General Manager

Lead One of the Nation’s Most Established and Community-Driven Food Cooperatives. The Ashland Food Cooperative (AFC) invites applications for the position of General Manager. This is a dynamic opportunity to lead one of the nation’s most successful food co-ops, situated in the vibrant community of Ashland, Oregon. The General Manager is the chief executive responsible for the Co-op’s overall performance and long-term vitality. The General Manager is accountable for the financial health, operational excellence, and strategic sustainability of the organization. This leadership role requires guiding a team of experienced managers while fostering a collaborative culture and participatory process across all organizational levels. The General Manager reports directly to the Board of Directors, elected by the Co-op’s owners, and is responsible for achieving the strategic, financial, and operational goals established by the Board. The General Manager works in partnership with the Board to maintain clarity between operations and governance, and ensure transparent, effective communication. The ideal candidate brings experience in strengthening organizational alignment, clarifying decision rights, and building durable executive-board partnerships. The General Manager must be comfortable leading with clarity and decisiveness while navigating complex stakeholder dynamics in a member-owned enterprise committed to its core values. Key Responsibilities Financial Sustainability Lead the development and execution of strategic plans consistent with Board-established priorities. Direct the preparation of annual and multi-year operating, capital, and cash flow budgets. Ensure sustained financial performance, including profitability, revenue growth, gross margin management, labor productivity, and prudent cash flow management. Negotiate and execute major contracts, leases, and capital investments, ensuring appropriate legal and financial review. In consultation with the Board, oversee capital projects, including store expansion, remodel, and substantial repairs and major facilities maintenance. Strategic Growth Identify and evaluate strategic growth opportunities and present recommendations to the Board. Oversee merchandising, operational, and labor strategies that align with AFC’s mission and financial goals. Maintain current knowledge of trends and competitive dynamics in the natural and organic food industry and integrate insights into strategic planning. Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including labor, food safety, and cooperative regulations. Evaluate new and potential competition in the market for their impact on the Co’op’s market share. Community Stewardship Partner with the Board to prepare and participate in Owner meetings. Implement Board policies and directives while maintaining a fully informed Board on significant operational, financial, and strategic matters. Cultivate meaningful opportunities for Owner engagement and participation in Co’op services and activities. Promote and uphold the 8 Cooperative Principles throughout the organization. Foster meaningful Owner engagement through consistent and transparent communication about the Co’op’s performance, priorities, and impact. Maintain a regular in-store presence for the benefit of managers, employees and owners. Organizational Leadership Maintain a safe, healthy and welcoming workplace for all employees. Lead negotiation and administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFC Employee Alliance. Cultivate cooperation and trust among Managers, and between Managers and employees. Foster a collaborative culture that values input and consensus while maintaining clear decision-making authority and accountability. Ensure transparent and timely communication throughout the organization. Supervise and mentor all direct reports, ensuring comprehensive training, clear feedback, and appropriate performance management. Required Skills & Experience Demonstrated success leading a complex, multi-million-dollar retail or food enterprise with full P&L accountability (annual sales of $30M+ preferred). Demonstrated ability to navigate governance environments and build productive relationships with oversight bodies. Progressive senior leadership experience, retail, natural foods, or cooperative enterprises. Proven fiscal management expertise, including budgeting, forecasting, margin oversight, and labor productivity management. Demonstrated experience navigating a unionized environment and leading collective bargaining process (preferred). Demonstrated experience facilitating collaborative or consensus-informed decision processes in mission-driven organizations. Strong strategic planning and execution capabilities. Exceptional communication skills with diverse stakeholders, including Board members, staff, Owners, and vendors. Leadership style that balances collaboration with decisiveness and accountability in a mission-driven organization. Comprehensive Benefits Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Leave) 401k with company match 15% employee discount Schedule flexibility #J-18808-Ljbffr