General Manager - Ontario, CA

About the Role

Better Buzz Coffee is seeking General Managers to support our brand new Ontario location. We are looking for leaders with a people-first mindset, a business-ownership mentality, and a commitment to operational excellence. The General Manager is the most senior leader in a Better Buzz café, accountable for delivering a consistent, brand-defining guest experience, building a high-performing team, and operating a profitable, compliant business.

The General Manager spends most of their time leading the team and managing café operations, executing goals, solving problems, and serving as an example of excellence. Our mission is to inspire our team and community to rise early, dream big, have fun, and maximize their human potential.

Selected candidates will train for 8 weeks, assist in the market, and await assignment to a store—either a new opening or a backfill location to support our growth.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development
  • Build, lead, and develop a team of Assistant General Managers, Lead Shift Supervisors, Shift Supervisors, and Team Ambassadors/Baristas who embody Better Buzz culture.
  • Act with integrity, honesty, and knowledge to promote the company’s values and mission.
  • Source, interview, hire, and onboard new team members; identify and develop internal talent for promotion.
  • Address team concerns with urgency, fairness, and compassion.
  • Champion a workplace environment free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
• Guest Experience & Brand Standards
  • Lead the team to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
  • Resolve guest concerns professionally and recover the experience with empathy.
  • Champion training and readiness for brand initiatives, promotions, and seasonal campaigns.
• Operations & Financial Performance
  • Operate the café to meet or exceed financial targets (e.g., sales, labor, food cost, waste).
  • Build and post accurate, compliant team schedules in advance; manage labor to forecast and team availability.
  • Manage to given metrics, identify gaps, and build plans to close them.
  • Drive sales through hospitable service and upselling.
  • Promote adherence to speed of service, fulfillment, and drive-thru time.
  • Maintain high guest feedback scores.
  • Ensure all meal and rest breaks are taken and properly recorded per state law.
  • Lead proper inventory management (e.g., pars, ordering, receiving, rotation, storage, waste tracking).
  • Maintain cash handling integrity and follow loss prevention protocols.
• Compliance, Safety & Wellbeing
  • Maintain food safety and sanitation standards per ANSI-certified Manager certification and county health requirements.
  • Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including wage, scheduling, and leave requirements.
  • Complete and document required incident reporting (e.g., workplace injury, harassment complaints, communicable disease notifications under AB 685).
  • Maintain a safe physical environment for guests and team members; promote psychological safety.
• Communication & Partnership
  • Partner with the District Manager on team coaching, business performance, and people strategy.
  • Communicate clearly and respectfully with The Hive (Better Buzz Support Center), vendors, and cross-functional partners.

Requirements

• 3 years of prior general management experience in a high-volume, high-velocity coffee or fast-casual environment.
• Manager Food Safety Certification.
• Open availability—days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• 45-hour work week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree.
• Drive-thru experience.
• New location opening experience.

Skills

• People-first leadership mindset.
• Business-ownership mentality.
• Ability to meet and execute key performance indicators.
• Commitment to operational excellence.
• Resiliency, endurance, and adaptability.
• Competitive spirit—striving to win every transaction, every day.

Benefits

• Full benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
• 401K with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Paid training.
• Monthly bonus potential once assigned to a location.
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement.
• Work with a passionate team of coffee enthusiasts in a fast-growing brand.

Pay

This position pays an hourly rate of $32.00–$35.00 based on a 45-hour work week, translating to an annual range of roughly $79,000–$86,000. General Managers can earn a significant monthly bonus.

Schedule

General Managers are expected to work 45 hours per week with open availability, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

About Better Buzz

Founded in 2002 by two college students with a dream and a coffee cart, Better Buzz has grown into a thriving community with locations across California, Nevada, Arizona, and soon, Florida. We roast our own organic, fair-trade, and rainforest-certified coffee weekly. At Better Buzz, you’re not just making coffee—you’re making people’s day. Learn more at www.betterbuzzcoffee.com.