General Manager in Brighton

Join the Team at Trading Post Coffee Roasters!

At Trading Post Coffee Roasters, coffee is at the heart of everything we do.

As an independent, specialty coffee company, we're passionate about sourcing, roasting and serving exceptional coffee whilst creating memorable experiences for every guest. We believe great coffee starts with great people, which is why we invest in developing our teams through training, coaching and genuine opportunities to grow.

If you're an inspiring leader who is passionate about developing people, driving business performance and creating exceptional customer experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

What We Offer

Joining Trading Post means becoming part of a team that values quality, hospitality and continuous learning.

We offer:

· Free coffee and discounted meals whilst on shift

· 50% employee discount on food and drink at every Trading Post Coffee House

· Discounts on our specialty coffee beans and retail products

· Discounts across Beachfront Leisure venues

· Birthday Gift Card for every team member

· Free access to mental health and financial wellbeing support

· Company pension scheme

· Performance-related bonus scheme

· Ongoing leadership development and management training

· Clear internal career progression opportunities

We believe great people deserve great opportunities. That's why we invest in developing our teams and creating careers, not just jobs.

About the Role

As General Manager, you'll lead your own Trading Post Coffee House, taking ownership of its people, performance and overall success.

You'll create an environment where exceptional hospitality, outstanding coffee and engaged teams come together to deliver memorable experiences every day. You'll inspire your team to grow, build a positive culture and ensure your Coffee House consistently delivers the high standards our customers expect.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident leader who enjoys developing people, making decisions, solving problems and taking ownership of a thriving business.

A Day in the Life

As General Manager, you'll:

· Lead, coach and inspire your team to deliver exceptional hospitality every day.

· Create a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture where people enjoy coming to work.

· Recruit, onboard and develop team members, supporting their personal and professional growth.

· Drive commercial performance through sales, labour management, stock control and cost awareness.

· Analyse business performance, identify opportunities and implement improvements.

· Ensure company standards are consistently maintained across service, food safety, cleanliness and compliance.

· Work closely with your Area Manager and Head Office teams to deliver company objectives.

· Build relationships with regular customers and become an ambassador for your local Trading Post Coffee House.

· Lead by example, remaining visible, approachable and supportive throughout every shift.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, you'll:

· Build an engaged, motivated and high-performing team.

· Deliver consistently exceptional customer experiences.

· Achieve strong commercial performance while maintaining outstanding operational standards.

· Develop future leaders through coaching, mentoring and regular feedback.

· Create a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.

· Make confident decisions that support both your team and the wider business.

· Maintain a Coffee House that customers recommend and colleagues are proud to work in.

· Lead with integrity, professionalism and authenticity every day.

Who We're Looking For

You'll thrive in this role if you:

· Have proven management experience within hospitality, retail or another fast-paced customer-focused environment.

· Enjoy developing people and helping others reach their potential.

· Are commercially aware and understand how operational decisions impact business performance.

· Communicate confidently and build strong relationships with both colleagues and customers.

· Stay calm under pressure and make considered decisions.

· Lead with integrity, accountability and positivity.

· Take ownership and continuously look for opportunities to improve your business.

· Are passionate about delivering exceptional hospitality.

Previous experience

We're looking for someone with:

· Experience leading large teams in a busy operational environment.

· Strong coaching, people development and performance management skills.

· Experience managing sales, labour, stock and operational budgets.

· A track record of delivering excellent customer service.

· Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.

Bonus points if you have:

· Experience managing multiple departments within hospitality.

· Specialty coffee knowledge or experience.

· Experience delivering change and driving business improvement.

· A passion for developing future leaders.

Career Development

At Trading Post, we believe great leaders never stop learning.

As a General Manager, you'll continue developing your leadership capability through structured coaching, leadership development programmes and regular collaboration with our wider management team.

You'll gain opportunities to contribute to company-wide projects, support the development of future leaders and play an active role in shaping the future of Trading Post.

Whether your ambition is to progress into senior operational leadership or specialise within Learning & Development or another Head Office function, we'll support your continued growth.

Our Culture

We're proud of the culture we've built.

We're passionate about coffee, but we're equally passionate about people.

We work hard, support one another, celebrate success and believe that every team member contributes to creating exceptional experiences for our guests.

As a General Manager, you'll set the tone for your entire Coffee House. Your leadership will shape the culture, inspire your team and influence the experience every customer has when they walk through our doors.

We're looking for leaders who lead with empathy, build trust, encourage learning and create environments where people feel valued, challenged and supported to succeed.

Ready to Apply?

If you're passionate about leading people, growing successful teams and making a genuine impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV along with your application.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Trading Post Coffee Roasters is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected and able to thrive. We want every candidate to have the best possible experience, so if there's anything we can do to support you during the recruitment or interview process, please let us know.