Assistant Cafe Manager

Proven barista skills | Team leadership and training

Build a café you can take pride in. We are recruiting an experienced Asst. Café Manager to launch and develop café at center of Edinburgh. We need Asst. manager who led through their own practical work: making excellent drinks, serving customers, organising the day and showing colleagues how to deliver the same standards. You will combine skilled barista work with staff supervision, training and commercial responsibility, reporting directly to human resource management.

The premises also include an events hall, suitable for weddings, conferences, parties and meetings. As the business develops, this role offers the opportunity to take on wider café, bar and venue responsibilities.

What we expect

· Consistently produce and serve high-quality espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, flat white, mocha and other drinks from agreed menu items. Be able to set up and adjust the grinder, handle extraction process, steam milk products, including alternatives, and clean and care for equipment confidently.

· Brew and serve tea, hot chocolate, iced coffee and other agreed cold drinks, alongside pastries, cakes and sandwiches. Follow recipes, portion standards and presentation requirements.

· Welcome customers, take orders, handle payments and resolve routine customer enquiries and complaints politely and professionally.

· Manage opening and closing, till reconciliation, daily cleaning, stock rotation (FIFO), ordering, deliveries and waste control.

· Maintain food hygiene and allergen protocol, a clean workstation and accurate operational records; report maintenance or service issues promptly.

· Track sales, average transaction value, stock usage, waste and staffing efficiency. Use daily results and customer feedback to identify practical actions that improve service and profitability and provide clear reports to management.

· Establish service routines and take ownership of quality, costs and customer experience within agreed authority. Implement approved menu changes and promotions, communicate operational issues promptly and recommend improvements.

· Lead efficient shifts, allocate tasks and adjust priorities as demand changes. Set a positive example, coach colleagues, recognise good performance and address service issues constructively.

· Train newcomers from their first day using clear demonstrations, supervised practice and constructive feedback. Cover drinks, equipment, light food, service, payments, hygiene, allergens and opening and closing. Check progress and competence before allowing independent work.

Experience and skills we need

· At least two years of substantial relevant café or coffee-shop experience, with proven hands-on barista competence and previous responsibility for leading shifts, supervising colleagues and training staff. A job title alone is insufficient; you must be able to demonstrate what you can do.

· Previous bar service experience, with confidence preparing and serving common alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and following responsible-service procedures.

· Confidence running the café independently when scheduled and supervising colleagues when working together, balancing preparation, service, payments and operational priorities under pressure.

· Demonstrated ability to teach people with no previous café experience patiently and clearly, assess their progress and maintain consistent standards.

· Practical experience new with POS systems, cash reconciliation, stock ordering and waste control, with the commercial judgement to turn sales and cost information into sensible operational decisions.

· Clear communication with customers, colleagues and management, together with reliable timekeeping and organised working habits.

· Reliability, sound judgement and accountability: Be proud of your business, communicate clearly, act within agreed authority and resolve problems rather than leaving them for others.

Qualifications and additional strengths

A-levels or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution in any country are desirable but are not compulsory. Relevant experience and demonstrated ability will carry greater weight than academic qualifications.

A current Scottish Personal Licence for the sale of alcohol is preferred, but not essential. Hospitality, barista or food hygiene qualifications and experience of events, bookings or hospitality sales would be advantages. Supervisory capability and the ability to train beginners are essential.

Opportunity to progress

The café is the first stage of a wider hospitality business. We plan to review responsibilities at around three months, with potential progression to Café and Venue Operations Manager based on demonstrated performance, leadership capability and business needs.

Progression may bring responsibility for venue enquiries, bookings, weddings, conferences and parties; event- bar operations; staff and supplier coordination; and wider business reporting. Expanded responsibilities, authority, staffing, hours and remuneration will be agreed before any change takes effect.

What we offer

A meaningful role in establishing a new café, direct access to management and scope to influence service, menu development and ways of working. You will receive an introduction to the premises, agreed menu and systems, with potential to develop into wider venue management.

The two managers will work across an agreed rota, with one person running the café during suitable service periods. Busy periods, breaks and events will require appropriate cover and staffing. You will help identify and coordinate support needs. Working patterns may include early mornings, evenings and weekends according to café opening hours and event bookings; the agreed hours will be confirmed before appointment.

Pay: £27,420.00 per year

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount

Work Location: In person