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 – 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 continuously encourage strong team engagement and a healthy culture by ensuring that clear roles and responsibilities are understood. You set appropriate expectations, hold team members accountable, and, as a team, deliver a great overall guest experience.

To be successful, you maximize opportunities for sales and traffic growth and inspire your team. You demonstrate a commitment to Team, Guest (& Quality), and Business. You embody 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, keep schedules up to date and written in a timely and effective manner, and deliberate over staffing decisions, bench planning, and development.
• Build and maintain a high‑performing team through goal and standard setting, accountability, inspiration, and consistency using Caribou tools and resources.
• Execute and ensure completion of role‑based training programs, promotional window training, and all other onboarding and training initiatives.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and recognition to support member development, enhance performance, and foster a positive work environment.
• Model and uphold company policies, practices, and standards, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for team members and guests.
• Use assigned Caribou systems and tools appropriately and on time.

GUEST (& Quality)

• Lead by example to inspire and empower team members to deliver outstanding guest experiences, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and fun.
• Facilitate the timely resolution of employee/customer relations, supply chain management, and asset management 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 boost sales, profitability, and operational excellence.
• Commit to excellence for regular and adaptable scheduling, following Caribou General Manager scheduling standards for inventory management, admin, promotional windows, holidays, and other necessary times on site.
• 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, and focus on top‑line sales while managing expenses according to business needs, ensuring cash flow growth through 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 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 Caribou’s 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.
• Support General Manager peers through partnership and collaboration.
• Provide and receive 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 timely resolutions.

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 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 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 include bending, reaching, lifting up to 50 pounds, and standing for 4 to 8 hours. These requirements may be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Brand

Caribou Coffee