Branch Manager - UniFirst

Branch Manager - UniFirst

Location:

Knoxville, Tennessee

Job ID

2602893

At UniFirst, leadership is rooted in service to our customers, our Team Partners, and our communities. As Branch Manager, you'll report to the Division Director of Operations and lead Service and Administration, ensuring both functions work seamlessly together to deliver on our promise: to be the best service provider in the industry.

Your role is to orchestrate your team to always deliver for customers, strengthen loyalty, and set your branch apart from the competition . Partnering closely with the plant, you’ll ensure operations and service stay aligned to provide the reliability and excellence our customers expect.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll drive performance, build accountability, and create an environment where your people feel supported and inspired to succeed all while keeping customers at the heart of everything we do.

What Your Role Entails:

• Drive operational excellence and growth: Deliver revenue and profitability by developing new business, retaining customers, and optimizing service across all locations.

• Set the bar for service: Ensure consistent quality, reliability, and responsiveness so customer needs are not only met, but exceeded, to strengthen loyalty and differentiate the branch.

• Lead and support high-performing teams: Guide Route Service and Office Administration, ensuring all functions stay aligned, productive, and working toward shared goals.

• Partner closely with the plant to deliver on operational plans: Ensure production and service remain tightly connected so customers receive consistent, reliable, and on-time solutions.

• Own financial performance: Manage revenue, costs, margins, and budgets with discipline, transparency, and a focus on long-term sustainability at your branch.

• Keep operations running smoothly: Maintain clear processes, organized workflows, and strong accountability so the branch operates efficiently day-to-day.

• Build and develop talent: Hire the right people, train with purpose, and foster a culture where great performance is recognized and growth potential is nurtured.

• Champion a safety-first environment. Create and uphold a workplace where Team Partners operate with the highest safety standards, reinforcing UniFirst’s commitment to well-being and compliance.

• Lead with care, accountability, and adaptability. Address customer and internal challenges with empathy and urgency while embracing innovation and driving transformation that supports UniFirst’s evolving culture, customers, and business needs.

• Think forward: Continuously seek ways to enhance service, strengthen customer relationships, and position UniFirst as the partner of choice.

Core Competencies

• Servant-minded, collaborative leadership— You lead by example, support and invest in your people, and build strong cross-functional relationships across a matrixed organization

• Strategic Thinking – You see the big picture while executing with precision

• Customer-First Mindset – You consistently prioritize and elevate the customer experience

• People Development – You recognize talent, coach others to success, and create a team culture of trust and collaboration

• Results-driven business acumen— You set high standards, plan strategically, and consistently deliver strong financial and operational performance

Why you’ll enjoy this role

• The autonomy to lead your branch with confidence, backed by the support of your Division Director of Operations, Regional Vice President, and the broader UniFirst community

• The opportunity to build and develop a winning team from the ground up

• A role that combines strategy and execution, allowing you to see your impact daily

• A company culture that values integrity, service, and continuous improvement

Qualifications

What You Bring to UniFirst:

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience, ideally across operations, sales or service environments

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university preferred; relevant experience within UniFirst or the industry may substitute

• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet DOT physical qualifications

• Proven ability to understand and manage financial statements and apply them to decision-making

• Comfort with writing reports, business correspondence, and presenting information to internal teams and customers

• Proficiency with basic math and data analysis, including percentages, ratios, and budgeting

• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to gather data, assess situations, and develop effective solutions

• A collaborative mindset and a passion for creating a positive team culture

You Will Benefit From:

401K with Company Match, Profit Sharing, Health Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Direct Payroll Deposit, Tuition Reimbursement, 30% Employee Discount, Employee Referral Bonuses.

About UniFirst:

The fabric of UniFirst is woven from its very unique family culture where our Team Partners enjoy a small company feel while taking advantage of the resources and stability that come with being a 2.4 -billion-dollar organization.

UniFirst is an international leader in the $18 billion-dollar garment services industry. We currently employ over 14,000 team partners who serve 300,000 business customer locations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. We were included in the top 10 of Selling Power magazine’s “Best Companies to Sell For” list and recognized on Forbes magazine’s “Platinum 400 – Best Big Companies” list. As an 80-year old company focused on annual growth, there’s never been a better time to join our team.

UniFirst is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws.

UniFirst is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws.

If you require an accommodation during any part of the application process due to a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at View email address on click.appcast.io or through our EthicsFirst portal at UniFirst.ethicspoint.com. You may also call the EthicsFirst Hotline atView phone number on click.appcast.io (tel:+800-347-7888) to let us know the nature of your request.

UniFirst Recruiters and/or representatives will not ask job seekers to provide personal financial information when submitting a job application. Please be vigilant as such requests for information may be fraudulent.