Store Manager

Hiring Organization: ELFCO (Eastside Lansing Food Co-op)
Employment type: Full-Time
Job Location: East Lansing
Application Due Date: May 15, 2022

ELFCO (Eastside Lansing Food Co-op)
Store Manager Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Eastside Lansing Food Co-op (ELFCO) is excited to welcome a dynamic leader to manage
and grow a year-round everyday grocery and food cooperative located in the new Allen Place
Complex. We are looking for someone who is passionate about growing the local food system
with experience and energy for building a vibrant community of staff, customers, and producers
through incredible customer service. This position will help redefine and relaunch ELFCO, with a
40 year history, in a new direction embedded in the heart of a food innovation district. This
position will have a significant impact on the core decisions and direction of the business, from
staffing, product selection, financial planning, and decision making.

This position will work closely with the Board of Directors, which is elected by members of the
co-operative.

ELFCO’s HISTORY:
Our first food co-op began in 1976 as a small grocery store committed to serving the Greater
Lansing community while providing access to healthy, local food. In 2017, after 40 years of
business, our conventional co-op closed operations paving the way for this new
consignment-based farm model!

A NEW OPPORTUNITY:

Our new location in the Allen Place Complex will allow for intensive collaboration between ELFCO and Allen Neighborhood Center’s (ANC) well-established food
programs, including a farmers market, incubator kitchen, and multi-producer CSA. This
collaboration will link ELFCO to mid-Michigan producers (both urban and rural) and food
processors who are eager to take advantage of a robust marketing and retailing center to help
meet the increased demand for local foods.

JOB FUNCTIONS:
● Help develop staff hiring, training, on-shift support, conflict resolution and exit
interviews
● Oversee volunteer management, training, and expectations
● Oversee merchandising and store organization/cleanliness
● Manage the producer application process and product mix of the store● Work with the Board of Directors to provide informative payouts to producers and
proper daily bookkeeping procedures
● Develop and maintain standard operating procedures
● Participate in budgetary targets with the board of directors that balances the needs of
the operation with the fiscal ability of the organization
● Keep store operations following food safety requirements
● Participate in regional and national food co-op events

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
● Create a mission-oriented and financially sustainable store operation that is engaging
and enjoyable for staff, customers, and producers
● Grow a new and changing retail business
● Provide customer service to producers, staff, customers, and the board that focuses on
building a positive store culture
● Sincere commitment to working within the co-op model and growing the local food
community
● Experience following through on projects
● An understanding of store operations and MDARD requirements
● Work in multiple technological requirements
● Work physically in a retail environment (on your feet, bending, lifting, and moving)

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
● Retail food management/Farmers Market experience
● Co-op management, decision making and budgetary experience
● Demonstrated experience hiring and managing a team of employees
● Demonstrated experience planning and managing volunteers
● Strategic planning experience