General Manager

About Dog Tag

At Dog Tag Bakery, we’re more than just a bakery — we’re part of Dog Tag Inc., a mission-driven organization that blends the art of baking with a powerful commitment to social impact. Based in DC’s Georgetown neighborhood, Dog Tag Bakery provides an innovative, hands-on educational program for veterans, military spouses, and caregivers, equipping them with the skills to launch their own businesses or transition to meaningful careers in the civilian workforce.

Our bakery is a place where delicious treats and meaningful service meet. Every item we create reflects our dedication to supporting those who have served our country. With every loaf, cookie, and pastry, we honor the veterans, military families, and caregivers who walk through our doors, offering them a path to success through learning, community, and empowerment.

Why Dog Tag?

What makes Dog Tag truly unique is our holistic approach to social impact. We don’t just serve great food; we provide a supportive environment for veterans and their families to thrive, grow, and connect. Our values of service, entrepreneurship, empowerment, and respect guide everything we do — from the way we interact with our team to the way we engage with our customers.

As part of our growing team, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to a mission that’s bigger than baking. You’ll help empower individuals, change lives, and make an impact every day. This is more than a job; it’s an opportunity to contribute to a legacy that transforms the lives of veterans, military families, and caregivers while serving delicious food to the community.

Role Description

The General Manager at Dog Tag Inc. will play a pivotal role in supporting and managing the bakery department’s daily operations. This individual will ensure the efficient functioning of the café and catering operations, overseeing sales, people management, data management, building operations, and the development of operational procedures. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of HR, operational expertise, financial acumen, and strong sales and customer service experience.

Baker Responsibilities & Duties

Operations & Team:

Lead day-to-day café and catering operations in partnership with the Bakery Leadership Team, with a focus on driving sales growth, budget management, and tracking key metrics including revenue, labor, and cost of goods sold (COGS).

Oversee front-of-house operations, including team scheduling, vendor relationships, and inventory management.

Ensure operational excellence and quality control across café and catering, maintaining compliance with local health regulations, ServSafe standards, and nut-free certification requirements.

Create and maintain a positive, guest-focused environment that reflects Dog Tag Bakery’s hospitality standards.

Supervise cleanliness and safety standards across all areas of the bakery, ensuring a safe, hygienic, and welcoming environment for employees, fellows, and customers.

Serve as a trusted people manager, leading and developing the growing Front of House and Catering teams while fostering Dog Tag’s core values, inclusive culture, and high-performance standards.

Collaborate with the Head Chef to implement the food menu and lead the development of seasonal coffee and tea offerings.

Support strategic initiatives and handle special projects related to bakery operations as needed.

Events, Partnerships & Collaboration:

Oversee the execution of on-site events including private rentals and catering functions, and support the E-commerce & Wholesale department with off-site events.

Ensure events are properly staffed, well-coordinated, and aligned with Dog Tag Bakery’s brand, service standards, and operational goals.

Collaborate with the E-Commerce & Wholesale Operations Manager to provide support and coordination as necessary for wholesale and e-commerce opportunities, managing the communication and collaboration processes across departments.

Building & Maintenance:

Oversee the general upkeep of the bakery, coordinating with vendors for repairs, upgrades, and routine maintenance. Partner with the Director of Bakery Strategy & Sales to address building management needs, ensuring timely communication and resolution of maintenance issues.

Ensure compliance with all building-related permits, licenses, and insurance requirements.

Ensure proper use, cleanliness, and routine maintenance of the catering van, coordinating service needs, and overseeing vehicle readiness for deliveries and events.

Knowledge Management:

Support the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all café and catering operations.

Work with team members to ensure consistent implementation and updates of SOPs as needed to improve efficiency and meet industry standards.

Work Hours, Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, on-site position based at Dog Tag Bakery in Washington, D.C., requiring in-person presence to support daily operations and team leadership.

Flexibility to work at least one weekend day each week, and evenings as needed.

Starting salary: $55,000-$60,000 annually (based on experience).

Paid leave, including vacation and sick leave and holidays.

Paid end-of-year closing: in celebration of the incredible work done across all departments during the year, Dog Tag closes between Christmas and New Year.

Medical (health, dental, and vision) insurance, life & accident insurance, and Employee Assistance Program.

Voluntary benefits include flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care, transportation), short-term and long-term disability insurance, and retirement plans.

Free coffee and tea, and food discounts.

Opportunities for training and career growth.

Education and Experience

Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in food service, hospitality, or retail operations, including 3+ years in a supervisory or management role.

Demonstrated success in driving sales growth, optimizing labor and COGS, and maintaining operational excellence

Proven commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.

Strong background in people management, including hiring, training, team development, and performance management in alignment with organizational values and DEI principles.

Experience overseeing vendor relationships, inventory systems, and health and safety compliance.

Experience supporting event operations and/or coordinating across departments is a plus.

Demonstrated ability to stay organized, solve problems, and multitask effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining strong attention to detail.

A proactive self-starter with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Experience in building and facilities management is a plus.

ServSafe Food Manager Certificate.