United Dairy Farmers · 3 weeks ago
General Manager - Bakery & Commissary
Cincinnati, OH
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
7+ years expUnited Dairy Farmers is a family-owned company committed to making quality ice cream and baked goods. The General Manager will oversee the Bakery and Commissary divisions, driving product innovation and operational excellence while ensuring financial performance and team development.
AgricultureFood and BeverageRetail
Hiring Manager
Julie George
Responsibilities
Own full P&L responsibility for the Bakery and Commissary units with a focus on margin expansion and disciplined cost management
Develop and execute strategic financial plans that drive profitable growth and operational leverage
Analyze unit-level economics, performance trends, and cost structures to guide data-driven decisions
Leverage synergies across production, logistics, and product categories to maximize financial return
Establish clear financial KPIs and performance dashboards that enhance transparency and accountability
Lead bakery and commissary operations with an emphasis on efficiency, throughput, and cost performance
Optimize labor, inventory turns, ingredient utilization, and logistics to strengthen unit economics
Ensure robust SQF, GMP, and food safety programs that minimize risk and safeguard profitability
Guide successful commercialization of new products—from benchtop formulation through pilot testing, scale-up, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and retail launch
Collaborate with quality, R&D, and operations teams to ensure new products meet required specifications at a commercially viable cost
Partner with Category Management on product mix, pricing strategy, and volume planning with a strong financial lens
Oversee product development and recipe reformulation to enhance both customer appeal and profitability
Drive disciplined product testing that integrates customer feedback, sensory evaluation, and financial modeling
Accelerate market introduction of high-margin products that differentiate UDF in the retail marketplace
Strengthen innovation processes to improve speed-to-market and competitive agility
Ensure adherence to all SQF, GMP, safety, and regulatory standards, protecting both brand and P&L
Oversee maintenance programs that protect capital assets, reduce downtime, and minimize unplanned costs
Maintain audit-ready processes and documentation to prevent financial exposure
Balance immediate operational needs with long-term capital investment planning
Build preventive systems and controls that reduce operational and compliance risk
Build a capable, financially literate leadership team that understands cost levers, performance drivers, and operational priorities
Deliver candid, actionable performance feedback tied to measurable business outcomes
Foster a culture grounded in accountability, continuous improvement, and collaborative problem-solving
Strengthen bench depth and succession planning for all critical operational roles
Recognize high performers, reinforce engagement, and cultivate leaders who drive results through people
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in business or a related field, with 7–10 years of P&L leadership experience in food manufacturing, ideally baked goods
Minimum 5–7 years of management experience, including leading managers and building high-performance teams
Strong business acumen with the ability to build consensus, influence stakeholders, and lead across functions
Exceptional communication skills—verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal—with strong diplomacy and relationship-building capabilities
Advanced analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills, including understanding regulatory, risk, and competitive dynamics in food manufacturing and logistics (DOT)
Demonstrated ability to innovate, drive change, and lead transformation across a division or multi-site operations
Highly collaborative and team-oriented leader able to motivate talent, manage multiple priorities, and perform under pressure
Proven vendor management and negotiation expertise, ensuring strong supplier relationships and cost effectiveness
Discerning palate, with the ability to help develop and formulate recipes, ingredient mixes for new products, and detect issues with current products
Strong project management capabilities and experience commercializing products, including recipe development and formulation oversight
Proficiency in MS Office and ERP systems (preferably Sage), with the ability to adapt to evolving technology and operational tools
Company
United Dairy Farmers
United Dairy Farmers is a retail company that provides produces ice cream and operates ice cream parlors.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
M
Michael Ahmed
Chief Executive Officer
C
Carl Lindner Jr.
Co-Founder
Recent News
2025-05-10
2024-12-17
Company data provided by crunchbase