Working Café Manager – The Baféry
Location: Garden Quarter, Chester (Within walking distance to Chester City Centre)
Opening Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm
Working Pattern: Daytime hours only –
Employment Type: Full-time
Accommodation: On-site living accommodation may be available
We are opening a brand-new, fully refurbished café x bakery in a prominent location close to the city centre.
This is an exciting opportunity for an energetic, experienced and ambitious Working Café Manager to join us at the beginning of the journey and play a key role in establishing the business.
We are looking for someone who doesn't simply want to manage a café, but someone who wants to make it their own – developing the atmosphere, service, product offering and day-to-day operation and helping establish the café as a local destination.
The premises have been fully refurbished and provide an excellent platform for the right person to build something special.
As Working Café Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the café, working alongside the team and leading from the front.
This is a hands-on management position and will suit someone who enjoys being involved in all aspects of the operation – from serving customers and preparing food and drinks to managing staff, stock, suppliers and standards.
You will have significant input into how the café operates and develops, with the opportunity to put your own personality and ideas into the business.
- Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Baféry.
- Lead, motivate and manage the Baféry team.
- Work hands-on alongside staff during busy periods.
- Deliver a consistently high standard of customer service.
- Help develop the café's identity, atmosphere and customer experience.
- Support the development of the food, bakery, drinks & seasonal offering.
- Manage opening and closing procedures.
- Ensure excellent standards of cleanliness, presentation and hygiene.
- Manage stock levels, ordering and supplier relationships.
- Monitor wastage, margins and portion control.
- Manage daily cashing-up and basic financial controls.
- Prepare staff rotas and manage holiday/absence arrangements.
- Train and develop new and existing team members.
- Ensure all food safety, allergen, health & safety and licensing requirements are followed.
- Maintain appropriate records, checks and compliance documentation.
- Deal confidently and professionally with customer feedback.
- Help build a strong local reputation and repeat customer base.
- Identify opportunities to improve sales, service and profitability.
- Work closely with the owners to develop the business and introduce new ideas.
- Take ownership of the Baféry’s standards and presentation.
We are looking for someone with energy, enthusiasm and personality who genuinely enjoys hospitality and dealing with people.
You should be confident enough to take ownership of the operation, while being practical enough to roll your sleeves up and get involved.
The successful candidate will ideally be:
- Experienced in café, bakery, restaurant or hospitality management.
- A confident and capable team leader.
- Comfortable working in a busy customer-facing environment.
- Passionate about good food, quality products and excellent service.
- Commercially aware, with an understanding of sales, costs and margins.
- Organised and able to manage competing priorities.
- Friendly, approachable and confident with customers.
- Reliable, professional and able to lead by example.
- Energetic and proactive, with a genuine desire to develop the business.
- Creative and willing to bring new ideas to the table.
- Comfortable working independently and making day-to-day decisions.
- Someone who takes pride in their workplace and wants to build something they can be proud of.
Essential:
- Previous experience in a café, bakery, restaurant or hospitality environment.
- Previous supervisory or management experience.
- Good understanding of food hygiene and food safety.
- Good understanding of allergen management.
- Experience managing or supervising staff.
- Strong customer service skills.
- Ability to manage stock and ordering.
- Good organisational and communication skills.
Desirable:
- Level 2 Food Safety / Food Hygiene qualification.
- Hospitality or catering management qualification.
- Experience working within a bakery or café environment.
- Barista experience and knowledge of speciality coffee.
- Experience with EPOS/till systems.
- Experience managing rotas and staff scheduling.
- Understanding of GP, food cost and gross margin control.
- First Aid qualification.
- Experience with HACCP-based food safety systems.
- Previous experience opening or establishing a new hospitality business.
Relevant qualifications can be supported or developed for the right candidate.
This is not a role where you will simply be expected to follow an existing formula.
You will have the opportunity to help create the formula.
We are looking for someone who wants to take ownership, bring ideas and establish a café that becomes known locally for its food, bakery, coffee, service and atmosphere.
You will have the support of the owners and the opportunity to influence:
- The day-to-day operation.
- Staff structure and culture.
- Menu and product development.
- Customer experience.
- Baféry presentation and atmosphere.
- Local marketing and promotions.
- Seasonal offerings and events.
- Future development of the business.
The café will operate 7:00am to 5:00pm, meaning this is predominantly a daytime hospitality position with no evening shifts.
The exact working pattern will be agreed with the successful candidate, based around the operational requirements of the business.
On-site accommodation may be available for the right candidate, subject to suitability and agreed terms.
This could provide an attractive opportunity for someone relocating to the area or looking for a combined employment and accommodation package.
This is an opportunity to join a new business at the very beginning and become a key part of its success.
If you are an experienced hospitality professional who is energetic, ambitious, customer-focused and ready to put your own stamp on a brand-new café and bakery, we would like to hear from you.
:
Competitive and dependent upon experience.
:
Please submit your CV along with a brief covering note explaining your hospitality experience and why you would be the right person to help establish and develop our new café.
Pay: £25,420.00-£38,670.98 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
