General Manager - Iowa City Taproom

The General Manager is accountable for the overall success of their taproom location, providing strategic leadership and hands-on support across all areas of operations. This role is responsible for cultivating a high-performing team, delivering an exceptional guest experience through outstanding service, food, and beverage offerings, and driving strong financial performance. As a cultural ambassador of Big Grove, the General Manager plays a critical role in bringing our purpose to life each day through meaningful engagement with teammates, guests, and the community.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Operational Leadership: Accountable for all aspects of performance and daily operations of the taproom, ensuring consistent delivery of Big Grove standards and compliance with company policies.
2. Guest Experience: Champion the guest journey from arrival to departure, upholding uncompromising standards of hospitality, service, food, and beverage. Ensure the location is opened, operated, and closed with excellence each day.
3. Team Communication & Coaching: Provide clear expectations and direction to the entire team through effective communication and daily coaching. Model core values and hospitality standards, ensuring teammates are set up for success.
4. Event Execution: Maintain a comprehensive understanding of event operations and demonstrate the ability to lead and support any event to Big Grove standards.
5. Leadership Collaboration: Lead location leadership meetings to address issues, share insights, and implement continuous improvements. Execute follow-up actions and assigned tasks in a timely and accountable manner.
6. People Management: Leverage Big Grove’s people and performance tools to manage, coach, and support team members. Address employee concerns promptly and appropriately, fostering a culture of accountability and care.
7. Leadership Development: Develop and mentor leaders on the location’s L10 team through structured training, consistent feedback, and intentional growth opportunities.
8. Financial Accountability: Drive financial performance of the location by managing COGS, labor, and inventory controls. Partner with the Marketing team to implement initiatives that grow traffic, revenue, and profitability.
9. Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Foster a cohesive, productive work environment by ensuring strong communication and alignment between FOH, BOH, and brewery and corporate teams.
10. Facility Excellence: Ensure the taproom and related facilities are consistently maintained at the highest level of cleanliness, safety, and presentation. Successfully achieve and exceed monthly store audit expectations.

Competencies  

Leadership & Team Management

• Strong ability to lead, inspire, and develop teams.
• Experience in hiring, training, and retaining high-performing staff.
• Conflict resolution and the ability to handle employee or customer issues effectively.

Financial & Business Acumen

• Budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management to drive revenue and profitability.
• Cost control strategies, including inventory management, labor costs, and waste reduction.
• Ability to analyze data and KPIs to optimize operations.

Customer Experience & Brand Management

• Ability to create a consistent and amazing guest experience through the team.
• Understanding of customer preferences, menu development, and special events.
• Brand ambassador mindset, ensuring the taproom aligns with the company’s values and brand.

Marketing & Community Engagement

• Knowledge of local marketing strategies, social media engagement, and event planning.
• Ability to build partnerships with local businesses, breweries, and community organizations.
• Experience launching promotions, beer releases, and customer loyalty programs.

Problem-Solving & Adaptability

• Ability to troubleshoot staffing shortages, supply chain issues, or unexpected operational challenges.
• Comfortable making quick, data-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility to adapt to market trends, seasonal shifts, and evolving customer expectations.

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Understanding of draft systems, beer production, and bar operations.
• Familiarity with POS systems, scheduling software, and financial reporting tools.
• Knowledge of beer styles, food pairings, and proper service techniques.

Be a high performing Big Grove team member with ability to look at business as a whole, communicate with all people, collaborate with all departments, work to solve organizational problems, and accomplish goals. Contribute to and exemplify BGB values, vision, standards, and culture.

Supervisory Responsibility

Accountable for the full staff in location. 

Work Environment

The General Manager works in a fast-paced, customer-facing hospitality environment. The role requires flexibility to adapt to changing business needs and demands, particularly during peak service hours, events, and weekends.

• Physical Setting: Work is primarily performed in a taproom/restaurant setting, with frequent movement between front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. The environment includes exposure to noise, crowds, varying temperatures (kitchen, patio, cooler), and occasional outdoor elements during events.
• Pace & Demands: The position involves frequent interruptions, managing multiple priorities at once, and responding quickly to guest or staff needs. Standing, walking, and moving throughout the shift are required, often for 8–10 hours at a time.
• Collaboration: This role requires regular interaction with team members across all departments (FOH, BOH, brewery, and corporate) as well as guests, vendors, and community partners.
• Leadership Presence: As the leader of the team, the General Manager is expected to lead by example, maintain a visible presence on the floor, and support both operational efficiency and team morale in a dynamic environment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Mobility: Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (up to 8–10 hours per shift).
• Lifting/Carrying: Regularly required to lift and carry up to 25 pounds; occasionally up to 50 pounds (kegs, cases, or equipment when assisting staff).
• Reaching/Handling: Frequent use of hands and arms for reaching, handling, and operating equipment or POS systems.
• Posture: Frequent bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and balancing while moving through FOH and BOH spaces.
• Sensory Requirements: Must be able to visually observe and verbally communicate with guests and team members; ability to hear and respond to guest needs in a loud environment.
• Environmental Conditions: Exposure to loud noise, varying temperatures (kitchen heat, walk-in cooler cold, outdoor patios), cleaning supplies, and crowded spaces.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position and hours of work/ days may vary from week to week. Hours expected to be worked are between 45-50 per week. A flexible schedule is required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Extended hours may be necessary during special events, promotions, or high-volume periods.

Travel

Travel may be expected occasionally in this position.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Must have 5+ years of proven success in a high volume, restaurant environment in an upper management role.
2. A passion for the restaurant and brewing industry and an unwavering commitment to deliver relentless hospitality.
3. Strong ability to analyze data, diagnose issues and coach the team accordingly.
4. Exceptional people management skills, including resolving conflict, coaching and developing, promoting teamwork, and performance management. Ability to build and motivate high performing teams. 
5. Strong business acumen and proven track record in leading operations to meet sales and profitability objectives
6. Willingness to learn and accommodate industry changes and company directives
7. Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
8. Must understand restaurant software systems; Toast, Toast Tables, Kickfin, Sling, etc.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.