Store Manager

West End Food Co-op

The West End Food Co-op is a multi-stakeholder co-operative that includes eaters, producers, workers, and community partners.  We aim to provide viable food security initiatives that are specific to the needs of our west end communities.  Examples of these kinds of initiatives include the Sorauren Farmers’ Market, our Community Cannery, Food Mapping Project, and our Food Hub in the Parkdale Community Health Centre to provide the local community with a full-service grocery store that focuses on selling products that are ecologically sustainable, local and healthy.

West End Food Co-op connects local farmers to local eaters, and produces self-sustaining initiatives that work for the community.  Our co-op is working to increase markets for local, sustainable farmers and artisan producers; a fair, democratic, and meaningful workplace for our workers; an inspiring, community-driven, and welcoming place to shop, learn and connect for eaters; and a resource and valuable partner to work with community groups in Parkdale and across Toronto to improve food security and access to good, healthy, real food in our neighbourhood and beyond.  

Position Summary

The West End Food Co-op is seeking an interim Store Manager for a 3-month contract (with the possibility for extension).  This position represents a temporary management structure change for the co-op, which may or may not reflect the model with which the co-op moves forward, according to the outcome of the Management Structure Committee during this period.  The Store Manager will manage all aspects of the Food Hub including retail and kitchen operations.  The position will require working with eaters, local producers, volunteers, vendors, distributors, community partners, all of the workers, and the Board of Directors.

Major Responsibilities

1. Financial Management and Accountability

• responsible for liaising with the Finance Committee
• bring finances in order, with knowledge
• Oversee preparation and analysis of quarterly financial statements for presentation to the Board of Directors
• Ensure budgeted financial targets are met; provide rationale /explanation for deviations
• Ensure the financial viability of the Co-op.

2. Staff Communication

• Facilitate weekly staff meetings with the objective of greatest staff participation
• Responsible for guiding staff towards achieving the goals of the co-op through consensus building
• develop protocols for staff meeting decision making (both in person and online)
• Follow established protocols for gathering staff input
• Responsible for decision making within the store

3. Cooperative Organizational Management - Supervision and Leadership of Store

• Responsible for supervision of all workers
• Effectively and efficiently manage all aspects of store operations based on goals, objectives and standards established by the Board of Director
• Promote team building and motivate staff
• Ensure professional and friendly service from all staff
• Treat workers with consistency and fairness, in a style appropriate to a cooperative work environment.
• Ensure that communications are clear, direct, and respectful.

4. Operations

• Responsible for all store purchasing and inventory management -  ensure inventory is timely and accurate
• monitor store to meet co-op objectives and budgetary goals, ensuring alignment with co-op’s mission and vision
• Help direct and maintain inventory, product mix, and merchandising standards to meet the co-op’s values and targets
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws: business licenses, permits, health regulations,
• organic standards, fire code, labor laws, etc.
• Ensure appropriate staff coverage to meet demands of customer flow
• Process paperwork in a timely and accurate manner
• Understand and implement required health and safety programs, and manage and monitor compliance with applicable federal, provincial and municipal health and safety laws
• Determine product and pricing strategies
• Liaise with the workers to ensure efficient operational systems; identify and solve
• operational problems.
• Ensure assets are utilized productively and safeguarded from loss.

5. Human Relations

• Evaluate and identify customer service needs and develop and implement training to ensure the co-op provides outstanding service to its customers and communicates clearly and effectively
• Monitor key indicators to ensure overall customer and member satisfaction
• Responsible for all personnel management in collaboration with HR Committee, including hiring, compensation, termination, management of staff hours and changes as they arise
• Foster employee job satisfaction and commitment to the Co-op.
• Ensure development and maintenance of job descriptions, evaluation programs, and employee compensation

6. Board Relations

• Prepare for and attend monthly meetings of the Board of Directors
• Prepare and present timely and effective reports to the Board supported with appropriate analysis
• Maintain effective communication and working relationships with Board Directors and Board Chair
• Work with Board to establish and achieve annual goals and objectives that are in line with set fiduciary and strategic parameters
• Work with Board in transition from Operational to Governance oversight model in conjunction with the board and HR Committee, work toward short term role review of worker job descriptions
• Participate in Board committees, development and planning activities as appropriate

Qualifications

• Excellent communication, relationship and personnel management skills, including active listening and conflict resolution
• balanced leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to develop a creative, effective team with individual empowerment, but also to make strong decisions when needed
• post-secondary education in areas of business, finance, community development or related field or equivalent experience
• grocery retail management experience (preferably in a start-up food co-operative)
• Experience setting and achieving business financial goals
• experience in opening a new store or involvement in expansion or development of new departments in an existing grocery store
• Financial management experience, including planning and implementation of budgets, maximizing operational efficiency, and ensuring adequate cash flow and capital
• proficiency with co-op inventory and point of sale system (IS4C) as well as QuickBooks, Google Drive,  Microsoft Office Suite, CiviCRM
• Previous experience working in a co-operative is an asset, as is a strong understanding of food system challenges and opportunities
• Incredible organizational and time management skills

Hours: 40 hours/week

Start Date: As Soon as Possible

Resumes and cover letters will be received by the HR Committee via Gwen Yorsten at Gwen@westendfood.coop with “Store Manager” in the subject line.

Application Deadline: April 15^th 2013

We thank all applicants in advance for their applications.  Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please have the names and contact information of three references available.

The West End Food Co-op Community Cannery is a project to build preserving expertise in the Parkdale neighbourhood, developing people's skills and enthusiasm about various kinds of food preservation from drying and fermenting to hot water bath and pressure canning. The first stage of the programme, The Parkdale Community Cannery, was a pilot project in partnership with the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre which ran from May to December of 2010. This phase of the project, funded by Co-operative Development Foundation Robert Owen-Henri Lasserre Fund, involved job training for PARC members, preserving workshops for the Parkdale community, and a higher volume season-long “Community Supported Orchard” project working with WEFC producer-members.


Photo by Robin Newman