General Manager

Better Buzz Coffee Company • Costa Mesa, CA

20d • $32 - $35 • Onsite

About The Position

Better Buzz Coffee is hiring General Managers to lead its cafés as the most senior on-site leaders. The General Manager is accountable for delivering a consistent, brand-defining guest experience, developing a high-performing team, and operating a profitable, compliant business. The role spends most of its time leading the team and managing café operations, executing goals, solving problems, and serving as an example of excellence for guests, team members, and the Better Buzz community.

General Managers support the company’s mission to elevate the coffee experience and inspire the team and community. The selected candidate completes eight weeks of training, assists in the market, and waits to be assigned a store. The assignment may be at a new opening or at another location to support company growth. Open availability is required, and the position is expected to work 45 hours per week.

The role pays $32.00–$35.00 per hour, based on a 45-hour work week, which the posting estimates as approximately $79,000–$86,000 annually depending on hours worked. General Managers may also earn a monthly bonus after being awarded a location.

Better Buzz Coffee was founded in 2002 and operates locations across California, Nevada, and Arizona, with Florida locations planned. The company roasts its own organic, fair trade, and rainforest-certified coffee weekly and describes its culture as focused on quality, connection, and fun. Better Buzz is an equal opportunity employer and offers reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities.

Requirements

• Three years of prior general management experience in a similar high-velocity, high-volume coffee or fast-casual environment.
• Manager Food Safety Certification.
• Open availability for days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Availability to work 45 hours per week.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree.
• Drive-thru experience.
• Experience opening a new location.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop Assistant General Managers, Lead Shift Supervisors, Shift Supervisors, Team Ambassadors, and Baristas who embody Better Buzz culture.
• Promote the company’s culture, values, and mission through integrity, honesty, and knowledge.
• Source, interview, hire, and onboard team members using the company applicant tracking system; identify and develop internal talent for promotion.
• Address team concerns with urgency, fairness, clarity, strength, and compassion.
• Champion a workplace free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, and ensure required training is completed.
• Lead the team in delivering an exceptional guest experience and resolve guest concerns professionally, recovering the experience with empathy and urgency.
• Prepare the team for brand initiatives, promotions, and seasonal campaigns.
• Operate the café to meet or exceed financial targets, including sales, labor, food cost, and waste targets.
• Build and post accurate, compliant team schedules in advance, managing labor according to forecasts and team availability.
• Manage performance metrics, identify gaps, develop plans to address them, and communicate those plans to the team for execution.
• Drive sales through hospitable service and upselling, and promote speed of service, fulfillment, and drive-thru performance.
• Maintain strong guest feedback scores.
• Ensure meal and rest breaks are taken and properly recorded in accordance with state law.
• Oversee inventory, including par levels, ordering, receiving, rotation, storage, and waste tracking.
• Maintain cash-handling integrity and follow loss-prevention protocols.
• Maintain food safety and sanitation standards in accordance with ANSI-certified manager certification and county health requirements.
• Comply with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including wage-and-hour, scheduling, and leave requirements.
• Complete and document required incident reports, including workplace injuries, harassment complaints, and communicable disease notifications under AB 685.
• Maintain a safe physical environment and promote psychological safety for guests and team members.
• Partner with the District Manager on team coaching, business performance, and people strategy.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with The Hive (Better Buzz Support Center), vendors, and cross-functional partners.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Paid training.
• Monthly bonus potential once assigned a location.
• Career growth and advancement opportunities.
• Opportunity to work with a team of coffee enthusiasts and a quickly growing brand.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed