Store Manager In Training (SMIT)
The Store Manager in Training (SMIT) role is a developmental position designed to prepare future Store Managers within our Dunkin' network. SMITs receive comprehensive, hands-on training across all store functions and leadership levels. Once trained, SMITs support various locations across the network until a Store Manager (SM) position becomes available. In the absence of a Store Manager, the SMIT fulfills all responsibilities of the role, driving daily operations, supporting team development, and ensuring brand and operational excellence.
Key behaviors include the ability to lead change and work closely with a Store Manager, proactively identifying and recruiting top talent for the team. SMITs take ownership of training and developing new staff to standard, lead daily operations with a focus on driving sales and guest satisfaction, and coach team members to meet and exceed brand standards and operational benchmarks. They maintain a high-energy, supportive atmosphere that encourages growth and accountability, demonstrating a hands-on leadership style that motivates others by example and uses performance data to guide team development and improve results.
The core values of the role include teamwork, excellence, and growth. SMITs foster a welcoming, positive work environment that promotes accountability and guest satisfaction, collaborate with Store Managers to drive team performance and maintain high morale, and lead by example in supporting the restaurant's values, policies, and brand standards. They communicate goals, feedback, and expectations to the team clearly and consistently.
Operational excellence includes executing all crew member responsibilities at a high level, ensuring execution of Dunkin' brand standards, recipes, and systems, monitoring and maintaining food safety, cleanliness, and sanitation standards, supporting and managing training, onboarding, and certification of new hires and shift leaders, assisting in deploying staff, maintaining scheduling standards, and ensuring adequate coverage, overseeing inventory processes, including periodic counts and vendor orders, executing new product rollouts and participating in promotions and sampling efforts, and conducting guest experience assessments and implementing improvement plans.
Accountability and performance evaluation involve supporting Store Managers with labor schedules and store budget adherence, conducting self-assessments and implementing actionable follow-ups, managing cash handling practices and ensuring compliance with franchisee standards, and assisting in conducting performance evaluations and offering coaching for development.
Qualifications for the role include prior leadership experience in restaurant, retail, or hospitality, proficiency in basic computer functions and POS systems, fluency in spoken and written English, demonstrated skills in basic math, financial reporting, and time management, and a strong desire to grow and transition into a full-time Store Manager role.
Key competencies include strong analytical thinking and business acumen, working well in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, being dependable, honest, and upbeat, being open to learning and adaptable to change, effective at coaching and motivating others, committed to delivering an outstanding guest experience, and having excellent time management and problem-solving skills.
Physical demands and working conditions include standing for extended periods, repetitive movements, including bending, reaching, and lifting, carrying packages and supplies, wearing a headset and operating POS systems, thriving in a high-energy, fast-paced environment, and the ability to lift 50 pounds.
This is a structured training position designed to develop future Store Managers by focusing on the individual's growth, the improvement of store operations, and the development of people across the network. The SMIT plays a critical support role in store execution and leadership, helping strengthen team performance while preparing to take on full store management responsibilities. This role reports directly to the District Manager and is a key part of our leadership pipeline.
Company Introduction : Founded in 1950, Dunkin' is America's favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' is a market leader in the hot regular / decaf / flavored coffee, iced regular / decaf / flavored coffee, donut, bagel, and muffin categories. Dunkin' has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 14 years running. The company has more than 13,100 restaurants in 41 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin' is part of the Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. family of companies.
Store Manager • Hatfield, PA, US