About Us

Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats is a locally-cherished small-batch ice cream company founded by a mother-daughter team. What began as a passion project has grown into multiple scoop shops across Montgomery County.

Every flavor is handcrafted in small batches using premium ingredients and our own recipes. Beyond our product, we are deeply committed to building a company culture centered on mentorship, integrity, community, and operational excellence.

As we continue to expand, we are seeking a Shop Apprentice (Manager in Training) who can lead a location with strong operational discipline, team leadership, and data-driven decision making.

Position Overview

The Shop Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily performance, profitability, and operational standards of a retail shop location, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and growth across the business.

This role requires a hands-on leader with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, develop strong teams, enforce SOPs, and drive both sales and operational excellence. The Shop Manager must also be comfortable analyzing operational data and using reporting tools to improve performance and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Excellence & Standards

Ensure all staff follow company SOPs, recipes, and brand standards
Audit store operations regularly for quality control, food safety, and cleanliness
Oversee scheduling, labor management, and cost controls to meet profitability goals
Identify and resolve operational issues quickly while implementing long-term solutions
Maintain strong execution of daily service standards and product presentation

People Management & Leadership Development

Directly manage and mentor staff
Provide ongoing coaching, training, and development to team members
Drive accountability and performance through regular reviews, feedback, and clear expectations alongside our HR specialist
Ensure the shop is adequately staffed with trained, high-performing team members
Foster a positive, respectful, and growth-oriented team culture

Financial Performance & KPIs

Monitor and analyze daily, weekly, and monthly sales performance
Track key operational metrics such as tip frequency rate, labor percentage, product movement, and shift efficiency
Use data analysis and reporting tools to identify opportunities for operational improvements
Implement strategies to increase revenue and control costs without sacrificing quality
Work with executive leadership to set and achieve location-specific performance targets

Cross-Department Coordination

Oversee and manage all inventory tracking and purchasing
Collaborate with Events & Partnerships teams on promotions, events, and community engagement
Support Catering and Wholesale orders with shop-level execution of large orders and events
Maintain clear communication across departments to ensure operational alignment

Training & Compliance

Lead training initiatives for new hires and developing team members
Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and labor regulations
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and operational best practices
Reinforce company procedures and maintain strong operational documentation

Data & Systems Skills

This role requires comfort working with operational data and business systems.

Candidates should demonstrate:

Proficiency with Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Docs, Drive)
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel
Ability to analyze reports and operational data
Comfort using POS systems and reporting dashboards
Strong organizational and documentation skills

Qualifications

3+ years of management experience in hospitality, retail, or foodservice
Proven leadership ability with experience coaching and managing teams
Strong business acumen including understanding of P&L, labor control, and inventory management
Highly organized and detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume, customer-focused environment
Flexible schedule with availability on evenings, weekends, and holidays
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation between locations
ServSafe Food Manager's Certificate & Maryland Food Manager's License

What We Value

At Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream, we look for leaders who demonstrate:

Accountability and integrity
Initiative and ownership
Positive leadership and mentorship
Attention to detail and operational discipline
Curiosity and continuous improvement

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $47,000.00 - $61,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Employee discount
Health insurance
Paid time off
Paid training
Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

Describe a time when things didn’t go as planned at work — maybe a mistake you made or something that fell through. How did you handle it, and what did you do afterward to ensure it wouldn’t happen again?
Describe a time when you had to lead team. What were the challenges, and how did you handle them?
The Shop Apprentice Program is designed to prepare future leaders through hands-on training, coaching, and increasing responsibility. Why do you want to pursue this path instead of remaining in your current role/path? What makes leadership appealing to you?
We want to get to know you beyond your résumé. Tell us about who you are, what motivates you, the experiences that have shaped you, and why you believe you'd be a great fit for Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream. Please be detailed and use our website, Instagram, and other online resources to demonstrate your understanding of our company.

License/Certification:

Driver's License (Required)
ServSafe Food Manager's Certificate (Required)

Ability to Commute:

Bethesda, MD 20814 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream & Treats

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