Café Manager

Job Purpose

The Café Manager is in charge of the smooth daily running of the student-run, student-owned campus café. The position blends team leadership, customer service, staff oversight, and operational control to keep the café welcoming, inclusive, and efficient for students, employees, faculty, and visitors. It also supports student employment and helps build a positive campus community while upholding strong standards in service quality, food safety, and financial responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage everyday café operations, including opening and closing routines.
• Keep service quality consistently high across the team.
• Ensure recipes are followed accurately and products remain consistent.
• Complete daily cash reconciliation and send weekly submissions to the President of the operations leadership team.
• Maintain a clean, orderly workspace and ensure compliance with health and safety rules.
• Check café equipment each day and arrange maintenance or repairs when required.
• Partner with the Director of Human Resources & Payroll to review and submit bi-weekly timesheets and to ensure monthly health and safety checklists are filed.
• Make sure daily logs are completed and stored correctly.
• Work with HR on recruitment, onboarding, employee concerns, and policy rollout.
• Coordinate with the Director of Marketing and Communications on café promotions, social media activity, events, and outreach efforts.
• Hire, train, guide, and supervise student employees.
• Delegate tasks effectively and make the best use of available resources.
• Build staff schedules, handle time-off requests, and manage coverage.
• Encourage a respectful, supportive, and collaborative workplace.
• Carry out end-of-semester performance reviews and provide coaching, feedback, and ongoing development support.
• Maintain strong customer service and hospitality standards.
• Handle customer complaints professionally and escalate issues to campus security or the President’s leadership team when appropriate.
• Help maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment for the campus and surrounding community.
• Monitor stock levels and place supply orders as needed.
• Track sales, expenses, and daily cash-handling processes.
• Accurately code invoices and complete end-of-day cash deposits.
• Support the President with budgeting, reporting, and cost-control work.
• Contribute to improvements in operating efficiency and sustainability.
• Build and maintain relationships with partners, vendors, and local community contacts.
• Work with the Student Association, student groups, and campus departments.
• Review policies and how they are implemented on an annual basis.
• Perform any other reasonable duties assigned by the President.

Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in food service, retail, or café operations is preferred.
• A college or similar program in culinary arts, hospitality, or food and beverage service management is considered an advantage.
• Food handler certification is mandatory.
• Leadership or supervisory experience is required.
• Comfort working in a busy, fast-paced, team-based environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication, people skills, and organization abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail, cleanliness, and order.
• Reliable, proactive, and able to solve problems effectively.

Working Conditions

Leave will be required during St. Lawrence College closure periods, including the winter break from mid-December to January. The role may also involve occasional evening or weekend shifts. The position requires the ability to stand or walk for extended periods and, at times, lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs.