GENERAL MANAGER / DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS — MULTI-UNIT COFFEE COMPANYSouthport Coffee Co. | Southport, NCBuild the next chapter with us. Southport Coffee Co. is a growing, independent coffee company with three locations, approximately $1.6 million in annual sales, and our own coffee roasting operation. We’re looking for an experienced, growth-minded General Manager / Director of Operations to take full responsibility for the day-to-day operation and performance of the company while helping us build what comes next. This is not a traditional “manage the coffee shop” position. We’re looking for someone who thinks like an owner. Someone who sees opportunities before they become obvious. Someone who can build great teams, improve systems, grow sales, protect margins, solve problems, and create the operational foundation necessary for continued expansion. And importantly: this role will truly run the day-to-day business. Ownership is intentionally stepping out of day-to-day operations. The person hired for this position will not be sharing those responsibilities with ownership or waiting for the owners to handle the difficult parts. The responsibilities of this position belong to this position. Ownership will remain involved in the overall vision, major strategic decisions, and long-term direction of Southport Coffee Co., but the General Manager / Director of Operations will have the authority, accountability, and responsibility to lead the business every day.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
You will oversee the performance of all Southport Coffee Co. locations and lead the managers and teams responsible for delivering an exceptional customer experience every day. You’ll be responsible for turning company goals into results. That includes improving profitability, developing leaders, strengthening systems, maintaining accountability, identifying opportunities for growth, and making sure our locations operate consistently and successfully without requiring ownership to manage the day-to-day details. You will also work directly with ownership on the next phase of the company — including evaluating growth opportunities, improving the existing business, and building systems that allow Southport Coffee Co. to continue expanding without sacrificing quality or culture. This is an opportunity for someone who wants real responsibility, real autonomy, and the ability to have a meaningful impact on a growing independent company.
WHAT YOU’LL OWNMulti-Unit Operations:
Oversee day-to-day operations across all locations and ensure consistent execution, service, cleanliness, quality, and profitability.
Leadership & Accountability:
Lead, coach, and hold location managers accountable for results. Build a management structure where expectations are clear, problems are addressed quickly, and strong performance is recognized.
People & Culture:
Build and retain great teams. Improve hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, communication, and employee development while protecting the people-first culture that has helped build Southport Coffee Co.
Financial Performance:
Understand the numbers and use them to make decisions. Manage labor, food and beverage costs, waste, productivity, pricing, and other operating expenses while identifying opportunities to grow revenue and improve margins. Sales & GrowthLook beyond maintaining the existing business. Identify ways to increase traffic, average ticket, customer frequency, catering, retail, food and beverage sales, and other revenue opportunities.
Systems & Processes:
Build and improve systems that allow three locations — and eventually more — to operate consistently without depending on ownership for daily oversight.
Problem Solving:
Own operational problems from identification through resolution. We want someone who brings solutions, makes decisions, follows through, and prevents recurring issues.
Customer Experience & Brand Standards:
Ensure every location consistently reflects the quality, hospitality, cleanliness, and community-focused experience customers expect from Southport Coffee Co.
Growth & Expansion:
Help evaluate and prepare for future opportunities, including additional locations, new revenue streams, and other ways to grow the company responsibly.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE: Within this role, success means:
- Our locations operate successfully without ownership managing day-to-day operations.
- Managers know exactly what is expected of them and are accountable for results.
- Staffing is proactive rather than constantly reactive.
- Labor and product costs are controlled without sacrificing customer experience.
- Operational problems are solved at the appropriate level instead of automatically escalating to ownership.
- Sales opportunities are actively identified and pursued.
- Systems become stronger as the company grows.
- Customers receive a consistently excellent experience across every location.
- Ownership can focus on strategy, growth, and the future of the company because the daily business is being exceptionally well run. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FORWe’re looking for someone with significant leadership experience in multi-unit hospitality, restaurants, coffee, retail, or another fast-paced customer-facing business. The right person will likely have:
- Proven experience leading managers and teams
- Strong operational and financial instincts
- Experience managing labor and controlling costs
- The ability to read and understand financial and operational reports
- Strong hiring, coaching, and performance-management skills
- Excellent organization and follow-through
- High standards without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
- Comfort making decisions independently
- A track record of improving operations rather than simply maintaining them
- A genuine interest in growing a business
Coffee experience is helpful, but strong operational leadership is more important.
We are not looking for someone who needs ownership to provide a daily task list.
We are looking for someone who can walk into the business, understand what is happening, determine what needs attention, establish priorities, and lead the team toward measurable results.
COMPENSATION
Total compensation:
$75,000–$100,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and the structure of the compensation package. We want compensation to reward both strong leadership and strong company performance. WHY SOUTHPORT COFFEE CO.We’re independent. We roast our own coffee. We have three established locations, a strong local customer base, approximately $1.6 million in annual sales, and room to grow. We’ve built the company from the ground up, and we care deeply about our customers, our employees, our community, and the culture of the business. Now we’re looking for the right person to help us build the next version of it. For the right operator, this is an opportunity to do much more than manage a coffee shop. It’s an opportunity to run a growing company. Southport Coffee Co. Our Roast. Your Story. Southport, North Carolina
