General Manager - Madison Cafe

Wonderstate Coffee•Madison, WI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The General Manager holds a central role in the success of Wonderstate Coffee’s Madison Café business operations. As part of the café’s leadership, the General Manager works closely with roastery staff, café staff, and barista and kitchen leads to achieve the café’s goals. The role directly supervises the Madison Café team and maintains a hands-on presence in daily operations, including working at least two shifts per week and being cross-trained to fill all positions. The General Manager leads the café team and its culture; oversees scheduling, communication, inventory, ordering, cash handling, payroll, time off, budgeting, and vendor relationships; and coordinates community events and property management. The role also supports quality control, staff benefit education, and a clean, organized, customer-friendly environment. The position is based on site in Madison with a flexible schedule shaped by café needs, including occasional weekends and special events.

Requirements

Ability to communicate clearly and promptly with staff and customers.
Customer-service enthusiasm.
Proficiency with common computer skills.
Desire and ability to teach and lead others.
Ability to give and receive feedback respectfully.
Strong organization and time-management skills.
Impeccable follow-through.
Ability to work an espresso machine and other brewing equipment.
Desire to be continually challenged and grow professionally.
Passion for ethically sourced, organic, high-quality coffee and food, sustainability practices, and support for farmer cooperatives.
Safe Serve certification, or willingness to obtain it.
Ability to stand and move throughout the café for extended periods.
Ability to regularly bend, reach, and perform typical café tasks.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Ability to safely operate café and food-service equipment as trained.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of café, restaurant, or food and beverage experience preferred.
Prior people-management or team-lead experience preferred.
Specialty coffee experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the café team while maintaining a cohesive café culture.
Hire, onboard, and review team members against Wonderstate Coffee’s values.
Work a minimum of two shifts per week and be cross-trained to fill all positions.
Serve as a subject matter expert in one or more of coffee, bakery, or prepared food, and provide quality-control feedback in all areas.
Exemplify Wonderstate Coffee’s core values.
Manage café employee schedules in coordination with budgeting and labor reporting.
Handle café communications, including emails, phone calls, and online platforms.
Oversee inventory, ordering, and financial reporting against intentional par levels.
Handle cash, disperse tips, and organize deposits.
Process payroll, approve time off, and promote staff benefit education.
Manage café performance against budgeted sales, labor, and expense targets.
Manage vendor relationships, focusing on local and small producers where applicable.
Coordinate community engagement events and participate in local organizations as needed.
Oversee property management, including coordination with contractors and service providers.
Maintain a clean, organized, and customer-friendly environment.