Cafe Manager

FareStart•Seattle, WA

6d•$82,924 - $89,051•Onsite

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.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.