Senior Café and Community Engagement Manager

American University•Washington, DC

4d•$64,074 - $64,900•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Cafe and Community Engagement Manager in the Bridge Café is responsible for the strategic oversight, daily management, and financial sustainability of the Bridge Café, a student-run café and social hub located in Butler Pavilion. The position ensures high-quality customer service, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance while cultivating a robust student employment program that contributes to student learning and leadership development. The Senior Café Manager supervises approximately 25–40 student employees, including baristas, shift leads, and assistant managers, and oversees all aspects of café operations including staffing, training, inventory management, vendor relations, financial management, and programming within the café space. This role leads the development and implementation of comprehensive training and professional development programs for student staff across the Mary Graydon Student Center, ensuring consistent standards of customer service, operational procedures, and student leadership development across all student center operations. This position oversees the operational implementation of “A Slice of AU,” a Bridge Café–based initiative that celebrates first-year student birthdays to promote belonging and campus connection. Responsibilities include managing program logistics, coordinating inventory and redemption processes and collaborating with campus partners to ensure the program operates efficiently and aligns with student engagement goals. The Bridge Café operates as a self-funded auxiliary program, and the Senior Café Manager is responsible for maintaining sound financial management practices, meeting revenue targets, and ensuring operational sustainability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience in café management, food service operations, hospitality management, or auxiliary services.
2 - 4 years of relevant experience
Two to four years of experience managing food service or retail operations is required, including demonstrated experience supervising student employees or entry-level staff.
Candidates must demonstrate strong organizational, customer service, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively with diverse constituencies across administrative units.
Experience managing budgets, inventory systems, and operational workflows is required.
Proficiency with relevant operational and administrative software platforms (e.g., scheduling systems, point-of-sale systems, and university administrative systems such as Workday) is also expected.
DC Food Protection Manager Certification.
Food safety training certification.
Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification accredited by ANSI (e.g., ServSafe Manager Certification).
Valid DC Certified Food Protection Manager identification issued or recognized by the DC Department of Health.
Current DC Food Handler Certification (if required by establishment type).
Knowledge of the DC Food Code and local health regulations.