About Us
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats is a locally-cherished small-batch ice cream company founded by a mother-daughter team. What began as a passion project has grown into multiple scoop shops across Montgomery County.
Every flavor is handcrafted in small batches using premium ingredients and our own recipes. Beyond our product, we are deeply committed to building a company culture centered on mentorship, integrity, community, and operational excellence.
As we continue to expand, we are seeking a Shop Apprentice (Manager in Training) who can lead a location with strong operational discipline, team leadership, and data-driven decision making.
Position Overview
The Shop Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily performance, profitability, and operational standards of a retail shop location, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and growth across the business.
This role requires a hands-on leader with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, develop strong teams, enforce SOPs, and drive both sales and operational excellence. The Shop Manager must also be comfortable analyzing operational data and using reporting tools to improve performance and efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Excellence & Standards
- Ensure all staff follow company SOPs, recipes, and brand standards
- Audit store operations regularly for quality control, food safety, and cleanliness
- Oversee scheduling, labor management, and cost controls to meet profitability goals
- Identify and resolve operational issues quickly while implementing long-term solutions
- Maintain strong execution of daily service standards and product presentation
People Management & Leadership Development
- Directly manage and mentor staff
- Provide ongoing coaching, training, and development to team members
- Drive accountability and performance through regular reviews, feedback, and clear expectations alongside our HR specialist
- Ensure the shop is adequately staffed with trained, high-performing team members
- Foster a positive, respectful, and growth-oriented team culture
Financial Performance & KPIs
- Monitor and analyze daily, weekly, and monthly sales performance
- Track key operational metrics such as tip frequency rate, labor percentage, product movement, and shift efficiency
- Use data analysis and reporting tools to identify opportunities for operational improvements
- Implement strategies to increase revenue and control costs without sacrificing quality
- Work with executive leadership to set and achieve location-specific performance targets
Cross-Department Coordination
- Oversee and manage all inventory tracking and purchasing
- Collaborate with Events & Partnerships teams on promotions, events, and community engagement
- Support Catering and Wholesale orders with shop-level execution of large orders and events
- Maintain clear communication across departments to ensure operational alignment
Training & Compliance
- Lead training initiatives for new hires and developing team members
- Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and labor regulations
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and operational best practices
- Reinforce company procedures and maintain strong operational documentation
Data & Systems Skills
This role requires comfort working with operational data and business systems.
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Proficiency with Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Docs, Drive)
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel
- Ability to analyze reports and operational data
- Comfort using POS systems and reporting dashboards
- Strong organizational and documentation skills
Qualifications
- 3+ years of management experience in hospitality, retail, or foodservice
- Proven leadership ability with experience coaching and managing teams
- Strong business acumen including understanding of P&L, labor control, and inventory management
- Highly organized and detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume, customer-focused environment
- Flexible schedule with availability on evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation between locations
- ServSafe Food Manager's Certificate & Maryland Food Manager's License
What We Value
At Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream, we look for leaders who demonstrate:
- Accountability and integrity
- Initiative and ownership
- Positive leadership and mentorship
- Attention to detail and operational discipline
- Curiosity and continuous improvement
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $47,000.00 - $61,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Describe a time when things didn’t go as planned at work — maybe a mistake you made or something that fell through. How did you handle it, and what did you do afterward to ensure it wouldn’t happen again?
- Describe a time when you had to lead team. What were the challenges, and how did you handle them?
- The Shop Apprentice Program is designed to prepare future leaders through hands-on training, coaching, and increasing responsibility. Why do you want to pursue this path instead of remaining in your current role/path? What makes leadership appealing to you?
- We want to get to know you beyond your résumé. Tell us about who you are, what motivates you, the experiences that have shaped you, and why you believe you'd be a great fit for Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream. Please be detailed and use our website, Instagram, and other online resources to demonstrate your understanding of our company.
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
- ServSafe Food Manager's Certificate (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Bethesda, MD 20814 (Required)
Work Location: In person
