Job Title: General Manager – Qima Café (Site-Level)
Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: London (One of Two Café Locations)
Type: Full-Time, Permanent
About Us:
Qima Patisserie & Kitchen is a pioneering concept that blends the warmth of café culture with the elegance of plated desserts and the comfort of soulful brunch and lunch dining. With a mission to redefine everyday hospitality, we operate across two London locations, delivering best-in-class guest experiences rooted in craftsmanship, quality, and detail.
Role Overview
As General Manager, you will lead one of Qima Café’s sites, ensuring operational excellence, team success, and exceptional guest experiences. You will be the on-the-ground leader responsible for your café's performance—bringing to life Qima’s vision while maintaining a welcoming, efficient, and standards-driven environment. This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who thrives in premium, high-volume café or boutique restaurant settings and is passionate about service, coffee, and food culture.
Key Responsibilities
1. Daily Operations & Floor Leadership
* Lead all day-to-day operations including opening/closing, floor management, and service flow.
* Maintain a strong presence during trading hours, particularly peak periods, to support teams and proactively solve issues.
* Ensure all SOPs, checklists, and service protocols are followed consistently.
2. Scheduling, Rota & Workforce Planning
* Create and manage staff schedules using Workforce, aligning labour with forecasted sales and peak trading times.
* Ensure optimal staff coverage, adapting schedules as needed for holidays, absences, and service needs.
3. Team Leadership & Development
* Recruit, onboard, train, and retain a high-performing FOH and barista team.
* Conduct regular performance reviews, coaching sessions, and team meetings to align on goals and service expectations.
* Foster a positive, inclusive team culture with high morale and strong accountability.
4. Guest Experience & Brand Delivery
* Champion Qima’s hospitality values through personalised, thoughtful service and a warm guest atmosphere.
* Oversee the consistent execution of plated desserts, brunch/lunch service, and takeaway offerings.
* Monitor guest feedback and resolve complaints with care and professionalism.
5. Commercial Performance & Cost Control
* Monitor and manage key financial metrics including sales, labour %, and COGS.
* Track daily/weekly revenue targets and contribute to achieving site profitability goals.
* Analyse sales trends and support localised promotional strategies in collaboration with the Ops Manager.
6. Compliance, Safety & Standards
* Ensure food hygiene, health & safety, and site compliance protocols are strictly followed.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date site documentation (HACCP logs, incident reports, audits).
* Lead internal audits and implement corrective actions where needed.
7. Product Execution & Coordination
* Ensure smooth kitchen/FOH coordination, especially for ticket flow and presentation during plated dessert and brunch services.
* Support new menu launches, promotions, and seasonal service transitions.
Essential
* 3–5 years of experience in café, casual dining, or boutique restaurant management.
* Experience managing staff rotas using Workforce or similar platforms.
* Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
* Operational knowledge of P&L, stock control, and service flow.
* Passion for hospitality, coffee, and food quality.
* Availability across mornings, weekends, and peak trading times
Desirable
* Experience in patisserie or plated dessert service.
* Familiarity with premium coffee programs or brunch service.
* Exposure to cost and labour management in a high-volume, high-standard setting.