Join a purpose-driven organization.

The Big Carrot Community Market is a worker-owned natural food market dedicated to providing healthy, organic, and locally sourced food while fostering community, sustainability, and cooperative values. We are seeking an experienced and collaborative Operations Manager to provide operational leadership and strategic support across our retail stores and food production operations.

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring the effective day-to-day operation of the organization while supporting long-term strategic initiatives. This role provides leadership across retail operations, finance, human resources, marketing, purchasing, information technology, and food production to ensure operational excellence, financial sustainability, and exceptional customer and employee experiences.

What You'll Do

Operational Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for all retail store locations and food production facilities.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve organization-wide operational policies and standard operating procedures.
• Work collaboratively with Store Managers to improve productivity, operational efficiency, customer service, and team performance.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, including employment standards, occupational health and safety, food safety, and other regulatory requirements.

Financial & Strategic Management

• Manage day-to-day operational budgets, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
• Prepare and monitor annual operating and capital expenditure budgets.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors on strategic planning, organizational priorities, and long-term operational improvements.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while supporting organizational growth and sustainability.

Operations & Logistics

• Oversee logistics, supply chain operations, equipment planning, facility improvements, and vendor relationships.
• Manage capital projects, renovations, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Ensure quality assurance standards are maintained throughout the organization.

Leadership & People Management

• Recruit, coach, mentor, and evaluate managers who report directly to the Operations Manager, while consulting with the Board of Directors on key leadership appointments to ensure alignment with organizational needs and priorities.
• Support leadership development and succession planning across departments.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and accountable workplace culture.
• Work closely with Human Resources on recruitment, employee relations, performance management, and policy implementation.

Additional Responsibilities

• Monitor organizational performance and recommend continuous improvements.
• Maintain regular communication with the Board of Directors, providing operational updates, recommendations, and information to support effective governance and strategic decision-making.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Qualifications

We're looking for someone who brings a combination of leadership experience, operational expertise, and a collaborative approach.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3 years of progressive management experience, preferably in retail, grocery, food production, or multi-site operations.
• Experience managing budgets, financial reporting, and operational planning.
• Knowledge of human resources practices and employment legislation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and business software applications.

Why Join The Big Carrot?

The Big Carrot offers the opportunity to lead a unique, community-focused organization that values sustainability, healthy food, cooperative principles, and employee engagement. You'll work alongside passionate staff and a dedicated Board to help shape the future of one of Toronto's most respected independent natural food retailers.

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

Education: Bachelor's Degree (required)

Experience:

• retail/grocery operations leadership: 3 years (required)
• HR, budgeting, and financial management: 3 years (required)

Pay: CA$80,000.00-CA$95,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

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Job Summary:

The primary function of the Customer Service Representative is to provide overall frontline customer care, through clear communication with customers, staff, and department managers. The role requires effectively delivering one-to-one and group information either in a preventative or a service capacity, and to achieve and maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities:

• Excellent customer care aptitude in all avenues of customer interaction.
• Research and update customer handout sheets.
• Process customer requests i.e cooking class enrollment, mail outs, nutritional store tours (refer to department training binder.)
• Various cashier duties: keying in or scanning the price of merchandise, receiving payments, bagging productivity
• Receive, stock, and face appliances/department products.
• Follow opening, closing, and cleaning procedures.
• Facilitate and support the roles of the Department Manager and Head Nutritionist.
• Completes all tasks as indicated by Department Manager, Head Nutritionists, and Standards Coordinator as required to fill the needs of the job.
• Identify and offer accessibility customer service assistance to anyone entering the building that has a visible disability. Involves retrieving desired items or providing personal shopping assistance.
• Responsibilities may include any additional job-related duties as required by the Store Manager

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years previous customer service experience or working one-on-one with the public is an asset.
• Teamwork skills demonstrated from past work experience an asset.
• Good interpersonal, communication, and social skills.
• Previous experience working with processing cash, debit and credit transactions an asset
• Must be available evenings and weekends

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 4 months

Experience:

• Retail: 1 year (preferred)
• Customer service: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person

Pay: CA$17.60 per hour

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

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Job Summary:

Juice Bar Staff are responsible for providing exemplary customer service, quality drinks and products, and maintaining a clean and comfortable juice bar environment.

