Assistant Cafe Manager

The Assistant Café Manager plays a key role in supporting the Restaurant Manager to ensure the smooth daily operations of the hotel café. This includes supervising staff, managing shift schedules, overseeing barista performance, and maintaining product quality and hygiene standards. The role is hands-on, requiring active floor presence to uphold service excellence, promptly address guest concerns, and foster strong relationships with both guests and team members. Additionally, the Assistant Café Manager contributes to training and development, motivates the team to meet sales and service targets, and ensures consistency in guest experiences. Working collaboratively with the Restaurant Manager, assist in menu planning, inventory control, and promotional initiatives, all while maintaining high standards of hospitality and operational efficiency.

Job Responsibilities:

Café Operations Management

• Develop and maintain SOPs for daytime café service, ensuring consistency across all operations.

• Lead the specialty coffee programme, creating signature beverages to enhance both café and restaurant offerings while aligning with brand identity.

• Uphold consistent daytime service standards to deliver quality, efficiency, and guest satisfaction, including breakfast service for hotel guests.

• Continuously refine layout, workflow, and processes to improve efficiency and guest flow during peak hours.

• Plan manpower requirements based on sales trends and hotel occupancy, ensuring optimal staffing levels.

• Maintain an active presence on the floor, engaging with guests to elevate experiences, build relationships, and foster loyalty.

• Collaborate with restaurant and bar teams to design coffee pairings, light menu offerings, and upselling opportunities.

• Demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, and high standards as a role model for the team.

Training and Team Development

• Provide structured training in brewing methods, latte art, service excellence, and upselling techniques.

• Support the café team in building expertise in specialty coffee and hotel breakfast service.

• Leverage supplier workshops, tastings, and certifications to enhance team knowledge and skills.

• Mentor senior team members, coaching them towards leadership responsibilities.

• Encourage creativity and pride by inviting team input on new service ideas and practices.

Sales Growth and Revenue

• Drive revenue through menu optimisation, seasonal specials, and bundled offerings.

• Implement upselling techniques across service touchpoints, including coffee, food pairings, and takeaway items.

• Support execution of the café's commercial strategy in alignment with business goals.

• Use guest insights and sales data to refine offerings, pricing, and promotions.

• Partner with marketing to deliver activations that attract new guests and encourage repeat visits.

• Monitor café performance, preparing reports and improvement plans for the Restaurant Manager.

Guest Relations and Experience

• Deliver exceptional guest experiences through personalised service and coffee education.

• Support seamless hotel breakfast service while engaging with guests to understand preferences.

• Build authentic relationships with regulars to foster loyalty and a welcoming community.

• Ensure service consistency, product quality, and a warm, inviting café environment.

Menu and Product Development

• Collaborate with chefs, baristas, and suppliers to create unique coffee beverages, seasonal specials, and light menu items.

• Ensure recipes, brewing methods, and presentations are consistently documented and executed.

• Maintain strict quality control to uphold brand and service standards.

• Keep recipe cards and preparation guides updated, communicating changes effectively to the team.

Leadership and Team Culture

• Lead by example, showing professionalism, creativity, and composure under pressure.

• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive team culture.

• Address conflicts constructively, escalating to the Restaurant Manager when necessary.

• Recognise achievements, celebrate contributions, and motivate the team toward excellence.

Financial Acumen

• Monitor COGS, labour, and inventory to ensure profitability and financial targets are met.

• Analyse café performance and support strategies to optimise revenue and efficiency.

• Contribute to menu pricing, promotional activities, and cost management decisions.

• Collaborate with the Restaurant Manager on budgeting, expense tracking, and financial planning.

Strategic Improvements and Innovation

• Work with management to review SOPs, systems, and guest feedback for continuous improvement.

• Balance guest satisfaction, efficiency, and revenue when implementing changes.

• Plan and execute café promotions, workshops, and activations to strengthen brand identity.

• Stay engaged with industry trends and specialty coffee communities to maintain leadership in quality.

• Introduce new brewing methods, seasonal launches, and signature beverages to drive innovation and guest excitement.

Qualification:

• Hold current Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate
• Valid WSQ Basic Food Hygiene certification

Experience:

• At least 2 years working experience as an assistant cafe manager

• Have a high standard of hospitality and service standard

Key Competencies:

• Able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

• Establish rapport easily

• Great organizational skills with the ability to multi-task

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Proven objection handling, prospecting and negotiation skills.

• Reliable, focused, and detail-oriented