Store Manager / General Manager

Store Manager / General Manager — Southern Steer Butcher (Surprise, AZ)

Fork & Cleaver Holdings, Inc.

About the Opportunity

Southern Steer Butcher is bringing a premium neighborhood butcher shop experience to Surprise — combining high-quality meats, prepared foods, exceptional customer service, and a modern retail butcher experience in a locally owned environment.

We are seeking a passionate, driven, and operationally strong Store Manager / General Manager to help lead the launch and long-term success of our new location.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in hospitality, food retail, team leadership, and customer experience. The right candidate will help build the culture, develop the team, maintain operational excellence, and create a destination customers genuinely love visiting.

This is not a corporate “maintain the status quo” position. We are building something special from the ground up and are looking for someone who wants to grow with the business long term.

Position Summary

The Store Manager / General Manager is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations of the butcher shop including:

• Team leadership
• Customer experience
• Food safety and sanitation
• Inventory and merchandising
• Retail operations
• Labor management
• Sales performance
• Brand standards
• Store culture and accountability

The General Manager will lead by example while building and developing a high-performing team focused on hospitality, professionalism, quality, and operational consistency.

Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Team Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop team members
• Create and maintain a positive, accountable, team-oriented culture
• Lead daily operations with professionalism, urgency, and attention to detail
• Manage scheduling, labor, and staffing needs
• Conduct coaching and corrective action when necessary
• Hold employees accountable to operational and customer service standards
• Lead by example in work ethic, attitude, and customer engagement

Customer Experience

• Deliver exceptional hospitality and customer service
• Build relationships with customers and local community members
• Ensure the store environment is clean, organized, welcoming, and fully stocked
• Resolve customer concerns professionally and efficiently
• Help create a memorable neighborhood butcher shop experience

Operations

• Oversee opening and closing procedures
• Monitor inventory, product rotation, and waste control
• Maintain merchandising and product presentation standards
• Assist with receiving, ordering, and inventory management
• Ensure smooth coordination between front-of-house and back-of-house operations
• Support prepared foods and value-added product execution

Food Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all food safety and sanitation standards
• Ensure compliance with health department requirements and company procedures
• Maintain safe handling procedures for all food products
• Uphold cleanliness and organization throughout the store

Business Performance

• Support sales growth initiatives and local marketing efforts
• Help drive profitability through labor management, inventory control, and operational efficiency
• Monitor daily operational performance and team execution
• Maintain consistency with Southern Steer brand standards

QualificationsRequired

• Previous management experience in one or more of the following:
• Butcher shop
• Grocery
• Restaurant
• Specialty food retail
• Meat/seafood department
• Hospitality or food-service leadership
• Strong leadership, communication, and customer service skills
• Ability to manage teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and stand for extended periods
• Flexible schedule including weekends and holidays as needed
• Strong work ethic and ownership mentality

Preferred

• Butcher shop or meat department experience
• Experience opening or helping launch a new business location
• Experience with inventory, labor management, and retail operations
• Passion for food, grilling, smoking, cooking, or hospitality

Required Prior to Hire

• ServSafe Manager Certification required prior to hire

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Performance-based bonus opportunities
• Growth opportunities within the business
• Team-oriented environment with direct ownership involvement
• Opportunity to help build and shape a flagship location from the ground up

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a leader who:

• Takes pride in building strong teams
• Leads with accountability and professionalism
• Thrives in a customer-focused environment
• Understands urgency, consistency, and execution
• Wants long-term growth with a local business
• Can balance hospitality with operational discipline

This role is ideal for someone who wants to help build a business — not simply manage shifts.

Why Southern Steer?

Southern Steer Butcher is designed to be more than a butcher shop. We aim to become a local destination centered around premium products, hospitality, and community connection.

This is a rare opportunity to join at the ground floor and help shape the culture, operations, and long-term success of a new business in one of the fastest-growing communities in Arizona.

To Apply

Please submit:

• Resume
• Brief summary of your leadership experience
• Why you are interested in joining Southern Steer Butcher