Responsibilities:

• Function effectively by balancing tasks in a fast paced environment while making sure to pay attention to detail.
• Delivers excellent customer service and product knowledge to all Juice Bar customers.
• Producing and serving quality juices and drinks for customers.
• Using equipment safely and in the method trained by the Juice Bar manager and supervisor.
• Maintain a clean and organized workplace.
• Process cash, debit and credit transactions.
• Perform closing duties which can vary from compost and trash disposal, general cleaning, and storing of equipment.
• Contributes to a positive work environment.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Previous experience in food services (esp. coffee barista or juice bar experience) are an asset
• No specific educational requirements
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions, and to request for clarification when needed
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Must be available during weekdays (Monday to Friday)

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

Job Type: Part-time

Experience:

• Juice Bar: 1 year (required)
• Barista: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person

Pay: CA$17.60 per hour

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

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Job Summary:

The primary function of the Dishwasher is to provide overall assistance and support in the general function and operation of the Kitchen through the use of essential knowledge and skills required to wash, clean and store dishes, utensils, food preparation equipment and/or kitchen. Such skills include proficiently being able to utilize kitchen tools including but not limited to the proper knife handling/cleaning procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Wash dishes, utensils, pots, pans and other kitchen equipment and ensure store cleanliness standards, using dishwasher or by hand.
• Food preparation if necessary: clean or prepare various food items for cooking or serving.
• Maintain a dry and clean floor surface through proper use of mops, squeegees, or scrubbing.
• Ensure that food is properly stored.
• Transfer supplies between storage or other departments and work areas, by hand or using a cart.
• Remove compost and garbage
• Performing kitchen maintenance; emptying the trash and washing dishes.
• Assist in time management including making sure there is adequate materials available for use.
• Transferring orders from produce as needed and putting the vegetable order away.
• Putting the dry goods away and straightening the dry goods shelves.
• Preparation kitchen as needed by peeling potatoes and chopping vegetables.
• Adhere to all operational, health & safety, and organic compliance policies and procedures when the above responsibilities are performed.
• Any other job-related tasks as required by the Food Service Manager.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Kitchen experience an asset
• Professional communication skills are required
• Ability to take direction and work in a team environment.
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• To efficiently utilize time management skills in a multi-tasking environment
• Must be available weekends and evenings

Job Type: Part-time

Experience:

• Dishwashing: 1 year (preferred)
• Kitchen: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Pay: CA$17.60 per hour

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

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Job Summary:

Service and Food Assembly Staff are responsible for providing friendly and efficient customer service by portioning, slicing, assembling, wrapping, weighing, and labelling prepared foods. Staff are also required to assist with department cleaning and food prep as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Provide excellent customer service while efficiently serving and assembling food orders.
• Assist in portioning, packaging, and labeling prepared food items.
• In order to adhere to food health and safety standards, maintain a clean and safe work area.
• Follows all designated departmental methods and policies and procedures including, but not limited to, safe food handling and organic compliance standards for food preparation, storage, serving and clean-up.
• Performs all other job-related duties as assigned by Food Service Managers and Supervisors.
• Attends all required Organic Compliance trainings and follows designated protocols
• In the event that compliance of organic standards procedures cannot be met, notifies manager/supervisor or Standards Coordinator.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• 1 year experience with food prep and food service.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Multi-task during periods of high customer volumes
• Must be available evenings and weekends

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Experience:

• Food Assembly: 1 year (preferred)
• Front of House: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Pay: CA$17.60 per hour

The Big Carrot is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.

Please note only those individuals legally entitled to work in Canada will be considered for employment with the Big Carrot.

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