District Manager (West Coast)
Based in Los Angeles, California
About Levain
Competitive triathletes and passionate bakers Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald left their careers to open a small bread shop in New York City in 1995: Levain Bakery.
One day, they baked a BIG chocolate chip walnut cookie as energy for triathlon training. At Levain, a batch of these 6-ounce cookies flew off the shelves, and an icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious visitors from around the world, hungry for “the cookie.”
From the start, Pam, Connie, and the team baked everything fresh on-site each day, donating the day’s leftovers to charity, and we still do more than 30 years later. Today, Levain has bakeries across the country (with more to come!), plus ecommerce gift boxes to treat cookie lovers in every state.
Our vision: To give rise to lifelong memories.
Our mission: To bring together people who treat their work and the craft of baking and all who come to visit with great care.
Every day, we strive to embody our five core values:
• Welcome All: We are all in it together.
• Work Hard and Be Kind: We pull our weight, we do our best, and we take care of each other.
• Lead with Heart: We operate with empathy and integrity.
• Rise Up: We take initiative to make things better.
• Savor It: We are present and find the fun!
The Role
District Managers oversee multiple retail bakeries and provide on-the-ground support to their team of General Managers, ensuring retail, baking production, and operations needs are met. The District Manager is a key role in the pipeline for future leadership positions as Levain continues to grow nationally.
The ideal candidate has prior multi-unit experience, strong problem-solving instincts, sound decision-making and leadership skills, and the ability to manage a clear growth path for operations. The most successful District Managers at Levain are highly engaged, hands-on leaders who balance strategic thinking with in-the-bakery connection.
What We’re Looking For
• Demonstrated ability to lead, communicate, train, and work independently.
• Adaptability and flexibility. You recognize that in the food industry, anything can and will happen, and you calmly troubleshoot issues as they arise.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• A people-forward attitude, collaborative spirit, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Strong financial acumen and a proven track record of managing a large portfolio.
• A commitment to embodying and promoting Levain’s values and standards.
Responsibilities
People & Development
• Develop a cohesive team of General Managers and bakery staff who meet and exceed bakery expectations.
• Inspire the team to work together toward the common goals of the business and bring our core values to life in the bakeries every day.
• Ensure inclusion is upheld in bakery operations and leadership practices, and that General Managers foster a culture of belonging in their stores.
• Lead regular coaching and one-on-ones with General Managers to gather feedback on all aspects of the operation, and communicate that feedback to the executive team in real time.
• Continually assess the strength of current management teams and develop action plans to address any issues.
• Seek growth opportunities for team members that promote internal mobility, and work with our people to motivate, develop, and succession plan.
Recruiting & Hiring
• Establish and maintain appropriate staffing levels, staying aware of changes that may affect staffing needs.
• Partner with the People Team to recruit and hire high-quality hourly team members for new bakery openings (NBOs) through job fairs, employment partnerships, and other channels.
• Partner with the Training Team to ensure every new team member receives appropriate training.
Customer Service
• Constantly view the bakery from the customer’s perspective, and encourage each bakery to build strong ties with its neighborhood through community events, partnerships, and donation initiatives.
• Keep management teams and team members focused on delivering top-tier service to every guest.
• Ensure ratings on online review platforms (Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.) remain best in class.
Quality of Operations
• Ensure every bakery in the district operates at or above standards.
• Instill in each management team the expectation of high standards in safety, cleanliness, hospitality, execution, food and coffee production, and sanitation.
• Ensure a safe, clean environment is the norm and that all products and equipment are handled properly.
• Lead and support NBOs in your district from site readiness through staff ramp-up, ensuring operational excellence from day one.
Sales & Profit
• Manage the financial health of each bakery with strong, tactical performance, ensuring every store meets or exceeds budgeted financial goals.
• Monitor and manage all cost centers: analyze monthly profit and loss statements and use them to develop, implement, and follow through on accurate plans.
• Work with General Managers to build each store’s annual budget, with keen oversight of purchasing, storage, and inventory.
• Monitor trends in sales, costs, guest counts, and other areas, and proactively report trends and variances to inform cost-savings programs.
• Partner with key stakeholders to develop and manage relevant KPIs (same-store sales, gross profit, Yelp scores, etc.) that drive growth.
• Work with management teams to increase guest counts, daily sales, and operational profitability, and to cultivate a loyal local customer base.
Requirements
• 3–5 years of multi-unit food service management experience.
• Open availability, including mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to travel frequently, up to 3 days per week.
• Ability to lift and push 25–50 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk for an 8-hour shift (excluding a 30-minute break); some locations require walking up and down stairs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of email and Microsoft Office.
• Food Protection Manager Certification (e.g., ServSafe Manager), or the ability to obtain it within 30 days of hire.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
Compensation & Benefits
• Base salary of $125,000–$150,000, plus an annual bonus of up to 20% of base salary, paid quarterly.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Employer-funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account.
• Supplemental benefits: commuter benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and bike-share reimbursement.
• 14 weeks of fully paid parental leave.
• Three weeks of paid time off.
• 401(k) with a 3.5% company match.
Our Commitment
We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.
Levain Bakery is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local fair chance ordinances.
