General Manager

Company Description Penny’s Coffee Shop is a cozy neighborhood café located on Main Street in Buffalo’s Medical District, directly across from the Jacobs School of Medicine. Founded by Georgian couple, the café reflects their shared passion for community, comfort, and great coffee. The shop was named after their dog, Penny, underscoring the welcoming, personal atmosphere they aim to create. Penny’s Coffee Shop offers a warm, friendly environment for students, medical professionals, and local residents to relax, connect, and enjoy quality drinks and treats.Role Description The General Manager is the most senior operational role at Penny's Coffee Shop. This individual is responsible for the full daily operation of the café — from opening to closing — and is accountable for sales performance, product quality, team development, financial controls, regulatory compliance, and the overall customer experience.The General Manager owns the operation. They make decisions, resolve problems, develop people, and drive performance independently — with ownership available for strategic guidance, not day-to-day management.Penny's is in an active growth phase — planning a second location, a coffee roastery, and a franchise model. The General Manager will be a key contributor to that growth story. The right candidate is not just managing what exists — they are helping build what comes next.Primary ResponsibilitiesOperational ManagementHR ManagementFinancial Management & ReportingProcurement - Inventory & Vendor ManagementEquipment & Facility ManagementCustomer Experience & Brand StandardsRegulatory ComplianceNYS labour law regulatory complianceStrategic Contribution to the Expansion of Penny's Coffee ShopQualifications▸ Minimum 3 years of food and beverage management experience — café, restaurant, or hospitality.▸ Demonstrated people management experience — hiring, coaching, progressive discipline, and team development.▸ Proficiency with POS systems, scheduling software, and basic spreadsheet tools.▸ Knowledge of NYS labor law requirements as they apply to hospitality operations.▸ ServSafe Food Manager certification (or willingness to obtain within 30 days of start date).▸ Availability to work a flexible schedule — including early mornings, weekends, and occasional evenings as required by business needs.▸ Legal authorization to work in the United States.Preferred Qualifications▸ Specialty coffee knowledge — espresso calibration, milk texturing, filter coffee, and quality standards.▸ Experience in a specialty or independent café environment (not chain/franchise only).▸ Experience opening a second location or supporting multi-unit expansion.▸ TIPS or ATAP alcohol service certification.▸ Bilingual capability — any languages spoken in Buffalo's diverse community.▸ Familiarity with Buffalo's food and beverage market, vendors, and community organizations.Personal Characteristics▸ Ownership mentality — operates as if the business is their own. Does not wait to be told.▸ People-first leadership — genuinely invests in developing the people around them.▸ Direct communicator — says the hard thing professionally and early. Does not avoid difficult conversations.▸ Culturally aligned — embraces Penny's Georgian identity, international hospitality spirit, and community mission.▸ Builder — energized by being part of something growing, not just managing something stable.▸ Accountable — when something goes wrong, leads with 'here is what I am doing to fix it,' not 'here is why it happened.'Compensation & benefitsBase Hourly Rate - $25.00 per hourTip Participation - Tips ineligible.Managerial Incentive - Up to $10,000 annually, based on established KPIs: revenue targets, labor cost efficiency, COGS management, team retention, and customer satisfaction metrics.Total Annual (est.) -Approximately $57,000–$67,000 equivalent, including base at 40 hrs/week and full incentive. Overtime hours increase total above this estimate.Pay Frequency - Weekly, pay day - every FridayPerformance Reviews -Semi-annual — compensation increase eligibility based on documented performancePaid Sick Leave - Up to 40 hours per year, accrued per NYS Paid Sick Leave Law (NYSPSL) — 1 hour per 30 hours worked; accrual begins on first day of employment.Overtime Rate -$37.50/hour (1.5 × $25.00) for all hours over 40 in a workweek. Pre-approval by ownership required for all overtime hours. Unauthorized overtime will be paid as required by law but may result in a performance conversation.Regular Weekly Pay (40 hrs) - $1,000.00 per weekPerformance Standards and Key performance Indicators (KPIs)Revenue Performance -Monthly revenue vs. prior year and vs. target — tracked weeklyCost of Goods Sold (COGS Management) - Food and beverage cost as % of revenue — target set by ownership quarterlyLabor Efficiency -Labor cost as % of revenue — target set by ownership; overtime minimizedTeam Retention -Staff turnover rate — measured quarterly; exit interview completionCustomer Experience -Google/Yelp average rating; complaint resolution time; loyalty program enrollmentOperational Compliance -Zero health department violations; zero NYS labor law violations; complete documentationEquipment Uptime -All equipment maintained per schedule; zero ownership escalations for equipment issuesReporting Accuracy -Weekly summary submitted every Sunday by 8 PM without exceptionTeam Development -Completion of staff performance reviews on schedule; documented coaching conversations