The Kingfisher Café serves the independently owned Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve in the east Cambridgeshire Fens. We currently offer homemade cakes and professional coffee, as well as a variety of light bites. We seek an experienced and ambitious Cafe Manager to help us fully realise the café's potential as a desirable destination for visitors and a reliable income stream for the Reserve. The Cafe Manager reports to the Reserve Manager, as part of a small, supportive team of staff and volunteers.
This full-time position is fully hands-on role, which requires practical catering experience and confidence in a live café environment. As well as day-to-day planning and strategic development, duties include working front and back of house, taking an active role in food preparation, service, cleaning, and day-to-day café operations. You will be working on the shop floor alongside the team, leading by example during busy periods, supporting service, and ensuring consistent standards. Equally, this is a wonderful opportunity to create a unique café experience for nature lovers and food lovers alike.
Your day-to-day responsibilities:
Running the cafe
* Manage all aspects of the daily running of the café, ensuring high standards of catering and smooth, efficient service
* Serve customers and ensure they are satisfied with their food or drink and with the service
* Cater and manage public and private events for the Reserve
* Adhere to existing working practices, methods, procedures and undertake any relevant training
Managing the café team
* Recruit and select employees to the agreed staffing levels and provide induction training and probationary support to new members of staff
* Complete a weekly staff rota
* Manage, support and motivate staff and volunteers
* Ensure food safety, hygiene and compliance with all EHO and health and safety regulations
Managing finances
* Operate the till and be responsible for cashing up and banking
* Maintain accurate financial records, cash handling, and reporting
* Manage stock ordering, rotation and supplier relationships
* Attend and provide input to meetings
Planning and strategy
* Attend and give input to regular meetings with the Reserve Manager and Management Committee
* Develop menus, pricing, and promotions in line with visitor demand and seasonality
* Agree and work to budgets, monitor sales, control costs and wastage
* Develop a marketing strategy and social media presence for the cafe
* Work with the cafe team and Reserve Manager to grow the business
Essential skills and experience:
* Experience in a leadership role within a hospitality setting
* Confident and outgoing, excellent inter-personal skills, a team player and a role model
* Passionate and creative about great food and coffee
* Highly organised, calm under pressure and with attention to detail and a can-do attitude
* Willing and available to work at weekends, and occasional early mornings and evenings, especially in the spring and summer
* Good English communication skills, both spoken and written
* Confident and accurate numeracy skills
* Good IT skills: email and MS Office (Word and Excel)
* Holds a valid UK drivers license
Desirable skills and experience
* Experience using SumUp software
* Knowledge and experience of marketing or advertising via social media
* Likes dogs: a lot of visitors bring their dogs and there are several on site
Benefits
* Competitive salary, annual leave entitlement, full training
* 20% discount on food and drink and free non-alcoholic drinks whilst on shift
* Free on-site parking
* Stunning location to work
* Opportunity to develop your strategic and creative talents
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Free parking
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person