General Manager, Orange County ABC Control Board

Developmental Associates•Hillsborough, NC

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Orange County, NC, seeks a collaborative and service-driven leader to serve as the next General Manager of the Orange County ABC Control Board. The Board desires a General Manager with considerable retail, bar/hospitality management experience who will establish and maintain an organizational culture of trust, high employee morale, and accountability; cultivate unity across the organization’s Board, its warehouse, stores, and administrative functions while successfully balancing operational and clientele needs. The role involves fostering open communication and meaningful engagement, building cohesive relationships with staff, customers, Board members, and the diverse communities served. The General Manager will strategically support operational efficiency through budget evaluation and management, strengthen internal operations, utilize best-practices in increasing sales, and work to proactively ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability. This is an opportunity to shape the future of a respected public enterprise and unite stakeholders around the Orange County ABC's mission of responsibly controlling the sale of spirituous liquor, returning profits to law enforcement, alcohol education, and the Orange County General Fund while providing excellent service in customer friendly, modern, and efficient stores. The Orange County ABC Board is an independent local governmental entity responsible for the retail sale of distilled spirits throughout Orange County. The organization operates nine retail stores and one warehouse serving multiple communities. Guided by a mission to responsibly serve the community through controlled alcohol sales, exceptional customer service, and sound financial stewardship, Orange County ABC returns profits to support local law enforcement, alcohol education programs, and the County’s General Fund. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the General Manager is responsible for the overall administration and management of Orange County ABC's operations, including retail sales, warehouse operations, financial management, inventory control, and strategic planning. The General Manager leads a team of 37 full-time and 18 part-time employees and oversees the organization’s $30M budget. The next General Manager will play a key role in strengthening the organization's financial position, evaluating and recommending changes to reduce organizational expenses while maintaining a skilled and valued workforce. The General Manager will ensure that the organization’s human resources, training, security, and safety protocols, processes and procedures align with state laws and regulations and best support the organization and its employees. Skilled in human resources management, the General Manager creatively and strategically recruits and retains employees in a competitive job market. The General Manager is also tasked with lease management for the organization’s stores including but not limited to lease negotiation and administration, property management, renovations and new construction. This customer-service minded professional consistently demonstrates fairness and equity across diverse people groups – from customers, to staff, Board and other stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Retail Management, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a closely related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience may be considered.
Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in retail, bar/hospitality management, business administration, operations management, or a similarly complex customer-focused environment, including experience supervising and developing staff.
Knowledge of the North Carolina ABC System, alcoholic beverage laws and regulations, mixed beverage operations, or experience working in a highly regulated industry is strongly preferred.
Must possess or have the ability to obtain and maintain a valid North Carolina Driver's License.
Must successfully pass all required pre-employment screenings, including a comprehensive background investigation.

Nice To Haves

Considerable retail, bar/hospitality management experience.
Demonstrated people-focused leadership – well respected by employees and stakeholders and known for active-listening, expressing empathy, and being approachable, and empathetic.
Significant product knowledge and understanding of mixed beverage operations, NC ABC legislative environment and constraints, risk management best practices, trends within the alcohol industry, and is an effective problem-solver who is flexible and adaptable under pressure.
Residency in Orange County is strongly preferred given daily commute to the organization’s administrative office, stores and warehouse.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain an organizational culture of trust, high employee morale, and accountability.
Cultivate unity across the organization’s Board, its warehouse, stores, and administrative functions while successfully balancing operational and clientele needs.
Foster open communication and meaningful engagement across the organization, building cohesive relationships with staff, customers, Board members, and the diverse communities Orange County ABC serves.
Strategically support operational efficiency through budget evaluation and management.
Strengthen internal operations.
Utilize best-practices in increasing sales.
Proactively ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability in a changing retail and regulatory environment.
Positively reflect the mission, reputation and values of the Orange County ABC Control Board in day-to-day responsibilities.
Serve as a highly visible leader who demonstrates integrity, professionalism, accountability, and ethical judgment while building credibility with employees, customers, Board members, and community stakeholders.
Oversee the overall administration and management of Orange County ABC's operations, including retail sales, warehouse operations, financial management, inventory control, and strategic planning.
Lead a team of 37 full-time and 18 part-time employees.
Oversee the organization’s $30M budget.
Strengthen the organization's financial position by evaluating and recommending changes to reduce organizational expenses while maintaining a skilled and valued workforce.
Ensure that the organization’s human resources, training, security, and safety protocols, processes and procedures align with state laws and regulations and best support the organization and its employees.
Creatively and strategically recruit and retain employees in a competitive job market.
Manage leases for the organization’s stores, including lease negotiation and administration, property management, renovations and new construction.
Invest in learning the organization, understanding existing operations, and gaining employee buy-in before implementing significant operational or cultural changes.
Maintain a visible presence throughout the warehouse and stores, allocate considerable time getting to know employees, build relationships across the organization, enhance communication across the various sectors of the organization and ensure staff feel supported, safe, valued, and connected to leadership.
Evaluate product selection, inventory practices, and merchandising strategies to ensure stores are well-stocked, customer demands are met, and inventory is effectively managed and moved when products are not selling.
Improve operational efficiency, and safety protocols and procedures by implementing best practices in delivering service, strengthening coordination and unity across the organization, and ensuring the organization adhere to state and local safety laws and regulations.
Address technology and vendor-related challenges affecting inventory management and daily operations by implementing reliable and user-friendly systems.