Cookunity General Manager at CookUnity Flagship leads the opening and daily operations of a new hospitality venue in New York City. Responsibilities include vendor setup, hiring, training, and operational readiness.
Responsibilities
We are looking for a hands-on Print Manager to build and lead CookUnity’s new in-house printed materials function at our Brooklyn facility. This role will own the commissioning, ramp-up, and daily performance of our integrated Domino digital inkjet, Nilpeter material-handling, and Precision folding and gluing equipment while building the team, standards, and operating discipline required to scale.
This is not a role for someone who only wants to supervise from a desk. The right leader knows print production deeply, can troubleshoot alongside operators, and is equally energized by developing people, creating repeatable processes, and improving quality and throughput.
This is a full-time, on-site role based in Brooklyn, NY. Flexibility across shifts will be required during commissioning, ramp-up, and other critical operating periods.
Lead the installation, commissioning, acceptance testing, start-up, and production ramp of CookUnity’s integrated Domino, Nilpeter, and Precision print and finishing line.
Own daily print operations end to end, including production planning, job setup, prepress and file readiness, material staging, make-ready, printing, folding and gluing, quality release, and handoff to downstream operations.
Build the function from the ground up, including team structure, hiring, onboarding, shift coverage, skills matrices, training and certification, standard work, and a culture of accountability.
Remain close to the equipment by coaching operators on setup and changeovers, diagnosing print and converting issues, and leading structured troubleshooting when performance falls short.
Establish rigorous controls for artwork versions, job recipes, variable data, barcodes and QR codes, registration, print density, adhesion, folding, gluing, and finished-sleeve quality.
Create and own operating KPIs, including safety, uptime/OEE, throughput, schedule attainment, yield, waste, rework, changeover time, maintenance performance, and cost per sleeve.
Develop preventive and autonomous maintenance routines, maintain critical spare-parts and consumables strategies, and coordinate vendor service, escalation, and warranty support.
Partner with Packaging and suppliers to qualify paperboard, coatings, inks, adhesives, and other consumables while balancing print quality, runnability, food-packaging requirements, availability, and cost.
Partner with Brand, Menu, Culinary, Packaging, and Technology teams to translate a high volume of changing content into accurate, production-ready print jobs.
Qualification
Proven ability to lead complexStrong business and strategic judgmentStrong financial acumenExceptional communicationAbility to thrive in a fast-pacedExperience leading high-trafficPre-opening experience in a flagship
Required
7+ years of progressive hospitality leadership experience in high-volume, guest-facing restaurant, café, retail, or experiential environments.
Direct experience opening a new restaurant or hospitality venue from pre-construction through launch is strongly preferred.
Proven ability to lead complex, concept-driven operations with a strong focus on guest experience, team performance, and operational consistency.
Strong business and strategic judgment, with experience using guest feedback, operational data, and performance metrics to refine service models and improve results.
Experience overseeing bar and beverage operations, including vendor management, compliance, inventory controls, and service execution.
Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, labor management, cost control, and P&L performance.
Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to work effectively across internal teams and external partners.
Comfort working with technology-enabled hospitality environments, including POS systems, digital ordering platforms, CRM tools, and business intelligence or reporting systems.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment while maintaining a strong focus on guest experience, team culture, and business performance.
NYC Food Protection Manager Certification required, or ability to obtain certification prior to beginning management duties at the Flagship.
Preferred
3+ years of successful senior hospitality leadership experience in New York City.
Experience leading high-traffic, mixed-use hospitality environments that may include dining, café service, takeaway, retail, events, or other experiential components.
Experience with technology-enabled service models, omnichannel retail, and digital ordering integrations.
Pre-opening experience in a flagship, concept-driven, or first-of-its-kind location.
