Opening General Manager – HQ (Coffee Cart Co Flagship) (12-Month Build Role)
Location: Hereford
Engagement: Contract / Fixed-term (12 months)
Value: Performance-linked, comparable to a £50k salaried role
Start: Immediate
About Coffee Cart Co & HQ
Coffee Cart Company is a long-established, independent Hereford coffee business, operating since 1999 and recognised locally for quality and consistency.
HQ is our new flagship venue — a permanent, refined evolution of the Coffee Cart Co brand — bringing together a specialty coffee shop, micro-roastery, training academy, and cocktail bar under one roof.
We are a small, family-run business and are opening HQ from the ground up.
The Role
We are looking for an Opening General Manager to lead the build, launch, and first year of operations at HQ.
This is a 12-month build role, not a permanent site-based GM position. The focus is on:
* Opening the venue successfully
* Building the founding team
* Embedding strong systems and standards
* Leaving HQ operating independently
Build & Launch
* Lead the opening of HQ from scratch
* Recruit, train, and onboard the founding team
* Create rotas, service standards, and operating rhythms
* Coordinate suppliers, stock, licensing, and readiness
* Deliver opening under a fixed deadline
First-Year Operations
* Lead day-to-day performance post-launch
* Control labour, stock, and operating costs
* Develop internal leaders and duty managers
* Reduce owner dependency through structure
Handover
* Document systems and processes
* Prepare HQ to operate independently
* Support future growth planning if required
How the Role Is Paid
* Pre-launch: fixed monthly pay covering opening work
* Post-launch: performance-based bonuses at 3, 6, and 12 months
This is a rare opportunity to lead from day one — shaping the build, launching our flagship venue, and setting the tone for its first year and beyond. If you’re a hands-on leader with the vision, resilience, and drive to bring a flagship to life, we’d love to hear from you.
Send your CV to our HR Manager, gemma@coffeecartcompany.co.uk.
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