Cafe Manager
About The Position
The Cafe Manager provides day-to-day operational leadership for assigned Dining Services operations and reports to the Director of Operations. The role maintains a visible presence on the dining floor to ensure facilities are staffed, organized, safe, and meeting established standards for service, food presentation, sanitation, and customer experience. The Cafe Manager supervises Dining Services Supervisors and provides direction, coaching, and accountability to dining employees. The position works with the Director of Operations, Executive Chef, another Cafe Manager, Dining Staffing Manager, and Bon Appétit and Vassar Dining leadership to support cohesive dining operations. It also supports catering and other Dining Services operations, addresses special dietary needs with the Campus Dietitian, and helps meet financial labor goals.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Three years of progressively responsible experience in food service, hospitality, or a high-volume operational environment.
- Demonstrated supervisory or management experience, including ability to coach, mentor, develop, and hold employees accountable.
- Knowledge of financial, budgetary, accounting, and computational practices within food service operations.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with employees, students, campus partners, and external partners.
- Ability to collaborate with Vassar College and Bon Appétit employees.
- Comfort using technology for scheduling, operational, and administrative functions.
- Availability and flexibility to work evening and weekend hours year-round to support campus dining.
- Ability to lift heavy objects up to 30 pounds; team lift anything greater than 30 pounds.
- Ability to stand and walk for the duration of a shift and use repetitive upper-body motion to complete tasks.
Nice To Haves
- Degree in culinary arts, restaurant management, or a related field.
- Experience working in higher education.
- Experience working in a unionized environment.
- Experience managing high-volume dining operations and/or catering.
- ServSafe Certification.
Responsibilities
- Provide visible, approachable day-to-day leadership on the dining floor and ensure assigned operations are appropriately staffed, organized, and effective.
- Supervise Dining Services Supervisors and dining employees, providing direction, coaching, training, and accountability, including unionized staff reviews and coaching in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
- Monitor food presentation, service, sanitation, safety, cleanliness, and guest experience; address concerns promptly and participate in monthly safety audits.
- Work with the Dining Staffing Manager on staffing, scheduling, employee deployments, call-outs, and coverage.
- Support catering and other Dining Services operations, including staffing, logistics, event execution, and coordination with campus departments.
- Collaborate with the Executive Chef, culinary team, Vassar College, and Bon Appétit staff to coordinate culinary production and dining services.
- Partner with the Campus Dietitian on special dietary needs and ensure menu items are correctly labeled in service areas.
- Communicate with stakeholders, build relationships, and respond to concerns from management, students, and staff.
- Support implementation of Dining Services policies, procedures, training, and service standards.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, service, staffing, and the student dining experience.
- Participate in Dining Services meetings, Monthly Safety Meetings, planning, and training.
- Partner with the Director of Operations and Campus Executive Chef to meet financial labor goals.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
