Hippo Pockets - Store Lead

Store Lead 

Do you think teamwork makes the dream work? Do you prefer a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment? Do you believe great food makes life better? If yes, then Centro Restaurant Group & Hippo Pockets is looking for you to serve as our Store Lead. We are hiring for multiple locations: Hippo Pockets South Minneapolis, Hippo Pockets Plymouth, and our new and upcoming location Hippo Pockets Arden Hills.

Why Centro Restaurant Group (Hippo Pockets)?

Food and drink with innovation. Atmosphere felt with energy, heart, and dedication. 

Centro Restaurant Group aims to create fun fast-casual concepts that provide a welcoming and memorable experience for all guests while providing speedy and thorough service and quality food and beverage. 

Our company values lie within our team and our community. CRG is devoted to fostering a fun and respectful space for our staff and guests. We view our relationship with the surrounding community as symbiotic - when we nurture our family, our family grows and becomes stronger and thus, helps us better serve our community. In addition, CRG nurtures our team. We work hard to create an equitable, positive, and fun experience for all staff. We will invest as much in you as you invest in us, and are focused on not only having a cohesive and efficient team but in creating leaders.

As a valued member of our team your compensation package would include:

• competitive salary based on experience


• Medical, dental and vision plans

• Retirement savings plan with 3% match


• Paid time off

• Free meals and employee discounts

This is where you come in…

Your Impact

As a Hippo Pockets Store Lead, your core responsibility is to create and maintain a positive environment for both staff and guests. You will be charged with overseeing all hourly staff (both front of the house and back of the house), labor costs, and consistency and quality control for both food and service.You will serve as an integral part of the CRG & Hippo Pockets team and will report to District Management.

Responsibilities of the job include but are not limited to:

Supervision: Supervise all hourly staff and create team buy-in through…

• Overseeing all store operations


• Delegating tasks to employees


• Continuously coaching with constructive feedback


• Collaborating with executive team to ensure staff training objectives have been met


• Assisting with training and performance documentation 


• Enacting shift cuts and employee breaks


• Scheduling employees with labor costs, business needs and employee performance in consideration


• Collaborating with HR for on-boarding and disciplinary processes 

Guest Experience: Maintain hospitality and quality standards through …

• Serving as an expert on Hippo Pockets menu, including modifications and allergens


• Serving as an expert on Hippo Pockets service standards


• Acquiring a deep understanding of Hippo Pockets ordering systems


• Participating in on-the-floor service, cooking, and food preparation


• Actively looking for ways to assist and interact with guests


• Assisting with customer complaints


• Maintaining consistency and quality control across all Hippo Pockets food and beverage by actively monitoring food orders during cooking and plating/packaging

Daily Operations: Streamline storefront operations through…

• Managing labor costs 


• Problem-solving tech issues as they arise with a calm and in-charge demeanor


• Overseeing safety and sanitation standards during shifts


• Completing daily task list as assigned 


• Assisting in the store-level introduction of new policies and procedures 


• Adhering to company procedures and standards set by upper management 


• Ensuring the restaurant’s interior and exterior presence adheres to CRG standards 


• Ordering goods and supplies necessary for operations 


• Managing goods and supplies inventory 

Leadership: Role-model leadership daily through …

• Exhibiting professionalism, poise and compassion


• Practicing accountability


• Participating in leadership meetings per request


• Internalizing a responsibility for developing oneself and staff


• Serving as a liaison between both BOH and FOH staff

What You’ll Bring 

• 2+ years of management experience


• Supervision and mentorship skills


• The ability to work both autonomously and as a team


• A thirst to learn, develop oneself, and an openness to constructive criticism


• Experience working with diverse teams


• Conversational Spanish skills preferred but not required


• Commitment to CRG/Hippo Pockets mission and values

Centro Restaurant Group is an equal opportunity employer

We value diversity, inclusion and belonging at Centro Restaurant Group (CRG). CRG does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, familial status, or veteran status.