Caramel Talent
General Manager - Independent Bakery Brand
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General Manager – Independent Bakery
📍 Shoreditch / Hackney, London
💰 £35,000–£45,000
🗓 Full-time | Weekend working required
We’re working with an exciting independent bakery concept that has built a significant following in London through pop-ups, events and collaborations.
With strong demand for its freshly baked products and an established customer following, the business is now preparing for its biggest step yet: opening its first permanent location.
They’re looking for a hands-on General Manager to work closely with the Founder and take ownership of the day-to-day operation, while helping to build the foundations for the next stage of growth.
This is an opportunity for someone who wants more than simply running an established site. You’ll have the chance to influence how the operation works, support the opening of the first permanent location and play an important role in how the business develops from here.
The role
The position combines hands-on leadership during trading days with operational and planning work outside of service.
You’ll be visible on the shop floor, working alongside the team and leading busy services, while also having dedicated time to focus on the operational side of the business.
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Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading the day-to-day operation and busy service periods
- Recruiting, training and developing the team
- Managing rotas, labour and staffing
- Developing and implementing SOPs and operational processes
- Managing stock and supplier relationships
- Maintaining high standards across food safety, compliance and customer experience
- Supporting the pre-opening and launch of the first permanent location
- Helping develop the coffee and wider drinks offering
- Working closely with the Founder to identify improvements and opportunities for growth
- Building processes that can be replicated as further locations open
About you
You could already be a General Manager, or you might be an ambitious Assistant General Manager, Store Manager, Café Manager or Bakery Manager ready to take the next step. We’re particularly interested in people with experience across independent hospitality, bakeries, premium cafés, speciality coffee, food-to-go or other fast-paced food concepts.
Ideally, you’ll have:
- Experience managing a busy hospitality operation
- Strong people leadership skills
- Experience of a new opening, launch or setting up a new site
- Good commercial understanding across labour, costs and operational performance
- Experience introducing or improving operational processes
- A strong understanding of customer experience
- An appreciation for high-quality, freshly made products
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Bakery experience would be beneficial but isn’t essential. Strong coffee knowledge would also be a real advantage.
More importantly, you’ll be entrepreneurial, adaptable and comfortable joining a growing, founder-led business where there is still plenty to build.
You’ll enjoy getting stuck in operationally, but equally be capable of stepping away from service to improve processes, plan ahead and help create the infrastructure needed for growth.
The opportunity
The business has ambitious plans beyond its first permanent location, creating genuine scope for this person to develop into a broader Operations Manager role as the brand expands.
Salary: £35,000–£45,000 depending on experience
Location: Shoreditch / Hackney, London
Working pattern: Full-time, with regular Saturday and Sunday working required
Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
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