Director of Retail Operations

Description

Bread Alone is strengthening its hospitality and retail operations, and this role plays a key part in shaping that next chapter. As Director of Retail Operations, you guide the vision and daily execution of our café experience across Boiceville, Rhinebeck, and Woodstock, while also shaping the guest experience and operational standards that extend into our NYC Greenmarket locations. Your work ensures that every interaction and every café reflects our values, our craft, and our commitment to our community.

We're seeking a dynamic leader to oversee the daily operations of our Boiceville, Rhinebeck, and Woodstock cafés, while providing strategic alignment for our NYC Greenmarket locations. You will be the primary guardian of our hospitality standards, ensuring that every guest interaction reflects our commitment to craft, quality, and our organic values.

• You will champion operational excellence by refining and scaling SOPs, improving system efficiencies, and ensuring consistent execution across all retail channels. By partnering closely with our Culinary and Bakery teams, you will guarantee seamless product flow and menu execution, bridging the gap between our production heart and our guest-facing environments.

• As a mentor and coach, you will lead our General Managers and Supervisors, fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth. You will collaborate with HR to oversee recruitment, training, and succession planning, ensuring our teams are not only skilled but deeply rooted in Bread Alone’s mission-driven culture.

• Financial stewardship is a key component of this role. You will oversee café P&Ls, monitoring labor, COGS, and inventory accuracy to drive profitability. By analyzing trends and forecasting with our Finance team, you will create actionable improvement plans that align staffing and resources with sales goals across all cafés and markets.

• You will ensure our brand is brought to life through impeccable merchandising and guest presentation. Working alongside the Brand team, you’ll manage seasonal launches and in-store campaigns, ensuring that our visual storytelling is as consistent and high-quality as our bread, whether in a flagship café or a bustling Greenmarket.

• Safety and sustainability are non-negotiable. You will hold primary responsibility for food safety compliance and regulatory relationships with local Health Departments. Beyond compliance, you will champion our environmental initiatives, including waste reduction and composting, to ensure our facilities operate in harmony with our planet.

• This role serves as a vital cross-functional liaison, connecting Retail with Production, HR, and Marketing. You will lead the communication strategies that support retail resets, seasonal pilots, and operational improvements, ensuring all departments are synchronized to deliver a world-class guest experience.

• The ideal candidate is a seasoned hospitality leader with a passion for organic food and community. You should possess strong financial acumen, a proven track record of developing leaders, and the ability to balance high-level strategy with a hands-on presence in our cafés and markets.

Requirements

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Ability to travel regularly to all cafe and greenmarket locations
• Ability to move and stand for extended periods in production and retail sites.
• Ability to regularly lift and move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Respect for and comfort with a diverse and inclusive workplace
• This role operates in a dynamic environment, with time split between a standard office setting and active production/retail locations.
• Must be able to work in environments with exposure to common food allergens (flour, nuts, etc.), as well as varying temperatures (heat from ovens, cold from walk-in refrigerators).
• Willing to follow all food safety regulations, including removal of visible piercings, false nails, and refraining from makeup or fragrance at work

Qualifications 

• 7–10+ years of progressive leadership in retail, foodservice, or bakery operations 
• Strong background in foodservice and production-driven environments, with a clear understanding of quality, systems, and scale
• Proven track record of managing P&Ls, improving margins, and using financial and performance data to drive results
• Demonstrated ability to lead through others by building, coaching, and scaling strong teams
• Strong systems thinker with experience designing and implementing SOPs, tools, and workflows that improve consistency and efficiency
• Excellent communicator wi