General Manager in Decatur, Georgia at Pet Meadow

About the Role

The General Manager is responsible for the complete operational and financial performance of Pet Meadow's Georgia and North Carolina operations. This leader is accountable for executing the Regional Operations Director's strategic vision while ensuring safe, compassionate, efficient, and profitable daily operations.

The General Manager provides leadership across all Centers of Excellence, Sub locations, and retail locations by driving Operational Excellence, EOS execution, Lean initiatives, financial performance, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and regulatory compliance.

This position owns day-to-day business performance while developing future leaders and creating a culture centered on accountability, compassion, quality, and operational discipline.

Our Mission

We provide peace of mind by delivering transparent and reliable cremation services.

Our Core Values

As a leader within our organization, the General Manager is expected to embody and promote our core values in every aspect of operations, customer service, and team management:

Reliable – We consistently deliver on our commitments and maintain the highest standards of service and accountability.Empathetic – We treat families, clients, and team members with compassion, understanding, and respect during difficult times.Customer Focused – We prioritize the needs of our customers and strive to exceed expectations through exceptional service and communication.Dedicated – We are committed to excellence, continuous improvement, and supporting the success of our team and organization.Detail Oriented – We pay close attention to every step of the process to ensure accuracy, quality, and compliance.

Leadership Expectations

The General Manager will lead by example, fostering a culture that reflects our mission and values. This role requires a commitment to operational excellence, outstanding customer service, employee development, and the compassionate care that families expect from our organization.

Core Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Lead all operational functions including:

Cremation/Aquamation OperationsPackagingMemorial ProductsSpecial ServicesTransportation & LogisticsCustomer ServiceWitness ServicesProduction PlanningInventory ControlFleet OperationsFacility MaintenanceEnvironmental Compliance

Ensure every operation consistently achieves excellence in:

SafetyQualityServiceCostDeliveryEmployee EngagementCustomer Acquisition and Retention

Financial Leadership

Maintain full operational ownership of each site's financial performance.

Responsible for:

Site Profit & Loss (P&L)Labor ManagementBudget ManagementExpense ControlBreak-Even PlanningCost Reduction InitiativesCapital PlanningInventory OptimizationProductivity ImprovementEquipment UtilizationLabor EfficiencyOvertime ReductionOperational Forecasting

Partner with the Regional Operations Director on:

Annual Budget DevelopmentMonthly Financial ForecastingCapital RequestsProfitability StrategiesGrowth PlanningCapacity Planning

EOS Leadership

Serve as the regional EOS Champion.

Lead execution of:

Level 10 MeetingsQuarterly RocksAnnual Business PlanningScorecardsAccountability ChartsIDS (Identify • Discuss • Solve)Quarterly ConversationsCompany Vision ExecutionDepartment Priorities

Ensure every Site Manager successfully executes EOS disciplines.

Develop accountability throughout every department.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

Lead Operational Excellence using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.

Champion:

Lean ManufacturingSix SigmaKaizen EventsValue Stream MappingStandard WorkVisual Management5S Workplace OrganizationRoot Cause AnalysisA3 Problem SolvingDMAIC MethodologyWaste EliminationProcess StandardizationContinuous Improvement

Develop a culture where every employee actively participates in operational improvement.

Leadership & Talent Development

Develop high-performing leaders throughout the region.

Responsible for:

HiringCoachingPerformance ManagementSuccession PlanningLeadership DevelopmentEmployee RetentionTraining ProgramsCross TrainingAccountabilityEmployee Recognition

Create future Site Managers and Regional Leaders.

Quality Excellence

Ensure operational excellence throughout every process.

Responsible for:

SOP ComplianceChain of CustodyPackaging AccuracyMemorial QualityPet Identification AccuracyCustomer ExperienceCAPA ManagementInternal AuditsQuality ScorecardsCorrective Action PlansContinuous Quality Improvement

Lead weekly Quality Excellence Reviews.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

Maintain industry-leading safety performance.

Ensure compliance with:

OSHAEPAState Environmental AgenciesAir PermitsWater PermitsDOT RegulationsBiohazard StandardsCrematory RegulationsEnvironmental Best Practices

Champion a Zero Harm Safety Culture.

Production & Capacity Planning

Manage production across all facilities.

Responsible for:

Production SchedulingStaffing ModelsCapacity PlanningEquipment UtilizationFacility ThroughputRoute OptimizationVolume ForecastingResource Allocation

Ensure facilities are positioned for future growth.

Customer Experience

Maintain exceptional service to:

Veterinary PartnersPet FamiliesReferral PartnersInternal Customers

Monitor:

Turnaround TimeCustomer SatisfactionService RecoveryComplaint ResolutionOn-Time Delivery

Strategic Growth

Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Corporate Leadership to support growth.

Support:

New Facility OpeningsNew Clinic OnboardingCapacity ExpansionMarket DevelopmentOperational ReadinessAcquisition Integration

KPI Ownership

Own regional operational scorecards.

Monitor and improve:

Financial

RevenueEBITDASite ProfitabilityCost Per PetLabor %Overtime %Inventory Costs

Operational

Production VolumeTurnaround TimePackaging QualityRoute EfficiencyCapacity UtilizationEquipment Downtime

Quality

Customer SatisfactionDefect RatesReworkChain of Custody AccuracyMemorial Accuracy

Safety

OSHA IncidentsNear MissesTraining ComplianceSafety Audits

Leadership Competencies

The General Manager must demonstrate:

Operational ExcellenceFinancial AcumenStrategic ThinkingEmotional IntelligenceAccountabilityCoaching & MentoringData-Driven Decision MakingConflict ResolutionChange LeadershipExecutive CommunicationCross-Functional Collaboration

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

7–10 years of progressive operations leadership.Minimum 5 years leading multi-site operations.Experience managing multiple departments.Demonstrated P&L ownership.Experience leading managers and supervisors.Experience implementing Lean transformations.

Required Knowledge

EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), including Level 10 Meetings, Rocks, Scorecards, IDS, Accountability Charts, and Quarterly Planning.Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement tools.Six Sigma methodologies, with Green Belt certification preferred and Black Belt considered a strong advantage.Experience using KPIs and operational dashboards to drive accountability and decision-making.Strong understanding of labor planning, budgeting, forecasting, and operational financial management.

Preferred Certifications

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (Required Preferred)Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Highly Preferred)EOS Integrator or EOS leadership experience (Preferred)OSHA 30Project Management certification

Travel Requirements

Up to 50% travel throughout Georgia and North Carolina.Ability to work in industrial production facilities, crematories, warehouses, transportation environments, and office settings.Availability for occasional evenings, weekends, and emergency operational support.

Success Measures (First 12 Months)

The General Manager will be evaluated on:

Achievement of site P&L targets.Successful execution of EOS Rocks and quarterly priorities.Reduction in labor and operating costs while maintaining service levels.Improvement in quality metrics, customer satisfaction, and turnaround times.Increased employee engagement, retention, and leadership development.Full implementation of Lean and Six Sigma initiatives across all facilities.Achievement of safety, compliance, and environmental goals.Standardization of operations across Georgia and North Carolina.Development of a sustainable leadership pipeline through coaching, succession planning, and accountability.The pay range for this role is:100,000 - 120,000 USD per year(Atlanta, Georgia)