Job Overview
We are seeking a hands-on and entrepreneurial Business Manager to lead the day-to-day operations, financial health, and growth of GAIA, a new self-serve frozen yogurt shop opening in downtown New Haven. Working directly with the founder - the role will involve building and leading the team, keeping the numbers healthy, and creating an experience that keeps customers coming back. The ideal candidate pairs retail or food-service management experience with comfort around numbers, a hospitality-first mindset, and the ownership mentality it takes to thrive in an early-stage business.
Responsibilities
- Run daily shop operations — opening and closing, product quality and consistency, cleanliness, and health-code compliance.
- Hire, train, schedule, and lead a team of hourly staff, fostering a friendly, reliable, and high-performing environment.
- Monitor the shop's profit & loss — track daily sales, food and labor costs, and margins, and flag issues before they grow.
- Manage inventory and ordering (yogurt mix, toppings, cups, supplies) and vendor relationships to control costs and avoid stockouts.
- Use software to track key metrics — daily sales, waste, labor percentage, foot traffic — and report clearly to the founder.
- Deliver an excellent, consistent customer experience, handling escalations and gathering feedback to improve the product and service.
- Improve processes for speed, consistency, and efficiency as volume grows and seasons change.
- Keep equipment running — routine checks on froyo machines and freezers, and coordinating service when needed.
- Oversee cash handling, POS, and daily reconciliation with accuracy and accountability.
Requirements
- Experience managing a retail, café, or food-service location — or strong assistant-manager experience and readiness to step up.
- Comfort with numbers: reading a P&L, tracking food and labor costs, and doing basic forecasting.
- Proficiency with accounting software.
- Familiarity with food-safety standards, or the ability to obtain certification (e.g., ServSafe).
- Availability for a retail schedule, including some evenings and weekends.
Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: Hybrid remote in New Haven, CT 06511
