General Manager (Full-Time, Salaried)

Location: Ecusta Market & Café – Hendersonville, NC

Employment Type: Full-Time (50+ hours/week)

Compensation: $60,000/year + grocery stipend + comped cafe food + PTO

Schedule: Self-managed schedule with required weekend presence and active service during peak hours

Position Overview

Ecusta Market & Café is hiring a full-time General Manager to help lead and grow our business across both café and market operations. We’re a locally owned, community-rooted business focused on wholesome food, quality ingredients, and authentic hospitality. We’ve built a strong foundation with a talented team, but as a small and deeply invested family-run business, we’re now looking for the right person to step in as a true operational partner — someone who’s energized, experienced, and ready to help carry the day-to-day load while supporting our long-term growth.

This role isn’t JUST about the café — it’s about helping run the business as a whole. You’ll be an extension of ownership, helping with operations, administration, team leadership, and strategy. You’ll coordinate with the Kitchen Manager and Market Managers, oversee day-to-day café operations, support the team with scheduling, hiring, and training, and also assist with back-end business tasks like payroll, invoice management, vendor coordination, and special projects.

Key Responsibilities

Café & Service Operations

  • Lead and manage the front-of-house café team during busy shifts

  • Be an active presence on weekends and peak service hours

  • Oversee ordering and inventory for café, beer/wine, pastries, and restaurant supplies

  • Maintain high standards for quality, cleanliness, and hospitality

  • Support weekly specials, menu updates, and service adjustments

  • Coordinate a Lead Barista program and assist with training materials/videos

  • Assist with light social media & newsletter prep

Business & Administrative Support

  • Track and help pay invoices, ensuring bills are up to date

  • Assist with payroll, tip pool reporting, and scheduling

  • Work with ownership to monitor grocery margins and food/labor costs

  • Coordinate with vendors (e.g., Cintas, pest control, beverage reps)

  • Support facilities and construction projects as they arise

  • Help us grow the business while improving systems and daily workflow

Team Communication & Culture

  • Manage FOH staff scheduling, shift coverage, and time-off requests

  • Handle minor HR matters and customer concerns

  • Send out weekly café team emails to keep communication flowing

  • Lead by example and help foster a kind, hardworking, and dependable team culture

  • Collaborate closely with Kitchen Manager and Market Managers to align leadership

Ideal Candidate

  • Minimum 2 years of management experience in a café, restaurant, or food-service setting

  • Strong knowledge of service flow, food and beverage operations, and hospitality leadership

  • Experience with vendor ordering, payroll support, scheduling, and team communication

  • Highly organized, calm under pressure, and able to juggle many moving parts

  • Excellent communicator with a passion for food, coffee, and building a strong, positive team culture

  • Comfortable working weekends and managing a blend of admin and floor responsibilities

Compensation & Perks

  • $60,000 annual salary

  • $250/month market stipend to spend on groceries and goods (excludes alcohol)

  • 20% off all additional market purchases after the stipend (excludes alcohol)

  • Comped meals and drinks in the cafe during shifts

  • One week accrued paid time off

  • Supportive, community-centered workplace

Schedule & Expectations

This is a full-time, salaried role with a minimum 50-hour workweek. The load will likely get lighter as we dial in our systems with your help! You’ll manage your own schedule with some flexibility, but Saturdays and Sundays are required, and we expect you to be hands-on during peak hours (often late breakfast & lunch). Weekdays will include a mix of floor shifts and administrative time.

To Apply:

Send your resume and a short cover letter to ecustamarket@gmail.com telling us why you’re the right fit and what excites you about being part of Ecusta Market & Café.