Café Manager – The Factory Kitchen
The Biscuit Factory is the largest independent art, craft, and design gallery in the UK. Alongside the gallery and event spaces, we house The Factory Kitchen café.
Located on the first floor of the gallery, The Factory Kitchen is a bright and spacious environment boasting a collection of contemporary artwork and an outside roof terrace.
Headed up by experienced chef Michael Waugh, we serve contemporary brunch and lunch menus seven days a week, alongside freshly baked goods and coffees. We are proud to welcome a strong, consistent trade of daily regulars alongside our gallery visitors.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, friendly, energetic, and creative Café Manager to join our hospitality team
The Role
As Café Manager, you will sit within the wider hospitality team, working closely with the Hospitality Manager, Café Head Chef, and Head Events Chef. You will manage and coordinate both the café kitchen and front-of-house teams. By delegating to duty managers and supervisors and utilising the pool of casual café staff, you will ensure the team consistently delivers a smooth and seamless customer experience whilst also managing the financial success of the department.
We are looking for someone who stays aware of current hospitality trends and brings fresh, creative ideas to the table to help maintain the café’s reputation as a quality-driven destination in one of Newcastle’s most creative cultural environments.
The Candidate Must Have:
- At least two years of hospitality management experience
- A proven track record in delivering excellent customer service and customer experience
- Demonstrable experience managing staff, stock, and departmental financials
- The ability to remain professional, approachable, and calm under pressure
- The ability to manage, work well within, and effectively delegate to a team
- Strong organisational skills, reliability, and a positive attitude
- Excellent communication skills
- Barista training
- Flexible availability, including the requirement to work at least one weekend day per week
- A comprehensive understanding of hospitality operations, Health & Safety, and Food Hygiene regulations
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership
- Leading from the front with a strong focus on front-of-house operations, managing and motivating the team to consistently deliver outstanding customer service
- Overseeing recruitment, hiring, and team development
Operational & Service Excellence
- Leading daily service, delivering exceptional customer service, and remaining hands-on for open/close procedures, supporting any gaps in the team as required
- Continuously monitoring and improving the café’s physical presentation, cleanliness, and ambience
- Ensuring Health and Safety protocols, legal obligations, and proper business practices are strictly followed
- Cultivating positive relationships with our suppliers to ensure all produce and stock are of excellent quality and procured at the best possible rates
- Managing stock, ordering, and the booking system
Financial & Commercial Management
- Utilising scheduled office time to manage and maintain all cost and revenue channels, including monitoring labour costs, GPs, café turnover, and purchase invoices
- Managing and working towards increasing profit margins while collaborating with the Hospitality Manager and chefs to identify areas to improve productivity and efficiency
- Working with the kitchen team to create and develop menus and product line concepts
Marketing & Events
- Collaborating with management to organise and cater for gallery events (including regular evening supper clubs and occasional late openings)
- Working alongside the marketing team to promote the business across all platforms and developing ideas to attract new client groups
The Ideal Candidate
- Possesses excellent leadership, people, and communication skills
- Demonstrates dynamic and diligent planning, organisation, and implementation of management tasks
- Produces positive results while maintaining and elevating company standards
- Delivers against key financial requirements to ensure a profitable service
- Demonstrates a passionate, proactive, and innovative commitment to the business
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee gallery discount
- Excellent work-life balance
- Dedicated weekly office time to focus on admin and planning tasks
- The chance to work for a successful, independent café business where your ideas and creativity are valued
- Free on-site parking
Pay: From £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
