General Manager

Job Description: General Manager – Virginia Beach, VA

Blue Cow opened in Roanoke, Virginia in 2017 with the mission of serving up smiles, one handcrafted scoop at a time. We do this by crafting amazing ice cream, and by hiring and developing the best teams to deliver on our promise of service excellence.

Blue Cow is hiring a full-time General Manager to lead the team and drive operational excellence at our Virginia Beach location. The GM makes sound day-to-day business decisions, holds the team accountable to Blue Cow standards, and proactively communicates with the leadership team.

Our General Managers are the gold standard for shop operations and customer experience, making our shops the best place to visit and Blue Cow an awesome place to work.

Primary Job Responsibilities

· Hands-On Leadership: Work alongside the team during peak periods—including nights, weekends, and holidays—while simultaneously managing shop operations and developing staff.

· Team Building & Recruitment: Recruit, select, onboard, and retain exceptional team members, especially first-time and young workers. Identify and nurture future leaders.

· Training & Performance: Execute training programs covering product knowledge, service, safety, sanitation, and operating procedures. Provide regular coaching, performance feedback, and recognition.

· Scheduling & Labor: Manage shop scheduling to ensure optimal staffing, labor efficiency, and an exceptional guest experience across all shifts and seasonal volume shifts.

· Financial & Operational Accountability: Drive economic performance, including sales, labor percentage, cost of goods, inventory control, waste reduction, and shop-level profitability.

· Compliance & Safety: Oversee cash management procedures, food safety standards, employee safety, and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) compliance.

· Guest Experience: Own product quality, speed of service, hospitality, and overall store vibe, creating a fun, welcoming, and clean environment for guests and team members.

· Maintenance & Operations: Maintain shop conditions and handle preventative maintenance or repair coordination with the leadership team.

· Marketing & Culture: Partner with marketing on local initiatives to drive traffic, build community relationships, and champion Blue Cow’s core values.

What Success Looks Like

· Consistently achieving sales goals and delivering strong shop-level profitability.

· Maintaining labor budgets, precise inventory control, and minimal waste.

· Building a stable, high-performing team and mentoring future shift leaders and managers.

· Maintaining exceptional store presentation and guest satisfaction.

Requirements

· 2–3 years of management experience in retail, restaurant, or high-volume food service (experience managing seasonal traffic is a plus).

· Demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, and retain team members.

· Proven track record managing P&L metrics: sales, labor, and inventory control.

· Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

· Physical Demands: Ability to stand for extended periods, perform repetitive scooping motions, and lift/carry up to 50 lbs.

Compensation & Schedule

· Position Type: Full-time (40–45 hours/week, requiring nights, weekends, and holidays based on business needs).

· Compensation: Market-competitive base salary with performance-based incentive bonuses.

· Benefits: Medical insurance, SIMPLE IRA with company match, Paid Time Off (PTO), employee discounts, and opportunities for career growth.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Shift:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift

Work Location: In person