The Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (ZCoB) is a collection of 11 food-centered businesses in the Ann Arbor, MI area, ranging in size from $1.5 to $25 million in sales, with 18 Managing Partners, 800+ employees and combined sales of $80 million. Each business has one or more Managing Partners (owner/operators) who together make up the Partners Group. A subgroup of the Partners Group, the 5-member Stewardship Council, provides leadership, guidance and has decision-making responsibility.

The Managing Director of Administration (which is equivalent to a Chief Administrative Officer or VP Operations) reports to the Stewardship Council and works closely with the Stewardship Council and Managing Partners to develop and execute administrative strategies that align with the organization’s overall objectives and that contribute to their long-term success. Integral to the business model over the past 41 years are a focus on continuous improvement, the use of open book management principles, the importance of three bottom lines–great food, great service and great finance, and a commitment to our staff and the communities we serve.

The Managing Director of Administration (Managing Director) is an officer level role, responsible for leading and optimizing the administrative functions performed by Zingerman’s Service Network, the shared services business that supports ZCoB.

• Oversees the management and supervision of the ZSN departments: Finance, Creative Services, Department for People, Intentional Technology (IT), Donations, and Operations Support. Each area is led by its own area director or specialist.
• Works collaboratively with the Stewardship Council, Managing Partners and ZSN directors to increase ZCoB-wide profitability and operational effectiveness, utilizing appropriate business metrics & reporting mechanisms.
• Ensures that ZSN department leaders are developing administrative policies, procedures, and guidelines that promote consistency and compliance with applicable laws and regulations and helps with communication and roll out of these as needed.
• Promotes effective communication and teamwork between ZSN Departments and their clients (ZCOB businesses and departments).
• Collaborates with ZSN directors on recruitment, performance management, training, communication, and succession planning.
• Actively participates in Partners Group planning and meetings, representing ZSN while making decisions that are in the best interest of the entire Community of Businesses.
• Works to resolve organization wide issues in a timely manner, collaborating with appropriate stakeholders.
• Engages with government and regulatory bodies, ensuring the organizations’ policies are compliant in the administrative, HR, IT, accounting, and financial domains.
• Risk Management and Compliance: Ensures development and implementation of risk management strategies.
• Works with managing partners and managers to identify opportunities to increase company wide operational effectiveness, by focusing on three bottom lines–great food, great service and great finance.
• Works with ZSN directors and their departments to set annual goals and budgets, provides support and accountability to ensure that goals and expense targets are achieved within the agreed upon timeframes, encouraging a focus on continuous improvement.
• Executes and supports the agreed upon administrative funding model for ZSN, manages client expectations, including additional shared services, and recommends changes to the funding model on an ongoing basis.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with external professional support, including legal, banking, insurance, accounting, and various vendor relationships. Assists ZCoB businesses in various negotiations.
• Actively engages with local and regional community leaders and industry experts to widen our pool of resources and develop alternative options.
• Leads specific organization change initiatives related to evolving administrative needs.
• Works to resolve organization wide issues in a timely manner, collaborating with appropriate stakeholders.

• Has a variety of business skills and relevant accomplishments
• Has demonstrated expertise leading a large team
• Has prior P&L management experience
• Is a creative problem solver
• Embraces the unique culture and vision of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses