Chief Executive Officer

The Carlisle Group is pleased to be partnered on a retained search with Gem City Market in Dayton, Ohio, in the search for their next CEO/General Manager
.

Gem City Market is a community-centered, full-service grocery cooperative created to bring quality, affordable food to a diverse, low- to moderate-income neighborhood in Dayton. More than simply a grocery store, Gem City Market is committed to being a pillar of the community it serves—helping strengthen the local culture, creating opportunity, and providing a welcoming place where neighbors can shop, connect, and thrive.

The co-op is seeking an entrepreneurial, community-minded grocery leader who can balance mission and margin
—someone who understands that a successful cooperative must deliver both meaningful community impact and strong financial performance. The CEO/General Manager will have the opportunity to lead the Market into its next chapter while ensuring that customers receive quality products at affordable prices in a clean, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

Living in Dayton

Dayton offers an appealing combination of affordability, accessibility, community, and opportunity
. Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton provides the amenities of a larger metropolitan area while retaining a strong sense of neighborhood and community.

The city has a rich history of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community involvement and is home to a diverse collection of neighborhoods, restaurants, arts and cultural attractions, parks, and outdoor recreation. Residents enjoy access to an extensive regional park system, the great Miami River, biking and hiking trails, and numerous opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

Dayton's location is another advantage. Cincinnati and Columbus are both within approximately an hour's drive, while Cleveland and Indianapolis are accessible within a few hours. The region offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared with many larger U.S. metropolitan areas, making Dayton an attractive place to build both a career and a life.

For a leader who wants to make a tangible difference in a community while enjoying a high quality of life, Dayton presents a compelling opportunity.

The CEO/General Manager is responsible for leading Gem City Market as a successful, financially sustainable cooperative while advancing the goals and purposes established by the Board of Directors.

The CEO/General Manager will ensure that the Market:

• Operates efficiently and ultimately profitably.
• Provides quality, affordable groceries that meet the needs of its customers.
• Maintains a clean, welcoming, and inclusive shopping environment.
• Builds a positive culture for employees and the broader community.
• Advances the cooperative's mission and role as a community institution.
• Remains responsive to the needs of the diverse, low- to moderate-income neighborhood it serves.

The CEO/General Manager will bring together the disciplines of grocery operations, financial management, merchandising, people leadership, marketing, and community engagement to ensure the continued success of Gem City Market.

• Lead an efficient, customer-focused, and ultimately profitable cooperative grocery operation.
• Create a positive store atmosphere and build a motivated, accountable staff team.
• Maintain current knowledge of grocery retailing, industry trends, and best practices, particularly those applicable to cooperative markets and urban, low- to moderate-income communities.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with market partners, wholesale distributors, local markets, and other industry resources.
• Establish and maintain an appropriate product mix that meets shopper needs while supporting financial objectives.
• Develop and…