Cafe Manager

Café Manager | Specialty Coffee | Arrowtown

$29–$33 per hour depending on experience | Start ASAP

Lead the café. Build the team. Set the standard.

Wolf Coffee Roasters is looking for an experienced Café Manager to take ownership of our café in Arrowtown and lead our team, coffee, hospitality and day-to-day operations.

We’re a specialty coffee company built around great coffee, genuine connection and creating memorable experiences. Our café is the front line of the Wolf brand. It’s where customers experience us firsthand and where our standards for coffee and hospitality are brought to life.

This is a leadership-first role for someone who wants to build an exceptional team, set high standards, and help take the café and wider business to the next level.

The Role

As Café Manager, you’ll be responsible for leading the café and café team day in, day out.

Your primary focus will be leadership, people, standards and performance. You’ll make sure the team is organised, motivated and performing at a high level, while ensuring every coffee, interaction and detail reflects the Wolf standard.

Wolf is a busy, fast-moving café where there is always a lot happening. We have systems and processes in place, and we’re looking for someone who can help us continue to improve how the café operates. You’ll have the opportunity to introduce practical ideas, improve efficiency and build on what is already working.

Two things sit above everything else:

Coffee. We want Wolf to be recognised as serving the best coffee in Otago. You’ll be responsible for making sure the coffee standards set by our Coffee Training Lead are consistently delivered by the team, every shift, every day.

Hospitality. We don’t just want good service. We want genuine hospitality, noticing people, creating connection and making every guest feel like they matter.

You’ll report to the Operations Manager and work closely with our Coffee Training Lead, Head Roaster and wider leadership team to continually improve the café and keep Wolf moving forward.

What you’ll be responsible for

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, roster and coach the café team day to day
• Own hiring, onboarding and development of café staff
• Provide regular feedback, support and 1-on-1s
• Manage performance, conduct and team issues directly and fairly
• Set clear expectations and hold the team accountable
• Build a positive culture based on ownership, pride and high standards
• Develop your team and help people reach their potential

Coffee Quality

• Ensure Wolf coffee standards are consistently delivered across every shift
• Work closely with the Coffee Training Lead to ensure training and technical expectations are being met
• Maintain high standards for dial-in, extraction, milk texture and brewing
• Run regular quality checks and tastings
• Build the team’s coffee and product knowledge
• Work closely with the Head Roaster on new releases, single origins and quality feedback

Guest Experience & Hospitality

• Own the Wolf guest experience from Welcome through to Departure
• Ensure every guest is acknowledged, looked after and made to feel welcome
• Set the standard for hospitality, not simply service
• Coach the team to develop the skill of “noticing” and acting on the small details
• Handle guest complaints and recovery confidently and professionally
• Monitor guest feedback and customer experience

Café Operations & Improvement

• Ensure the café opens, runs and closes smoothly every day
• Manage rostering, stock, ordering and wastage
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, food safety and hygiene
• Keep POS, cash handling and daily systems accurate
• Identify and solve bottlenecks, particularly during busy periods
• Maintain an awareness of COGS, margins and profitability
• Keep café administration organised and up to date
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency and the customer experience
• Develop and maintain practical processes, checklists and SOPs where needed
• Proactively bring ideas and solutions to the wider leadership team

Wider Wolf Team

• Support events, activations and busy periods across the business
• Work closely with the Operations Manager, Coffee Training Lead, Head Roaster, Marketing and Wholesale teams
• Contribute ideas and feedback that help improve the wider Wolf business

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for an experienced café or hospitality leader who enjoys working with people, takes ownership and wants to make a real impact.

You’ll be someone who:

• Has proven experience leading a café or hospitality team
• Is confident managing people, performance and accountability
• Enjoys developing people and building a strong team culture
• Is highly organised, proactive and good at keeping things moving
• Has high standards and takes pride in the details
• Understands specialty coffee and what great coffee service looks like
• Is calm and composed in a busy, fast-moving environment
• Has a practical approach to problem-solving and improving the way things are done
• Is comfortable jumping on the floor when required to make coffees, serve customers and support the team

Strong leadership and people-management experience will be a major advantage.

What success looks like

• Wolf is recognised for serving some of the best coffee in Otago
• Customers receive a warm, personal and memorable experience
• We maintain a 4.8+ Google rating
• The café team is engaged, developing and proud of where they work
• The café operates smoothly, consistently and profitably

Why Wolf?

Wolf Coffee Roasters is a growing specialty coffee business with our café at the front line of the brand, supported by our roastery, wholesale and e-commerce operations.

This role gives you the opportunity to have a genuine impact on one of the most important parts of the business. You’ll lead the café team, work alongside our wider leadership and coffee teams, and help shape how the café develops as Wolf continues to grow.

If you’re an experienced café leader who enjoys leading people, setting high standards and continually improving the way things are done, we’d love to hear from you.

Practical details

Pay: $29–$33 per hour depending on experience
Hours: 35+ paid hours per week
Start: We’re looking for someone to start as soon as possible
Location: Arrowtown, Otago
Weekend availability: At least one weekend day will be required. Availability to work both Saturday and Sunday would be preferred.

Ideally, you’ll already be based in Queenstown or the wider Queenstown Lakes area. If you’re relocating for the role, you’ll need to be able to move quickly.

You must hold valid New Zealand work rights.

Apply Now

Applications must be submitted through SEEK.

If you have any questions about the role before applying, feel free to email Leon at [email protected].

Please include your CV and a cover letter telling us a little about yourself, your management and leadership experience, coffee experience and why you think you’d be a good fit for Wolf.