Cafe Manager

Department: Social Enterprise

Status: Exempt, Full-Time

Location: Seattle, WA.

Pay Rate: $82,924-$89,051/year

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position is responsible for the management and daily operations of FareStart's café, including team leadership, guest experience, and operational excellence. This position oversees hiring, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and accountability for café staff while ensuring alignment with FareStart's mission, values, and workforce development goals. This position partners with café leadership to ensure consistent execution of operational standards, service excellence, and business objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise café staff.
• Oversee scheduling of cafe staff members, lead service during peak periods, and responsible for coverage in the event of a staff member's absence, covering different shifts if necessary.
• Develop and maintain policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training manuals for cafe operations.
• Oversee and manage the POS system (Toast), ensuring accurate configuration, reporting, and functionality; use system data to inform decisions and oversee troubleshooting as needed.
• Collaborate with Social Enterprise leadership to monitor budgets to ensure the cafe remains profitable and actively find ways to lower operational costs, while expanding the cafe's customer base.
• Manage ordering, inventorying, production cost, sanitation, food safety, and vendor relationships for these operations.
• Collaborate with the culinary leadership team to maintain high-quality standards for FareStart's food and beverage program, communicating guest feedback as needed.
• Develop and manage a preventive maintenance and repair program for FareStart owned coffee equipment, including maintenance schedules, service coordination, and minor repairs as appropriate.
• Ensure all staff provide excellent customer service. Responsible for following up on customer service issues (e.g., customer concerns, complaints, feedback, etc.)
• Serve as a primary point of contact with Amazon to coordinate day-to-day needs that support café operations, including repairs, maintenance, and facility improvements.
• Keep Cafe staff informed on organization wide updates, events, and priorities, serving as the link between Cafe operations, leadership, and other departments.
• Collaborate with programs staff regarding student and trainer contributions in cafe spaces.
• Ensure staff provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students using trauma-informed practices that support historically under-represented populations.
• Support and promote the organization's strategic plan and department priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At FareStart, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality or related field, and two (2) or more years of experience managing a café/coffee shop or food service operation including ordering, inventory, programming POS system, menu costing, etc.; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A Valid King County Food Permit, or the ability to obtain one.
• Experience managing and developing a team. Ability to lead and motivate teams.
• Experience with performing on-the-job training, preferably in a café/coffee shop environment.
• Proficient and experienced in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Ability to work with customized databases and technology and to conduct internet research.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team, within diverse teams and environments.
• Ability to communicate effectively and comfortably with audiences of different backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to display sensitivity, tact, and responsiveness in various situations and maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to listen, give and receive feedback in a productive and professional manner.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt communication based on audience and purpose with inclusivity. Ability to disseminate information effectively to appropriate levels.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and requests and meet deadlines in a professional manner.
• Ability to evaluate problems and effectively solve them in a timely manner. Ability to respond to concerns with empathy and inclusivity.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities, work with others, and coach employees to develop their full potential. Provide helpful, behaviorally specific feedback to others. Regularly meet with employees to review their development progress and express confidence in their abilities to be successful. Engage in open and honest communication.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• A valid WSLCB Servers Permit, or the ability to obtain one.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is exposed to a cafe/coffee shop environment
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is regularly required to sit. Frequently required to stand or walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear.
• This position requires close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• This position may be required to lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds.
• This position is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS

• Competitive pay based on experience and qualifications
• Paid time-off (5 weeks first year of employment)
• Paid holidays, including up 2 floating holidays
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Medical (including vision), Dental, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Employee discounts at FareStart retail social enterprises
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free ORCA pass