Assistant General Manager in Columbia, Missouri at Digs Dog Care

About Digs Dog Care, Columbia

Digs Columbia is a premium dog care company offering DayPlay, Overnight Stays, Grooming, and Training across multiple locations nationwide. We're built on a simple belief: every pup deserves to feel safe, loved, and at home — and every team member plays a real role in making that happen. Our shared ownership program means employees don't just work here, they have a stake in it.

About the role

The Assistant General Manager plays a key role in guiding, supporting, and leading all team members to ensure smooth daily operations and deliver outstanding customer and teammate experiences. Staffing, retention, and morale all fall under this individual's responsibility, in addition to managing business outcomes such as financial performance and customer experience. The Assistant Store Manager will work with the Store Manager to build an understanding of the location’s progress and develop a strategic vision for the future and is expected to be a key leader in our operations organization, collaborating with operations leadership, setting strategic goals for operational efficiency and productivity, and owning the execution of our plan relative to our annual budget/goals.

Responsibilities

Digs values and promotes a respectful, positive, and professional work environment, and all teammates are expected to adhere to this. This role is a leadership position in the organization and will be critical in developing the culture of Digs. Additionally, you are accountable for the following:

Elevate the Standard of Care

• Meeting Digs and local Department of Agriculture standards in the cleanliness, maintenance, upkeep, and safety of the facility for our pups, team members, and customers
• Staffing – Supporting the General Manager to always ensure adequate shift coverage, while adhering to scheduling and labor guidelines
• Monitor key performance indicators for operational standards and take action to drive improvements in service delivery
• Maintain Digs' focus of “Treat our Pup Parents like Family” by upholding excellent customer service metrics such as 1Net Promoter Score and customer feedback on Google and social media

Core Financials

• Feels accountable for the profit & Loss (P&L) of the location by partnering with the General Manager to ensure alignment with budget goals, specifically in areas such as labor, maintenance, cost of goods, and other controllable expenses
• Analyze past, present, and future operating performance against budget and goals, and collaborates with the General Manager to formulate a plan to address misses as necessary
• Devise strategies to ensure program growth by identifying and implementing process improvements that maximize output and minimize costs. Thinks and acts like an owner

Business Health

• Build mutually beneficial relationships with local vet hospitals, rescues, shelters, local businesses, local contractors, and local Department of Agriculture representatives
• Support the execution of Digs, marketing plans, and implement local market plans, such as community events and B2B outreach
• Achieve location goals for new customer acquisition and engagement, with measurables such as Meet and Greets and Net New Customers

Building a Team

• Supports the General Manager in managing a team 5-20+ direct reports by assisting with the full employee life cycle from hiring and onboarding to training, performance management, and professional development
• Learns how to support a team and ensure that every team member has the tools, training, and support they need to succeed in their roles.
• Leverage all available resources at Digs to lead the team with integrity and to establish and maintain a trusting, inclusive, and productive environment

Qualifications

These qualifications and experiences help ensure that an Assistant General Manager can maintain high standards of care and safety, create a welcoming environment for pets and owners, and lead a team dedicated to excellent pet care and customer service. You're right for this role if you can demonstrate competencies in the following areas:

• Ability to be on-site 5 days per week and be available to support the team at all times

Animal Care Knowledge & Experience

• Prior experience working with animals in a professional setting and familiarity with animal behavior, handling, and basic health needs
• Pet First Aid and Safety: ability to recognize signs of distress or illness in animals and manage minor injuries or emergencies. Certification in pet CPR and first aid is not required, but it is a nice-to-have
• Knowledge of health and sanitation standards for animals, including facility cleanliness and hygiene practices to prevent disease spread

Leadership and People Development

• Experience training and supervising staff, particularly in animal handling, safety, and customer service
• Ability to motivate and lead a team, with experience setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and upholding high standards of care and service. Must also be capable of handling challenging situations, including conducting termination conversations when performance does not meet Digs standards

Pet-Parent Centric Approach

• Takes pride in making every interaction with pet parents exceptional, and navigates difficult conversations with poise and integrity
• Experience in client-facing roles, including handling client inquiries, addressing concerns, and ensuring satisfaction

Business Acumen

• Basic knowledge of budgeting, inventory control, and cost management to help the location remain profitable and efficient
• Capable of analyzing metrics and drawing insights that drive results

Operations Excellence

• Monitors progress against key performance indicators and applies constructive feedback to drive performance
• Regularly improves processes that increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve compliance and safety
• Leads with a continuous improvement mindset to share best practices with the Digs operations team

Adaptability and Resilience

• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations, such as pet emergencies or client complaints, and find effective solutions
• Flexibility to adjust to changing needs, unexpected situations, and varying personalities and behaviors

Communication & Influence Skills

• Establishes strong professional relationships with different personalities; takes pride in ensuring information flows effectively throughout the team
• Articulates expectations to the team and provides constructive feedback on all job duties
• Ability to clearly communicate pet care instructions and facility policies to pet owners, as well as provide updates on their pets' well-being

What to Expect When Applying

• Phone screening regarding your application
• An in-person interview to meet the team, tour the location, and get a glimpse of what your day-to-day will be like.

What We Offer

At Digs, we take care of our pack. Medical, dental, and vision benefits kick in shortly after your start date, and at 90 days, you're eligible for a 401(k) with up to 4% company match. After one year, you can join our DigIn Shared Ownership Program — because we believe the people who build Digs should share in its success. Many locations also offer teammates discounted DayPlay as a little extra perk. Compensation package includes a quarterly bonus tied to location performance after successful completion of a 90-day training program.

Digs Dog Care is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.