General Manager — Thomas Joseph Butchery (TJB)Job Overview
We are seeking a commercially minded General Manager to take overall leadership of Thomas Joseph Butchery (TJB), founded in 2018 on quality and ethics above all else. The business has grown from Tom the owner on his own to 10 full-time staff, with a target of 12 by the end of 2026. We need an experienced leader to run both entities day-to-day, reporting directly to the owner, and to be accountable for performance, culture and growth. Remuneration is competitive, with 6-month and Christmas bonus schemes tied to KPIs and P&L targets agreed with the owner.
TJB's two entities:
- Retail store — butchery counter, deli, organic vegetables, beer & wine, coffee shop, and frozen range.
- Online store — ~90% of the retail range in regular portions cut weekly, focused on butchery plus deli, veg and beer/wine.
The candidate will have a minimum of 5 years' butchery experience plus prior experience managing a business or senior team, understand both online and retail commercial models, and be comfortable owning full P&L responsibility. This is the owner's principal point of accountability for the business — translating the owner's vision into an operating plan and holding the wider team (Operations Manager, supervisors, staff) to it.
Working Week
Tuesday–Sunday operation, alternate Sundays worked by the team; the General Manager may need to cover some Sundays. Regular week is Tuesday–Saturday — hours and pay discussed at interview.
Duties
- Own TJB's performance, P&L and growth, reporting directly to the owner, and set the annual business plan and budget.
- Own supplier relationships and contracts, securing premium service and pricing across all product lines.
- Lead and hold accountable the wider team (Operations Manager, supervisors, staff), ensuring stock is ordered, managed and used effectively, and over/undersold products are corrected quickly.
- Oversee the daily cutting list, online order fulfilment, and counter/stock levels so departments run smoothly and orders are processed on time.
- Ensure robust stock control (especially dry-aged produce) so the business has full visibility of sales and never runs short.
- Produce the weekly rota and manage holiday/absence cover.
- Set and monitor KPIs, reviewing performance regularly with the owner.
- Recruit, mentor and develop the team, building a leadership bench capable of running the business day-to-day.
- Own compliance (HACCP, Fire Safety) and embed a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement.
- Act as senior escalation point for customer service, ensuring the team stays fluent across the product range.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in a General Manager, senior operations, or business leadership role, ideally within a butchery, food, or premium food retail/e-commerce business.
- Minimum 5 years of whole carcass butchery experience.
- Experience with food e-commerce, preferably in butchery.
- Demonstrable experience owning P&L, budgets and commercial KPIs, not just day-to-day operations.
- Strong leadership skills with a track record of building, motivating and developing teams.
- Excellent analytical, strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficient in project management methodologies and tools.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the confidence to represent the business to suppliers and partners.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities effectively across a growing business.
- Familiarity with relevant industry regulations and standards is an advantage.
- A degree in business administration, management or a related field is preferred.
- A professional approach to all work, with the ability to muck in with the team, is a must.
If you possess the required skills and are ready to take on a challenging yet rewarding role as General Manager, we encourage you to apply today!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £37,500.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
