Cafe Chef & Manager

SCOTT FAMILY AMAZEUM•Bentonville, AR

2d•$42,000 - $48,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Café Chef and Manager (CCM) is a foundational leadership role responsible for launching and operating the Amazeum Café a family-focused, quick-service café designed to serve playful, high-quality meals, coffee, and snacks to museum guests. This role offers the opportunity to help shape a new café experience from the beginning. The Café Manager will develop kitchen workflows, establish operational procedures, build a team, and design a menu of delightful, quick-service bites that appeal to families and kids. The café will operate primarily during museum operating hours, offering a stable and predictable schedule. This is a highly hands-on leadership role. The CCM will lead food preparation during busy times while also designing the systems that make the kitchen run efficiently. The café will utilize refrigeration and freezer storage, a combi oven, and an automated espresso system to create consistent, high-quality offerings with an efficient team. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup-style environment, enjoys creating systems, and brings both culinary creativity and operational discipline to a growing food program.

Requirements

1+ year of hands-on food preparation experience in a commercial kitchen or café environment
Culinary degree with 6+ months of supervisory experience OR 2+ years of experience in kitchen operations leadership or café management.
Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices in a commercial kitchen.
Demonstrated ability to build systems, workflows, and procedures in a food service environment
Strong organizational and leadership skills
Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to lead shifts and support hands-on preparation during service.
Food Manager Certification or ability to obtain certification within 30 days
ServSafe certification, or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Suite
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, up to 8 hours or more during cafe service and event programming
Ability to regularly lift, carry, and move up to 40 pounds (food products, cafe supplies, and equipment)
Ability to push or pull carts and equipment used in food and beverage operations
Ability to work both indoors and outdoors when supporting café operations or museum events.
Ability to work in a lively, active environment with moderate to high noise levels typical of a children’s museum
Ability to bend, reach, kneel, and move safely within a commercial kitchen environment and event setups and support.
Ability to use kitchen tools and equipment safely, including food preparation tools and café equipment.
Ability to move between kitchen, café, storage, and other museum spaces, including travel across buildings as needed.

Nice To Haves

Associate Degree in Culinary Arts or related field
Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Culinary Arts, or related field
Experience in a museum, cultural institution, nonprofit, or educational environment
Experience supervising and developing staff, volunteers, or temporary event teams
Experience with Ibex ovens or similar high-speed commercial cooking equipment
Coffee service or barista experience
Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish preferred)

Responsibilities

Café Startup & Kitchen Development Help launch the Amazeum Café by establishing operational systems, kitchen workflows, and service standards
Develop and document standard operating procedures including opening/closing checklists, prep workflows, sanitation protocols, and equipment maintenance
Organize kitchen layout, refrigeration, freezer storage, and dry storage to support efficient operations
Ensure compliance with all food safety and sanitation requirements in accordance with Arkansas health regulations
Culinary Creativity & Menu Development Develop and test a menu of playful, family-friendly quick-service offerings
Create recipes and prep systems that allow for efficient service with a small team
Design offerings that appeal to both children and adults while maintaining quality and speed
Lead food preparation and ensure consistency of menu items during service
Manage the café’s coffee and beverage offerings using the automated espresso system
Train staff on beverage preparation and café service standards
Operations & Inventory Management Manage food ordering, vendor relationships, and inventory levels
Implement inventory rotation practices (FIFO) and minimize waste
Monitor food cost and purchasing to support efficient café operations
Oversee Toast and other café ordering platforms, including item setup, updates, and day-to-day functionality
Leadership & Team Development Recruit, onboard, and train café staff in kitchen procedures, food safety, and guest service
Recruit, onboard, and train staff working the counter on Toast, order entry, payment processing, and guest-facing service workflows
Create a positive, energetic team culture that reflects the Amazeum’s playful spirit
Lead by example by working alongside staff during service and busy museum days
Guest Experience Create a welcoming café environment that complements the Amazeum experience for families
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen and service space
Collaborate cross-departmentally to support overall guest satisfaction
Foster a positive team dynamic that encourages collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
Support food and beverage preparation for museum programs, special events, and rentals as needed, including occasional evenings or extended hours outside of standard museum operating times.