capital, and cash budgets, for Board approval.
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• Monitor financial performance and identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks.
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• Provide the Board with clear analysis of current financial performance and future financial plans.
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• Translate financial information into meaningful business decisions and communicate financial concepts effectively to Board members, managers, and other audiences.
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• Ensure that EEFC maintains the financial stability necessary to fulfill its mission and invest in its future.
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Operations

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• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, permits, licenses, and other requirements.
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• Work with department managers to ensure EEFC policies and practices are consistently implemented.
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• Oversee major repair, renovation, maintenance, and potential expansion projects.
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• Manage relationships with landlords, contractors, vendors, and other operational partners as appropriate.
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• Evaluate the Co-op's operational structure and implement improvements that enhance efficiency and customer service.
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• Ensure high standards of cleanliness, safety, and store presentation.
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• Conduct regular all-staff meetings and communicate important organizational, operational, and financial information.
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• Maintain a culture of prompt, friendly, knowledgeable, and service-oriented customer interaction.
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Marketing & Member Services

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• Work with the Board and staff to coordinate Co-op-sponsored community events and activities.
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• Represent the Co-op at owner meetings and communicate effectively with member-owners through available forums.
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• Support programs designed to increase owner participation, engagement, and understanding of the cooperative.
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• Help ensure that marketing and merchandising strategies reflect EEFC's natural foods identity while remaining competitive in the broader grocery marketplace.
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• Strengthen the Co-op's visibility and reputation throughout the Pittsburgh community.
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Human Resources & Employee Leadership

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• Lead negotiations related to the Co-op's union contract.
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• Hire and develop administrative and operational leadership staff.
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• Ensure appropriate delegation of responsibilities throughout the organization.
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• Evaluate management staff against clearly defined job descriptions and performance expectations.
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• Foster a collegial, supportive, inclusive, and accountable workplace.
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• Motivate, support, and develop a highly engaged unionized workforce.
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• Promote open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning among employees.
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• Build a culture in which employees understand the Co-op's mission and their role in achieving organizational goals.
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The General Manager reports directly to the Board of Directors , which is responsible for providing governance, establishing organizational policies, and holding the General Manager accountable for results.

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The General Manager will lead a management team that includes, but is not limited to, administrative managers, operations managers, facilities personnel, and administrative staff .

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The successful candidate will understand the distinction between governance and management and will build a productive relationship with the Board based upon trust, transparency, accountability, communication, and mutual respect .

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Qualifications

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The Board of Directors is seeking a collaborative, financially astute, and experienced grocery leader with the following competencies, skills, and attributes:

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Grocery Retail Leadership

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• Minimum of five years of retail food store management experience preferred.
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• Strong understanding of grocery store operations and the key metrics that drive sales, margin, labor, customer service, and profitability.
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• Demonstrated bottom-line accountability for a business with annual sales exceeding $10 million.
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• Understanding of natural foods grocery and café operations.
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• Knowledge of natural foods industry values, trends, and evolving consumer expectations.
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• Experience with marketing and merchandising in a competitive grocery environment.
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• Ability to maintain organizational competitiveness in a crowded and continually changing marketplace.
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Financial Management

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• Strong financial acumen and ability to interpret financial statements.
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• Experience constructing and managing operating, capital, and cash budgets.
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• Demonstrated ability to use financial information to identify trends, solve problems, and improve organizational performance.
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• Experience maintaining financial stability while investing strategically in growth and organizational improvement.
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People & Leadership

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• Demonstrated ability to foster a collegial, supportive, inclusive, and accountable work environment.
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• Experience hiring, training, evaluating, developing, compensating, and terminating employees.
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• Ability to motivate and develop a highly engaged workforce.
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• Experience managing within a unionized environment is strongly desired.
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• Ability to listen carefully and give and receive constructive feedback.
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• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage effectively with a diverse population in an urban environment.
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Cooperative Leadership

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• Personal and professional values aligned with cooperative principles.
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• Genuine understanding of the cooperative business model and its unique governance and ownership structure.
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• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors.
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• Substantive experience working within a Policy Governance system is highly desirable.
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Strategic & Operational Thinking

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• Proven success developing strategic plans and translating them into actionable operating plans.
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• Ability to establish measurable objectives and ensure accountability for results.
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• Demonstrated organizational ability overseeing complex administrative systems.
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• Experience managing renovations, facility improvements, or other major capital projects is desirable.
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• Ability to investigate new opportunities and thoughtfully assess potential risks and rewards.
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• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
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• Ability to balance competing demands while maintaining focus on long-term organizational priorities.
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Communication

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• Ability to communicate financial and operational information to the Board, employees, and member-owners.
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• Proven ability to meet management reporting requirements.
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• Ability to represent the Co-op professionally with vendors, community partners, industry organizations, and other stakeholders.
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