General Manager

At Caribou Coffee we create day-making experiences that spark a chain reaction of GOOD!  This is our purpose.  Our team brings this to life by focusing on what’s really important around here – TEAM, GUEST, BUSINESS!  It’s that simple.  If you’re ready to work somewhere you can be yourself while making an impact on your community, creating life-long relationships, and serving the best coffee around, join our herd!  Apply today and be part of the ‘Bou Crew!

Position Overview: As a General Manager, you are responsible for the financial performance of the store. You will continuously encourage strong team engagement and a healthy culture by ensuring that clear roles and responsibilities are understood. You will do this by setting appropriate expectations, holding team members accountable, and, as a team, delivering a great overall guest experience.

To be successful in the General Manager role, you are expected to maximize opportunities for sales and traffic growth and be an inspiration to your team. You enable your team and the business by demonstrating a commitment to Team, Guest (& Quality), and Business. You bring the core values to life by embodying Caribou’s purpose: To create day-making experiences that spark a chain reaction of GOOD.

Core Responsibilities:

TEAM

• Ensure the store is fully staffed for upcoming shifts, including making certain that all store schedules are up to date and written in a timely and effective manner; is deliberate regarding staffing decisions, including bench planning and development. Develop creative team member engagement strategies and foster a culture of continuous internal growth and development.
• Build and maintain a high-performing team through goal and standard setting, accountability, inspiration, and consistency by utilizing Caribou tools and resources.
• Responsible for the execution and team training completion of role-based training programs, promotional window training, and all other onboarding and training initiatives.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and recognition to team members to support their development, enhance performance, and foster a positive and motivating work environment.
• Model and uphold company policies, practices, and standards, and ensure a safe and supportive environment for team members and guests.
• Use assigned Caribou systems and tools in the appropriate manner and timeline.

GUEST (& Quality)

• Lead by example to inspire and empower team members to deliver outstanding guest experiences by fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and fun.
• Facilitate the timely resolution of employee/customer relations, supply chain management, and asset management-related issues.
• Drive strategies to consistently improve guest satisfaction, speed of service, and loyalty through actionable insights and results-driven initiatives.

BUSINESS

• Take ownership and lead with passion and vision to drive store performance, inspiring the team to drive sales, profitability, and operational excellence.
• Commitment to excellence for regular and adaptable scheduling as needed; follow Caribou General Manager scheduling standards for inventory management, admin, promotional window sets, holidays, and other necessary times to be present in the store.
• Manage supply chain processes and asset management to ensure timely replenishment, accurate stock levels, and efficient resource allocation, minimizing disruptions and supporting seamless store operations.
• Utilize financial planning knowledge to manage budgets for the store and company.
• Manage the Operating Statement and other financial inputs to analyze trends. Make appropriate adjustments in the moment and for the future, with a focus on top-line sales, and managing expenses according to business needs. Ensure cash flow growth through appropriate and ethical fiscal responsibility.
• Create energy, enthusiasm, and focus on meeting and exceeding sales goals.
• Support the delivery of operational excellence to drive in-store sales initiatives that enhance the overall business performance.
• Manage inventory and waste to ensure operational efficiency and minimize loss.
• Maintain rigorous standards in food safety, sanitation, and health protocols.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bring Caribous’ Core Values to life in all that you do: Support One Another, Make Fun Happen, Be Yourself, Take Ownership, Serve with Love.
• Build trust through transparent communication and consistent follow-through.
• Display resilience and composure, maintaining focus and perspective in dynamic environments.
• Act as a change leader, embracing growth and fostering adaptability in the team. Provide a store environment that sets equitable standards for people development and goal achievement.
• Supports General Manager (GM) peers through partnership and collaboration.  
• Provides and receives feedback with positive intent, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to growth, while handling challenging situations and confidential information with empathy and consistency.
• Take ownership of difficult conversations by seeking to understand team members and providing resolutions in a timely manner.

Qualifications:

Required:

• A minimum of 1-2 years of restaurant, retail, or guest service management experience and or combined experience and education.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Have reliable transportation.
• Ability to work full-time (47 hours per week). The GM Role often entails overview hours including early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays. 
• Willingness to learn new systems and tools as they are introduced to support the business.

Preferred:

• ServSafe certification or ability to receive a certificate within 90 days of employment
• Experience with sales building, Profit & Loss (P&L) statements, recruitment, and training.
• Keen aptitude for store systems including Toast, CrunchTime, GoSpotCheck, EcoSure, TeamworX, Medallia, Workday, Beekeeper, etc.
• Valid driver’s license.
• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements for this position are bending, reaching, lifting up to 50 pounds, and being able to stand for 4 to 8 hours, or the ability to accomplish the physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Caribou reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Caribou or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Caribou Coffee Operating Company, Inc. and its affiliates are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers to all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

Address: | 520W Washington St , Brainerd, Minnesota 56401 |

Compensation Range:

$20.82 - $39.77 per hour

*Starting pay is subject to Local and State Minimum Wage regulations.

**Ranges reflect what employer reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for such position.

The physical demands for this position are reaching, lifting up to 50 pounds, sitting, standing, for 4 to 8 hours, bending, and moving intermittently during working hours. These physical demands may be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodations.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Caribou Coffee reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the company or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Caribou Coffee Operating Company, Inc. and its affiliates are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers to all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Brand:

Caribou Coffee