Retail General Manager (CWRU Tomlinson)

Retail General Manager

Location: Cleveland, OH

Pay Range: $60,000 to $80,000

Our passion is food! At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Bon Apptit is seeking an energetic and hospitality-driven Retail Manager to lead the daily operations of our retail dining locations. This role is responsible for delivering an exceptional guest experience while driving operational excellence, financial performance, team development, and adherence to Bon Apptit's culinary and service standards.

The ideal candidate brings a positive, service-focused mindset, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and has a passion for developing teams, creating memorable guest experiences, and maintaining the highest standards of safety, cleanliness, and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of multiple retail dining locations, ensuring outstanding service, food quality, and guest satisfaction.
• Lead, coach, and develop frontline associates and supervisors to create a positive, engaging, and high-performing team culture.
• Manage labor scheduling, staffing levels, and daily deployment to support business needs while maintaining labor efficiency.
• Ensure all retail locations consistently meet Bon Apptit's standards for food safety, sanitation, cleanliness, and workplace safety.
• Monitor and manage complex POS systems, cash handling procedures, and retail technology platforms to ensure operational accuracy and efficiency.
• Maintain accountability for inventory controls, cash management, payroll administration, and operational reporting.
• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and succession planning initiatives.
• Drive customer engagement and foster positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
• Analyze operational and financial performance metrics, identifying opportunities to improve sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, university guidelines, and all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Partner closely with culinary, catering, and campus leadership teams to support special events, promotions, and campus initiatives.
• Complete required daily, weekly, and monthly reports accurately and on time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of foodservice, retail, hospitality, restaurant, or caf management experience in a high-volume environment.
• Strong hospitality mindset with a genuine passion for guest service and team development.
• Experience leading and motivating teams in a fast-paced, customer-focused operation.
• Proficiency with POS systems, labor scheduling platforms, payroll systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated experience managing staffing, scheduling, training, and employee performance.
• Knowledge of retail operations, cash handling procedures, inventory management, and cost controls.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze financial reports, budgets, labor metrics, and operational performance data.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic environment that requires flexibility, multitasking, and attention to detail.

Ideal Experience and Characteristics:

• Positive attitude and solutions-oriented approach.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to inspire teams.
• Commitment to creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Ability to remain organized and effective in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing employees.
• Dedication to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming operation for guests and team members alike.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, holiday time off, associate shopping program, health and wellness programs, discount marketplace, identity theft protection, pet insurance, commuter benefits, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, paid parental leave, and personal leave.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all applicants and associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.