Store Manager - Manchester Fallowfield
Manchester
Operations – Store Manager /
Full-time /
On-site
We’re not just a cookie company – we’re a community of Insomniacs. We know our cookies are the most delicious around, but it’s our team members that make Insomnia Cookies an amazing place to be. Have a hunger to succeed? A passion for the sweeter things in life? Got big dreams and a ceaseless imagination? Then we want to get to know YOU!
Purpose of the Role
- The Store Manager is responsible for the overall performance, safety, and success of their bakery. They will lead the store team to deliver exceptional customer experiences, strong commercial results, and consistent brand standards in line with Insomnia Cookies’ late-night, digital-first model. Reporting to the District Manager, this role is ideal for a confident, people-focused leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes full ownership of operational delivery, team development, and in-store performance.
Business Context
- Insomnia Cookies is a late-night, digital-first bakery delivering warm cookies to customers long after most bakeries have closed. The Store Manager ensures their bakery consistently delivers outstanding experiences, both in-store and through delivery channels, while operating safely, compliantly and profitably. As the UK business grows—with ambitious plans for new store openings and regional expansion—the Store Manager plays a critical role in embedding scalable processes, developing future leaders through team development, and acting as a local brand ambassador within the community by delivering outstanding customer experience.
Key Challenges and Focus Areas
- People Leadership: Build, coach, and retain a high-performing store team, developing Shift Leaders and future Store Managers.
- Consistency and Standards: Deliver Insomnia Cookies brand, operational, and food safety standards every day.
- Operational Ownership: Take accountability for all day-to-day store operations, resolving issues quickly and effectively.
- Customer Experience: Ensure every customer receives a consistently excellent Insomnia experience.
- Commercial Performance: Balance sales growth, labour efficiency, and cost control to deliver store targets.
Key Responsibilities
- Commerciality & Store Performance
- Own and deliver store-level sales, labour, and profitability targets.
- Understand and manage key store KPIs, using data to drive improvements.
- Maximise commercial opportunities through strong execution of promotions, upselling, and local initiatives.
- Control costs, waste, stock, and cash handling to protect profitability.
- Drive Sales & Profit Protection
- Execute company-led marketing initiatives, promotions, and Limited Time Offers (LTOs) in-store.
- Support profit protection by managing labour efficiency, reducing waste, and maintaining strong operational controls.
- Identify local opportunities to drive incremental sales while maintaining brand integrity.
- People Leadership & Development
- Recruit, onboard, train, and develop store team members and Shift Leaders.
- Provide hands-on coaching during shifts to improve skills, confidence, and operational execution.
- Build a strong succession pipeline within the store.
- Foster an open, inclusive, and collaborative culture where ideas are encouraged and accountability is clear.
- Manage performance, absence, and conduct in line with company policies and UK employment legislation.
- Marketing, Community & Brand
- Deliver in-store execution of marketing campaigns, LTOs, and new product launches.
- Support local community engagement and events to build brand awareness.
- Act as a brand ambassador for Insomnia Cookies within the local area.
- Operational Excellence & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with health & safety, food hygiene, and operational standards at all times.
- Maintain a safe, clean, and well-organised bakery environment.
- Ensure opening, closing, and late-night trading procedures are followed correctly.
- Escalate operational risks or incidents promptly to the District Manager.
- Support new team members and, where required, assist with new bakery openings or training in nearby stores.
Candidate Profile
- Experience
- Previous experience as a Store Manager, Assistant Manager, or equivalent leadership role in retail, QSR, or hospitality.
- Experience in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
- Exposure to delivery-led or late-night operations is an advantage.
- Leadership Style
- Hands-on, people-focused, and approachable.
- Confident coaching and developing teams through example.
- Encourages trust, open communication, and idea sharing.
- Balances operational detail with a broader commercial mindset.
- Commercial Acumen
- Strong understanding of store-level KPIs, labour management, and sales drivers.
- Comfortable using performance data to make decisions and drive improvement.
- Focused on both sales growth and cost control.
- Mindset & Traits
- Energetic, resilient, and adaptable.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability for store results and team development.
- Solutions-oriented with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Ambitious and motivated to grow within Insomnia Cookies.
- Interpersonal & Cultural Fit
- Builds strong relationships with their team, peers, and support functions.
- Champions Insomnia Cookies’ culture, values, and customer-first approach.
- Encourages creativity, collaboration, and contribution at all levels.
Sweet Perks
- Competitive salary plus quarterly bonus based on KPIs
- Life Assurance
- Pension
- Holiday Pay
- Guaranteed paid day off for your birthday – Who wants to be at work on their birthday?
- Guaranteed paid day off for your child’s birthday or pet’s birthday and we’ll throw another one in for your significant other – We are that nice!
- Employee assistance and wellness support
- 2 paid charity days per year to support your local community
- Flexible work schedules
- Fun and exciting team environment
- Unrivalled culture and values – Work with the team not by yourself
- 50% discount
- Enjoy a free cookie on every shift
£29,000 - £31,000 a year
About us:
Insomnia Cookies was founded in a college dorm room by then-student, Seth Berkowitz. Fast forward and Insomnia Cookies has become a cult brand in the US known for its rabid following of cookie lovers who crave Insomnia’s warm, delicious delivery all day and late into the night. With an expanding global footprint we are now here in the UK. We launched in Manchester in 2023, Sheffield in 2024 and are now coming to a city near you! Insomnia Cookies is revolutionising the cookie game by truly "Imagining What’s Possible"!
