Company description

Build Coffee & Books is a mission-driven café, bookstore, and gathering space located in the Woodlawn community on the South Side of Chicago. We are sited inside Experimental Station, a cluster  of organizations dedicated to social infrastructure, sustainable food, justice, and participatory media. Our shop serves as  a hub for activists, writers and artists, families, and community members   while offering high-quality coffee, delicious  food, and a thoughtfully curated selection of books and zines. Our mission extends beyond hospitality—we are committed to food justice, collective nourishment, and using literature as a tool for political action and social change. As a community-centered space, we focus on accessibility, meaningful engagement, and fostering deep connections through partnerships on the South Side and beyond.

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and experienced General Manager to lead our daily operations and long-term sustainability. This role requires an adaptable leader who can oversee café and small-inventory bookstore operations while fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment that prioritizes our mission of strengthening collective community capacity. The General Manager will report to Build Coffee’s three co-owners and work closely with them on strategic planning, sustainability, and building a strong culture within the business. They will oversee an incredible team of full- and part-time staff, providing guidance in leadership, financial oversight, inventory management, and community engagement to ensure that Build Coffee remains a space for nourishment, radical dialogue, cultural programming, and community-driven initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise and manage all café and bookstore operations onsite, ensuring efficiency and smooth functionality.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and support a small team of baristas, cooks, booksellers, and event volunteers  with an emphasis on cooperative leadership and workplace equity.
• Cultivate and model high standards of customer service and hospitality to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
• Develop and implement strategies to increase revenue while staying aligned with Build Coffee’s mission
• Oversee inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships
• Organize and coordinate community events, workshops, and literary programming that uplift marginalized voices and movements for justice.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and organizational policies.
• Monitor financial performance, including budgeting, payroll, and cost management, with a focus on sustainability and cooperative economic practices.
• Collaborate with Build Coffee’s co-owners on strategic planning and vision-setting to maintain alignment with its mission and sustainability goals.
• Utilize marketing, social media, and strategic partnerships to expand Build Coffee’s reach and deepen its impact.
• Foster relationships with local authors, publishers, journalists, mutual aid networks, and grassroots organizations to support and amplify radical thought and action.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Management experience in the retail, hospitality, or food and beverage sectors, preferably in a mission-driven, community-centered, or cooperative setting.
  Strong leadership and team management skills, with a collaborative and supportive approach.
• Deep commitment to food justice, cooperative economics, and using books as tools for political education and organizing.
• Exceptional customer service and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Proficiency in analyzing financial reports and implementing cost-control strategies
• Experience in event planning, nonprofit work, grassroots organizing, or cooperative business models is a plus.
• Knowledge of marketing, social media, and brand development strategies to strengthen partnerships and broaden Build Coffee’s visibility.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends to support Saturday operations and community-driven programming.
• Familiarity with health code compliance,  inventory management, and staff scheduling.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and benefits, including a health insurance/wellness stipend
• Employee discounts on books, dining, and beverages.
• Opportunities for professional development and engagement with grassroots movements.
• A creative, mission-driven work environment that actively contributes to shaping a just and equitable Chicago.
• Paid time off and sick leave in compliance with the City of Chicago, as well as additional vacation time over Thanksgiving Weekend, and between Christmas and New Years.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $65,000.00 - $72,000.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

April 28, 2025