Will you join us? We're looking for a Cafe Coordinator to manage our busy, volunteer-run community cafe …
About us
REfUSE is an award-winning social enterprise based in Chester le Street, working towards a healthier, more sustainable food system. We intercept around 8 tonnes of food per month that would otherwise go to waste and turn it into healthy, accessible meals, served on a “Pay as You Feel” basis at our volunteer-run community cafe. With a community of over 150 volunteers, we run regular restaurant nights, sell Waste Not Box food hampers, and run education and engagement projects including our Eat Smart programme which engages primary school pupils in the causes of and solutions to food waste in their schools. We are raising awareness, inspiring, and empowering people towards community-led transformation of our food system in the North-East. Our vision is to reveal the true value of things, places and people that are unjustly wasted or overlooked.
About the role
We are recruiting a full-time Cafe Coordinator who will take on managing the cafe for five full days (Tues to Sat, 35 hours). (The cafe is open to the public from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm Tuesday to Saturday serving breakfast, lunch, cakes and drinks, and standard working hours will be 9.00 am to 4.30 pm including a half hour for lunch.)
You will open up the cafe, oversee the day’s preparation and service, and then oversee the clean-down and debrief at the end of each day. You will oversee service of food and drink within the cafe to customers and have overall responsibility for food safety and hygiene that day, including correctly logging all allergen and managing stock.
Your responsibilities will include leading and supervising a group of volunteers with varied experience levels and delegating tasks in the busy cafe. The cafe is run by volunteers from all backgrounds, and serves a very diverse audience so this role requires a high level of patience, empathy and the ability to communicate well. Together with the Volunteer Champion you’ll have responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of our volunteers and the cafe space, and will receive training in safeguarding. You will contribute to the personal development of volunteers and support skills-learning during the busy cafe day. You will be the first port of call should any problems arise with either customers or volunteers, so you will need to be able to think quickly and solve problems under pressure.
You will be part of the Operations Team with our Volunteer Champion, Chef and Food Champion, Food and Logistics Coordinator, and Volunteer Inclusion Lead. The team oversees the smooth functioning of the building and its operations including ensuring the relevant staff and volunteers have received the appropriate training and have the skills to carry out their tasks and meet any hygiene or safety regulations.
As part of the wider REfUSE team you will attend team meetings, work in partnership with other staff members where necessary, and support the wider REfUSE community and act in line with the vision, strategy, values, policies & procedures of REfUSE CIC.
Job Specification:
We’re looking for a full-time engaging leader (5 days, Tuesdays to Saturdays) who will:
- Be a Key Holder for the building, supervise volunteer safety and fire safety
- Manage the running of the day’s activities from preparation of the cafe and volunteer briefing, to clean-down and safe cooling and storage of food.
- Delegate tasks to Front of House volunteers and support Kitchen volunteers when needed, taking into account their experience, communication skills and any physical or mental health conditions.
- Support your cafe team to ensure that volunteering at REfUSE is a positive experience.
- Oversee service of food and drink within the cafe to customers, working with volunteers in the kitchen and front of house.
- Oversee the ordering, payment and cash handling processes in the cafe.
- Ensure that our safeguarding, health and wellbeing policies are being adhered to.
- Take responsibility for food safety and hygiene compliance of the cafe on the days you’re managing, including ensuring extensive record keeping on heating, cooling, labelling and food storage.
- Ensure the cafe is clean, clear and feels like a safe space; sharing responsibility for our environmental health inspections with our Chef & Food Champion.
- Make hot drinks including speciality coffees to an exceptional standard (training can be given).
- Maintain stock to ensure smooth running of cafe, toilets and kitchen.
- Report any concerns to the Operations Team.
- Explore and implement ways to increase customer footfall in the cafe and make sure there is a positive customer experience.
- Work with Communications and Engagement Coordinator to create effective communications to customers and amongst cafe volunteersMarket the cafe through regular social media postings
- Assign Day Managers from our team of bank staff to cover shifts, where needed
- Line manage the Cafe Cleaner and Laundry Manager.
Person Specification
Essential: To be amazing you will have the following attributes & experience....
- Have experience in cafes, catering and/or food service
- Have experience of managing staff and/or working with volunteers
- Be a positive person, adaptive and resilient in a fast-paced cafe environment
- Be non-judgmental, inclusive and comfortable working with staff and volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds
- Have good communication skills in both written and verbal formats
- Have some IT skills including spreadsheets and use of social media
- Care about grass-roots environmental and social change, have a good understanding of sustainability and ethical choices around food
Desirable: It would be great if you...
- Have experience of managing budgets and financial planning
- Enjoy cooking and being creative with food
- Have barista experience
- Have food and hygiene training
- Have first aid qualifications
Pay and Benefits
- Full-time role: 5 days per week (7 hours per day), Tuesday to Saturday
- Annual Leave: 28 days (inc. bank holidays, additional days based on length of service)
- Salary: £25,430 plus 3% employer’s pension contribution (REfUSE is not in a position to negotiate on salaries and benefits)
- Employment term: Permanent (subject to a 3-month probationary period)
Application Process
This is an exciting role so if you are considering applying, why not contact us to have a chat or arrange a time to visit us at REfUSE? ([email protected] or 07564 008224)
***We will not accept applications via Indeed***
PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE (https://refusedurham.org.uk/work-with-us/)
You can download the full information pack and carefully follow instructions on how to apply.
Applications received after the deadline date or without the required documents will not be considered.
The deadline for all applications is 10:00 on Tuesday 25th August.
- Interviews will take place in person at REfUSE (143c Front Street, Chester le Street, County Durham, DH3 3AU) on:
- Tues 1st Sept (with a possible call back on Weds 2nd Sept)
Pay: £25,430.00 per year
Work Location: In person
