General Manager

LEAD THE FUTURE OF FOOD JUSTICE IN SANTA MONICAThe Carlisle Group is pleased to partner with Co-opportunity Market to hire their next General Manager!For 50 years, Co-opportunity Market has been Santa Monica's answer to corporate grocery: a community-owned pioneer proving that exceptional food, fair wages, and environmental stewardship aren't mutually exclusive. Now, we're looking for a bold leader to take us into our next era of growth and impact.The OpportunityAs General Manager, you'll lead one of Southern California's most established natural food co-ops through an exciting inflection point. This isn't about maintaining the status quo. It's about building on five decades of trust to create something even more relevant, profitable, and community-centered.You'll have full operational authority to:Build a team that wins: Lead with empathy while developing and retaining future leaders from within, and attracting top talent who want their work to matterDrive growth with purpose: Hit ambitious financial targets while expanding access to healthy food for our diverse members, guests, and community partnersInnovate the co-op model: Prove that cooperative values and retail excellence aren't mutually exclusive. They're compatible and are competitive advantagesOwn the strategy: Partner with the Board on vision, then execute with autonomyWhat Success Looks LikeYear One:Strong financial performance with a clear path to sustainable growthEnergized team culture where people want to build careers, not just work shiftsDeepened community relationships with local farmers, producers, and membersOperational systems that free you to lead, not micromanageBeyond:A co-op that's known as Santa Monica's grocery destination, not its best-kept secretMembership growth that reflects our community's diversityA workplace where people develop skills that launch careers in food justiceFinancial resilience that funds the mission for another 50 yearsWhat You'll BringMust-haves:5+ years leading grocery retail or mission-driven operations with P&L responsibilityTrack record of hitting financial targets while building high-performing, engaged teamsGenuine passion for food justice, sustainability, and cooperative economics, not just box-checkingStrategic thinking combined with operational excellence (you can build the plan and execute it)Ownership mindset: Takes accountability for results, receives feedback openly, and addresses challenges head-on rather than deflectingComfort with Board partnership: you'll report to them but operate with significant autonomyFlexibility for evening/weekend presence as neededEven better:Experience in natural/organic retail or cooperative business modelsBilingual (English/Spanish)Deep connections in LA's food and wellness communityBackground developing talent and building leadership pipelinesWhat We OfferCompensation: Ideal salary range of $150-160K, based on experience, plus comprehensive benefitsImpact: Every decision you make affects food access, farmer livelihoods, and community wealth-buildingAutonomy: Real authority to lead, not endless committee approvalsLegacy: Shape the next chapter of an organization that's been getting it right since 1974Community: Lead a team and serve a membership that genuinely cares about what we're building togetherOur CommitmentCo-opportunity Market is committed to building a team as diverse as the community we serve. We strongly encourage applications from anyone who brings perspectives that strengthen our ability to serve all of Santa Monica.We are committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming workplace for all employees. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to apply.This compensation range reflects the company's expectations for this position at the time of posting. Actual pay will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, alignment with role responsibilities, education, demonstrated skills, and performance during the interview process.