General Manager (Operations & People) in Macclesfield

9 Market Place, Macclesfield, SK10 1EB, UNITED KINGDOM

At Flour Water Salt, we’re more than a bakery. We’re a fast-paced, community-focused business passionate about creating exceptional pastries and baked goods while building meaningful relationships with the people around us, from our customers and team to local suppliers and neighbouring businesses. We believe great food comes from great people. That means fostering a workplace built on creativity, collaboration, shared values, and continuous growth.

As we continue to evolve, we’re looking for a General Manager to become a pivotal part of the business, working closely with Senior Management to help shape the future of Flour Water Salt. This is an opportunity for someone who thrives in hospitality, enjoys balancing operations with people leadership, and wants to play a key role in a growing independent business.

As General Manager, you’ll oversee the day-to-day operations of the bakery while supporting the long-term growth and success of the business. You’ll lead from the front, maintaining a strong presence on the floor, supporting and developing the team, driving operational excellence, and helping strengthen our connection with the local community. A core part of this role will be bridging the gap between Front of House and Back of House teams, creating strong communication, alignment, and collaboration across the business. You’ll play a key role in ensuring both teams work cohesively towards shared goals, helping to foster a culture of mutual respect, accountability, and excellence.

Working closely with Senior Management, you’ll have significant influence over team culture, customer experience, systems, performance, and future opportunities for the business. This is a highly collaborative position and an opportunity to become a pivotal part of Flour Water Salt’s continued growth.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing rotas, scheduling, and staff leave across the team
• Supporting recruitment and onboarding processes, particularly for Front of House (with potential involvement in Back of House hiring)
• Leading performance reviews, ongoing feedback, and professional development plans
• Handling HR processes and fostering a positive, high-performing workplace culture
• Coaching and motivating the team to deliver exceptional customer experiences
• Supporting retention, wellbeing, and team engagement

Operations & Service

• Maintaining an active Front of House presence, particularly during peak service periods
• Ensuring smooth day-to-day bakery operations and consistently high standards
• Overseeing store upkeep, presentation, cleanliness, and maintenance
• Managing opening/closing procedures and operational systems
• Ensuring compliance with food safety, health & safety, and company policies

Commercial & Business Performance

• Reporting on turnover, sales metrics, labour costs, and key performance indicators
• Monitoring and managing wastage and identifying opportunities for improvement
• Supporting profitability through efficient stock, staffing, and operational planning
• Driving initiatives to improve customer experience and business performance

Marketing & Community Engagement

• Overseeing marketing activity, including Instagram, Mailchimp, and in-store promotions
• Helping maintain and grow the Flour Water Salt brand presence
• Organising events and collaborations, including pop-ups with local businesses
• Building and nurturing strong relationships with suppliers and members of the local community

Strategic Contribution

• Working closely with Senior Management on projects, growth plans, and operational improvements
• Acting as a trusted partner in shaping the future direction of the business
• Bringing ideas, initiative, and leadership to help the bakery continue to evolve

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have previous experience in a General Manager, Operations Manager, or senior hospitality leadership role
• Thrive in fast-paced hospitality environments and enjoy balancing people, operations, and commercial performance
• Are a natural leader who motivates teams and builds positive working cultures
• Have experience with recruitment, HR processes, and employee development
• Are highly organised and confident managing multiple priorities simultaneously
• Have strong commercial awareness and enjoy working with targets, reporting, and performance metrics
• Enjoy being hands-on and leading by example during service
• Have an interest in independent food businesses, community building, and creating memorable customer experiences
• Are proactive, solutions-focused, and excited by the opportunity to help shape a growing business

Experience with marketing platforms (Instagram, Mailchimp), POS systems, and independent hospitality businesses would be advantageous.

Benefits:

• 30 days holiday
• Competitive salary with potential for growth
• Opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive, creative environment
• Work with a passionate team that values quality, innovation, and community
• Regular team events and adventures
• Unlimited access to great coffee, generous staff discounts, and meal contributions during shifts
• The opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of an independent, ambitious bakery business

Screening Questions:

• How many years’ experience do you have in a management role within hospitality, retail, or food businesses?
• Which areas of this role have you had direct responsibility for?
• Are you comfortable working in a hands-on role that includes regular FOH presence, supporting BOH collaboration, and working weekends or peak service periods?
• This role is central to collaboration, while maintaining high standards, strong culture, and business performance. Tell us about a time you improved a team, process, or way of working, what did you do, and what was the outcome?