Cafe Manager (Maternity Cover)

About Hope Cafe

Hope Cafe is a welcoming community cafe run by Hope North London as part of its Enterprise Programme. The cafe provides high-quality, affordable food and drinks in a friendly environment while offering training and employment opportunities for young adults from estate and low-income backgrounds. Our goal is to see trainees grow in confidence, skills, and work-readiness through hands-on experience and structured support.

Hope Cafe is open from 9am to 4pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Role Purpose

The Cafe Manager (Maternity Cover) will be responsible for the day-to-day running of Hope Cafe during opening days, ensuring smooth operations, great customer service, and a positive training environment for our team of trainees. This is a hands-on role involving both management and practical cafe work — including food preparation, baking, stock management, and maintaining hygiene standards, particularly when the cafe is closed for prep and planning. The Cafe Manager will oversee the whole of the cafe’s operations: planning menus, ordering stock, managing records, and leading service on opening days.

They will work closely with the Operations Director (who oversees the training programme and staff support) and the Enterprise Director (who provides strategic oversight of the Enterprise work) to ensure the café remains both operationally sound and mission-driven.

Key Responsibilities

1. Daily Operations

Ensure the cafe runs smoothly and safely across all opening days, including:

• Opening and closing the cafe (setup, pack down, and end-of-day checks).
• Managing daily food preparation, baking, and service.
• Overseeing hygiene, safety, and food storage procedures.
• Recording daily sales, temperature logs, cleaning schedules, and till reconciliations.

2. Team Supervision & Training Support

• Supervise and support trainees during cafe hours, modelling good practice and encouraging teamwork.
• Allocate daily roles and responsibilities to ensure smooth service.
• Provide informal coaching and encouragement to trainees, celebrating progress and flagging any pastoral or performance concerns to the Operations Director.
• Create a positive, safe, and inclusive working environment for trainees and customers alike.

3. Planning & Coordination

• Plan cafe rotas and support trainee timetables in coordination with the wider Enterprise Programme.
• Liaise regularly with the Operations and Enterprise Directors on cafe performance, trainee progress, and operational needs.
• Support menu planning, purchasing, and product development to improve quality and efficiency.
• Support special events or catering opportunities where appropriate.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience in cafe, hospitality, or customer service management.
• Confident in supervising others in a fast-paced, people-centred environment.
• Minimum Food Hygiene Level 2, and understanding of health and safety, and basic record keeping.
• Food preparation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Positive, calm, and adaptable under pressure.
• Commitment to the values of Hope North London.

Desirable:

• Experience working with or supporting young adults in training or employment
• Food Hygiene Level 3 (training can be provided).
• Experience in community or social enterprise settings.