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Attracting & Hiring Your First
General Manager
NFCA NE Start-up Day May 7, 2016 Bonnie Hudspeth Michael Faber
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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• 
Budget Thanks to Melanie Reid, CDS Consulting Co-op for sharing this! Contact: [email protected]
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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
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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
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Nice Ad!
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Compensation
• Talk to nearby Co-ops
• Make it fit your budget, but pay enough to retain
• Work with consultants!
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Making the Transition
How can you prepare to shift from an active, pre-operations board to empowering management and providing effective feedback, support, & oversight?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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/
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Questions?
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Bonnie Hudspeth Neighboring Food Co-op Association
www.nfca.coop
I Y Our Co-ops!The Neighboring Food Co-op Association // www.nfca.coop
Michael Faber Monadnock Food Co-op [email protected] www.monadnockfood.coop