Attracting & Hiring Your First

General Manager

NFCA NE Start-up Day May 7, 2016 Bonnie Hudspeth Michael Faber

Overview

•  Intro •  GM Hiring Process & Roles •  Be a Good Board •  Making the Transition •  Attracting a Dynamo GM •  Incoming GM’s Perspective & First Jobs •  Lessons Learned •  Questions?

Why is it So Important?

•  The fate of your co-op

•  “Million dollar role”

•  Success/Failure of Co-op in the first 3 years •  Find someone who will stay with the co-op

When Should You Start?

•  Yesterday! •  Hiring process can take 9 + months

•  3 mos. committee forming to advertising •  2 - 3 mos. advertising •  1 mos. interview process •  3 mos. GM candidate needs to give notice

•  Start during Stage 2b •  Start-date usually happens when most of the co-op

financing is committed or in place •  General Manager should be in place 1 year before

projected opening

GM Hiring Process Overview •  Create GM Search Committee •  Identify Resources & Support Needed •  Make a Budget & Figure out Expertise •  Create Job Description & Qualifications •  Post Position on Website, Craigslist, etc. •  Create Interview & Selection Process •  Determine Compensation Package •  Review Candidate Material •  Schedule Interviews •  Conduct Interviews •  Make Job Offer •  GM Orientation

Role of the Board •  Put together & Oversee GM Search Committee

•  Approve budget for GM search

•  Preliminary Job description

•  Set budget for GM compensation: give GM Search Committee parameters based on pro-forma

•  Interview finalists

•  Ultimately, approve hire

Resource: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/doc/gm-success-profile

Role of the Search Committee

•  Who? At least one Board member, HR person, business, etc.

•  Committee Chair: Organized & Timely (a board member)

•  Need Committee members who can commit serious time

Duties: 1.  Create & Manage GM Hire timeline

2.  Interview questions & advertise position

3.  Keep everyone informed: communicate w/Board & Members

4.  Screen candidates: 1st round of interviews, narrow pool, and offer slate to Board (minimum of 2 candidates)

5.  Work with Consultant on hiring process

•  

Budget Thanks to Melanie Reid, CDS Consulting Co-op for sharing this! Contact: MelanieReid@cdsconsulting.coop

Why Hire a Consultant?

•  Co-op experience

•  Examples: CDS CC, NCG, HR firm

•  Support during: –  Recruitment process

–  Develop interview questions

–  Compensation and contract

–  Support GM Search Committee Chair

–  Initial screening via phone interviews

–  Feedback on candidate selection

Where to Advertise? 1.  Your Co-op’s Website 2.  Local newspaper, job board, etc. 3.  Craigslist, GoodFoodJobs.com, CareersinGrocery.com 4.  Network at CCMA: in Amherst this year! 5.  Cooperative Grocer Network website 6.  Cooperative Grocer Magazine: ad 7.  NCBA CLUSA job board 8.  Social Media 9.  NFCA E-news

Nice Ad!

Compensation

•  Talk to nearby Co-ops

•  Make it fit your budget, but pay enough to retain

•  Work with consultants!

Making the Transition

How can you prepare to shift from an active, pre-operations board to empowering management and providing effective feedback, support, & oversight?

Be A Good Board (Supervisor)

1.  Understand board’s role in the co-op

2.  Focus on Mission, Vision & Ends

3.  Clear systems for empowerment and accountability

4.  Policies/working agreements (Policy Template for Startups)

5.  Cooperative Board Leadership Development

6.  Commit to ongoing board self-assessment, training and improvement.

7.  Learning/Exchange with other Co-op Boards

Attracting a Dynamo GM

1.  Clear lines of responsibility and accountability – well functioning board (understanding how you’ll be governed)

2.  Want to know that it will be a viable project

3.  Set up for success – Group used professional resources for key decisions (market study, site planning, etc.)

4.  Available resources to work through difficult decisions. E.g. National Co+op Grocers Development contract

Incoming GM’s First Jobs

•  Set up Co-op for employees (Payroll, Workers Comp, Employee handbook, etc.)

•  Establish financial record keeping and reporting •  Manage start up budget including Sources & Uses budget

(equipment budget, purchase & installation) •  Negotiate with Architect & Developer •  Oversee various details of the construction project – finalize floor

plan and department equipment needs •  Develop store branding and interior décor and messaging •  Develop pre-opening training plan and hire to the plan •  Establish product sourcing & selection

Lessons Learned

•  Hiring GM = One of the most important decisions the Board makes

•  Set yourself up to attract a good GM •  Hire GM early enough •  Process is long (up to a year) so plan

accordingly •  Prepare for your new responsibilities:

be a great employer! •  Wait for the right GM vs. hiring the

wrong one

Resources Hiring Your First GM:

http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/hiring-your-first-general-manger/

GM Success Profile: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/doc/gm-success-profile/

Start Up Staff: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/fieldguide/when-and-who-to-hire-or-contract-for-startups/

Start Off Right w/a New GM: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/article/start-off-right-with-a-new-gm/

GM Contract Template Field Guide: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/fieldguide/general-manager-contract-template-field-guide/

Building a Positive Board/GM Relationship: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/building-a-positive-bodgm-relationship/

Hiring & Guiding a PM/GM: http://library.cdsconsulting.coop/hiring-and-guiding-a-project-managergm/

Questions?

Bonnie Hudspeth Neighboring Food Co-op Association

bonnie@nfca.coop

www.nfca.coop

I Y Our Co-ops!The Neighboring Food Co-op Association // www.nfca.coop

Michael Faber Monadnock Food Co-op gm@monadnockfood.coop www.monadnockfood.coop