Job
Purpose
To
lead our cooperative so that it achieves the
ends policies determined by our board of directors, as follows:
Wild Oats Cooperative exists to meet the needs of its
members, customers and the local community according to
cooperative principles. Wild Oats Cooperative offers and
supports:
- Organic, environmentally
responsible, local and Fair Trade food, products and meals at
a reasonable cost.
- A friendly atmosphere.
- A healthy, socially responsible
community.
- A source of information about
food, nutrition, the environment, health, sustainable living,
and wellness practices.
- A sound, efficient and responsive
business.
Overview
of Responsibilities
The
job of the
general manager is to ensure achievement of organizational
results as defined
in ends policies and to avoid unacceptable conditions as defined
in executive
limitation policies. The general manager has the authority to
use any
reasonable interpretation of these policies.
The
general manager
is empowered to make all decisions, create all policies, and
authorize all
engagements that he or she can demonstrate to be consistent with
a reasonable
interpretation of board policy as provided for in board/general
manager
relations policies.
The
general
manager’s performance will be evaluated through systematic and
rigorous
monitoring of expectations established in policies on asset
protection,
financial conditions, business planning and financial budgeting,
staff
treatment and compensation, treatment of consumers, membership
equity and
benefits, communication and support to the board, board
logistical support, and
emergency management succession.
Download the board’s policies here.
Reporting
Relationships
The
general manager reports to the board of
directors, which is elected by the members of the cooperative.
The board
operates under Policy Governance, a system that emphasizes
vision and values
empowerment and accountability. The board uses policy to define
the results the
general manager is expected to achieve within defined limits of
prudence and
ethics. The general manager has the authority to hire, direct,
structure, and
evaluate all other staff.
Qualifications
Required
- Experience
managing a retail food store (as general manager, store
manager, operations manager, or district manager)
- Bottom-line
accountability for a business
- Personal
and professional values that align with cooperative principles
- Proven
ability to develop and implement a vision
- Strategic
planning experience
- Proven
ability to lead and motivate others to gain cooperation
- Understanding
of the components of financial statements: what purpose each
serves, how they relate to one another, and how they are
different
- Operating,
capital, and cash budgeting experience
- Ability
to manage own and others’ time
- Proven
ability to develop systems
- Ability
to present written information clearly
- Ability
to present spoken information clearly
- Demonstrated
ability to listen and react appropriately
- Demonstrated
ability to give and receive feedback
Desired
- Experience
in retail natural foods management
- Experience
in retail food co-op management
- Proven
ability in team building
- Skill
in use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook
- Experience
selling in a highly competitive market
- Some
understanding of the “local food” movement
- Demonstrated
ability to interpret financial statements to laypeople
- Experience
communicating with and reporting to a board of directors
- Experience
with policy governance
