Overview
We are seeking a Cafe Manager who is responsible for the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of the cafe. This role is ‘lead by example’ in maintaining high standards of service, quality, cleanliness, and safety, ensuring a welcoming environment for both customers and staff. The Manager acts as the primary link between the General Manager and the cafe team, overseeing all operational duties.
Key Responsibilities:Operational Management
- Oversee managerial daily opening and closing procedures, ensuring all checklists are completed accurately and on time
- Manage regular inventory levels for all wet and dry goods, placing orders and ensuring the cafe is adequately stocked for continuous smooth service
- Knowledge of suppliers, engineers and any other relevant third party organisations provided by the General Manager
- Identify and report any maintenance needs for cafe equipment or facilities to the General Manager promptly
- When possible take initiatives to resolve issues with the team, customer and machinery to the best of your knowledge
- Ensure compliance with all established company policies and procedures
- Able to use POS systems and any other company allocated apps
- Ensuring all equipment is functioning correctly and supplies are stocked for service
- Perform all required opening and closing tasks including but not limited to; at the end of day securing the premises, turning off the equipment, cashing up and locking up
- Undertake any other reasonable duties required by the business
Quality, Cleanliness, and Safety
- Oversee daily cleaning routines and weekly deep clean tasks, ensuring the cafe is consistently maintained to a high standard—cared for, clean, and welcoming
- Ensure strict compliance with all Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, and Fire Safety regulations
- Implement and complete all required Health & Safety checks and documentation
- Conduct new staff inductions, ensuring all team members are fully trained and clear on all Health & Safety protocols and responsibilities
- Operate with a Clean As You Go approach (CLAYGO policy)
- Hygiene & Safety - cleaning surfaces, wiping spills immediately,
- Efficiency - tackle small messes continuously, preventing pile up at the end of shift
- Regulatory compliance - meet and maintain Food Hygiene Standards
- Complete daily health & safety and cleaning checklists accurately and thoroughly
- Ensuring that daily cleaning and tidying of the entire coffee shop area, including customer seating, serving areas, and back-of-house takes place
- Ensuring that weekly deep cleaning of all service and customer areas according to the checklists
- Maintaining the cleanliness and proper function of all coffee-making equipment and utensils at all times
Coffee Preparation and Service
- Making a variety of hot and cold beverages, primarily focusing on coffee, to the highest quality standards.
- Knowledge of The Curator Introductory Barista Training programme to be confident in and demonstrating to others::
- Turning coffee machine on and off
- Dialling in espresso
- Pulling shots and use the appropriate cups
- Steaming milk
- Crafting drinks according to The Curator recipes.
- Serving customers in a friendly, efficient, and professional manner.
- Accurately taking customer orders and processing payments.
- Maintaining expert knowledge of all menu items, bakery products and retail coffee.
- Ensuring that the cafe is prepared and managed throughout service:
- Taking drinks and food to tables
- Ensuring customers have everything they need
- Cleaning plates and tables in a timely manner
- Sweep floors when needed
- Keep service areas clean, organised and not overcrowded
- Staff to keep mobile phones away at all time unless agreed otherwise
- Manage wet areas appropriately with signs etc
- Monitoring toilets by topping up tissue papers, toilet paper and keep it overall clean and disinfected
Team Leadership and Development
- Ensure all Baristas are comprehensively trained in coffee preparation techniques, proper use of the Point of Sale (POS) system, and possess in-depth knowledge of the full menu, including retail coffee and bakery products
- Having a good understanding of coffee machineries and coffee making techniques
- Attend at least one coffee roasting session within 6 months of start of employment
- General knowledge of our wood roasting processes:
- Roasting profile
- Retail coffee tasting notes
- Green coffee suppliers and Origins
- Speciality coffee culture
- Being able to pass coffee knowledge to Baristas
- Make sure their team has completed within 2 Months of their starting date The Curator Introductory Barista Training programme by
- Dialling in espresso
- Pulling shots and use the appropriate cups
- Steaming milk
- Crafting drinks according to The Curator recipes
- Supporting staff everyday with improving their barista skills and achieving high standard of coffee making
- Identify and report staffing needs, performance issues, and additional training requirements to the General Manager
- Communicate shift updates, policy changes, and important operational information clearly and effectively to the team
- Adjust rotas when necessary and within their permissions
- Have a proactive and solutions making approach when leading their team
- Maintain a positive approach during their shifts
- Contribute to the overall success and development of The Curator
Customer Experience
- Maintain a consistently high level of customer service
- Handle and resolve customer issues and complaints professionally, kindly, and efficiently, escalating complex matters to the General Manager when necessary
- Undertake any other reasonable duties required by the business
Reporting Structure
The Cafe Manager reports directly to the General Manager and Senior Team.
Pay: £29,120.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
