Cafe Manager

Vassar College • Poughkeepsie, NY

3d

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 appropriately staffed, organized, safe, and meeting 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 collaborates with the Director of Operations, Executive Chef, other Cafe Manager, Dining Staffing Manager, and Bon Appétit and Vassar Dining leadership to support effective, coordinated dining operations.

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 the 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 to support scheduling, operational, and administrative functions.
• Availability and flexibility to work evening and weekend hours year-round to support campus dining.
• Ability to lift objects up to 30 pounds; anything heavier requires a team lift.
• 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 day-to-day leadership on the dining floor and ensure assigned operations are staffed, organized, and operating effectively.
• Supervise Dining Services Supervisors and dining employees, providing direction, coaching, training, and accountability, including unionized staff reviews and coaching sessions under the collective bargaining agreement.
• Monitor food presentation, service, sanitation, safety, cleanliness, and guest experience, and address concerns promptly.
• Participate in monthly safety audits and meetings.
• Work with the Dining Staffing Manager on staffing, scheduling, employee deployments, call-outs, and coverage needs.
• 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 to address special dietary needs and ensure menu items are labeled correctly 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, planning, and training.
• Partner with the Director of Operations and Campus Executive Chef to meet financial labor goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager