Café Operations Manager | Lead a Café. Grow a Business. Create Opportunities.
About The Position
The Café Operations Manager owns the operations and job-training program of MADE by DWC (MADE), an employment social enterprise. The manager is responsible for the café’s overall success, including financial performance, team development, customer experience, and mission impact. The role creates opportunities for employees and trainees to grow while ensuring the business operates successfully and sustainably. The manager builds a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence; develops high-performing teams; and drives results that strengthen the people, business, and its impact. The position is accountable for revenue, expense, labor, inventory, and profitability goals while maintaining a safe, compliant, and mission-aligned operation. Success is measured by team strength, customer experience, achievement of business and program goals, and MADE’s continued growth and sustainability. The role reports to the Director of Social Enterprise. This is a full-time, exempt, onsite position. Agency office hours are 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends when necessary. The role requires flexibility during peak seasons, including adherence to blackout dates from November 1 through December 20. Travel between DWC locations and occasional travel to pop-ups, community or off-site events, partner sites, and other events is required.
Requirements
- Minimum three years of management experience in a café, restaurant, hospitality, retail, or similar customer-facing environment.
- Minimum two years of experience leading and developing employees.
- Strong knowledge of café or restaurant operations, customer service, inventory management, food safety, and business performance.
- Experience managing budgets, sales goals, labor costs, and operational metrics.
- Proficiency with Toast POS systems, scheduling software, Microsoft 365, and business reporting tools.
- ServSafe Manager Certification or ability to obtain certification.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Must be a California resident and live no more than 80 miles from DWC.
- Must provide documentation of a negative TB test result from within the last twelve months on the first day of hire.
- Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition of employment; DWC does not sponsor employment visas.
- Ability to meet the role’s physical demands, including lifting and carrying up to 35 lbs., and travel between DWC sites, pop-up venues, and partners as necessary.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Hospitality Management, Social Enterprise, or a related field.
- Experience in workforce development, nonprofit social enterprise, or mission-driven organizations.
- Knowledge of issues affecting women experiencing homelessness, poverty, and mental health.
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop café staff and trainees to build a high-performing, engaged, and accountable team.
- Oversee hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and professional development to support employee growth and retention.
- Own overall café performance, ensuring operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and alignment with DWC’s mission.
- Achieve revenue, expense, labor, inventory, and profitability goals while maintaining a sustainable and mission-aligned operation.
- Monitor business performance, customer insights, industry trends, and market conditions to identify growth and continuous-improvement opportunities.
- Develop and execute marketing, community engagement, and business development initiatives to increase visibility, revenue, and customer loyalty.
- Lead catering, pop-up, and special-event opportunities that generate revenue, expand brand awareness, and strengthen community relationships.
- Manage inventory, cash handling, operational controls, and business systems to ensure efficient operations.
- Lead and continuously improve the paid job-training program, supporting participant development, workforce readiness, and successful outcomes.
- Build and maintain relationships with customers, community partners, vendors, consultants, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
- Prepare and present operational, financial, and performance reports to inform decision-making and support leadership, committee, and Board reporting.
- Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, employment, and operational standards while promoting DWC and MADE’s mission, vision, and values.
- Perform other duties as necessary to support MADE’s success, growth, and sustainability.
- Contribute, in partnership with the Director of Social Enterprise, to department and organizational strategic planning; annual business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance evaluation; revenue growth and long-term sustainability strategies; cross-functional collaboration; strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement; continuous improvement and organizational change; and leadership development, talent management, and succession planning.
- Directly supervise café staff and trainees and oversee volunteers, interns, consultants, and temporary staff supporting café operations.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
