General Manager

Great bagels don't happen by accident. Neither do great teams.

PopUp Bagels isn’t just a bagel company we’re a cultural movement. What started as a backyard pickup window, aiming to share a freshly crafted bagel recipe with friends has grown into a brand with a cult-like following. Small shops, loud vibes, contagious energy. From the signature neon and bullhorns to our “Not Famous but Known” mirror, we’ve reimagined how a bagel is made and how it’s enjoyed: Grip, Rip and Dip. We keep things simple and do them really, really well and our customers agree.

Our Lincoln Park shop is looking for a Bagel Chef to own it. This is our top in-shop leadership role, you run the operation, you build the crew, and you set the standard everyone else follows. If you want a seat where craft, hospitality, and real ownership come together and a company growing fast enough that today’s Bagel Chef is tomorrow’s multi-unit leader this is it.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

–  The energy of the shop -  you set the tone the second the doors open. The music, the pace, the “Grip, Rip and Dip” hype, the way every guest gets treated like a regular: that culture is yours to build and protect every single shift.

–  Full shop operations -  P&L accountability, food cost, labor, inventory, and sales performance, run with the same energy you bring to the floor.

–  The numbers -  monitor daily and weekly KPIs and take action to drive profitability and efficiency.

–  The product -  consistent execution of our recipes and quality on every rack, every day, because a Hot bagel is the promise.

–  The systems –  Learn them, follow them, hold others accountable to them. Let’s not reinvent the wheel, let’s make it better Every shift Every Day

–  The launches -  LTO schmears launch weekly get your team fired up about them, guests can’t resist them

THE TEAM YOU’LL BUILD

– Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and retain great people.

– Build optimal schedules that hit labor targets and respect your team’s lives.

– Coach and develop your leadership bench so there’s always a next person ready, this is how we grow.

– Run performance the right way: clear goals, real feedback, and honest and caring coaching.

– Set the culture- positive, inclusive, high-energy, and held to a standard.

HOSPITALITY & THE COMMUNITY

– Be the face of the shop: guests, delivery partners, neighborhood.

– Turn feedback into fixes, fast.

– Model PopUp Bagels energy and service philosophy every single shift.

COMPLIANCE & SAFETY

– Keep the shop tight on Department of Health and food-safety standards - no shortcuts.

– Maintain your certifications and your team’s training and documentation.

– Uphold our anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and workplace conduct policies, and stay compliant with federal, state, and local regulations.

WHO THRIVES HERE

You’re a leader people want to follow. Specifically, you:

–  Bring the energy.   You’re warm, expressive, and genuinely enjoy people - the room lifts when you’re in it.

–  Stay steady under fire.   When it’s a wall-to-wall rush, you speed up and keep the team calm instead of unraveling.

–  Are scrappy.   Something’s missing or broken? You figure it out and keep moving.

–  Keep the first things first.   You know what matters, the guest and the bagel. Don’t get lost in the noise.

–  Believe how you do one thing is how you do everything.   Your standards show up in the small stuff, and your team catches it.

–  Run it like you own it.   You spot what’s off and fix it without being asked.

–  Live a little Kaizen.   You're wired for continuous improvement. The shop, the product, the team and you get a little better every day.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

– 3-5 years of restaurant management with full operational ownership, front and back-of-house.

– Proven experience with hiring, scheduling, performance management, and employee relations.

– Experience with inventory, food costing, and labor optimization.

– Comfort across multiple tech platforms and digital systems.

– Fast-paced, high-volume, scratch-kitchen experience preferred.

– Legal authorization to work in the U.S. (we use E-Verify).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Stand and walk for extended periods; frequently lift/carry up to 25 lbs and occasionally up to 50 lbs; bend, reach, twist, and perform repetitive motions; work in a kitchen with exposure to heat, cold, noise, and cleaning agents.

COMPENSATION DETAILS

Compensation: Salary ($75,000.00 - $90,000.00)

Benefits & Perks: Health Insurance, Paid Time Off, Bonus Plan, Opportunities for Advancement