Cafe Manager

JAMD Logistics Pty Ltd; Geelong; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SBS sponsorship

Daytime hours

Competitive base salary

Owner collaboration

Job summary

JAMD Logistics Pty Ltd seeks a proactive Café/Venue Manager to own all aspects of floor service, kitchen coordination, and team supervision at King of the Castle, Geelong West. This senior role requires proven management experience in high-volume hospitality and hands-on leadership on weekends.

Salary ranges from $65,000 to $80,000 base plus super, with SBS visa sponsorship available for eligible candidates and daytime trading hours.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in café/venue management.
• Weekend availability is mandatory.
• Hands-on floor presence during peak hours.
• Experience managing labor budgets and rostering software (Deputy).
• Current Victorian RSA and Food Safety Supervisor certificates.

Responsibilities

• Lead from the front during peak weekend trade (Sat & Sun).
• Greet guests and enforce the 3-second rule to boost retention.
• Supervise barista speed, workflow, and beverage quality.
• Enforce opening/closing checklists and ensure equipment and storage are compliant.
• Maintain hygiene and waste management across dining, counters, kitchen, and outdoor areas.
• Ensure compliance with Victorian Food Safety standards and RSA guidelines.
• Provide on-site leadership during emergencies and incidents.
• Build rosters to align with sales targets and labor costs.
• Recruit, train, and onboard frontline staff; conduct pre-shift huddles.

Skills

Hospitality management

Team leadership

Floor leadership

Budgeting & rostering

Education

Victorian RSA certification

Food Safety Supervisor certificate

Tools

Deputy rostering software

Job description

We are a busy, high-volume specialty café, brunch, and event destination in Geelong West. Renowned for generous food, specialty coffee, and a bustling outdoor terrace, we operate a fast-paced service that demands organized, hands-on venue leadership.

We are seeking a proactive Café / Venue Manager to take full operational ownership of floor service, kitchen coordination, team supervision, and private functions.

Important Note: This is a senior leadership role. Do not apply if you do not have prior managerial experience. Applications without proven management experience in a café, restaurant, or venue environment will not be considered.

Key Highlights

• SBS Approved Employer: Standard Business Sponsorship available for eligible candidates.
• Competitive Package: $65,000 – $80,000 base + superannuation (commensurate with skills and experience).
• Strict Experience Requirement: Minimum 3 years of direct hospitality management experience required — do not apply without proven managerial experience.
• Mandatory Weekend Availability: Full Saturday and Sunday floor leadership required.

Key Responsibilities

• Weekend Floor Presence: Lead from the front during peak weekend trade (Saturday and Sunday), directing service flow, managing seat turnover, and stepping in during rushes.
• Customer Care & 3-Second Rule: Enforce our 3-second customer acknowledgment standard, personally greet guests, and engage with regulars to ensure high retention and zero walkouts.
• Beverage & Coffee Quality: Supervise barista speed, workflow, and beverage standards to guarantee consistent specialty coffee service.
• Daily Checklist Enforcement: Enforce and sign off on opening and closing checklists, ensuring refrigeration switches, electrical appliances, prep storage, and display cabinets are verified daily.
• Hygiene & Waste Management: Maintain pristine cleanliness across dining spaces, counters, kitchen pass, and outdoor areas, keeping commercial street bins latched and orderly.
• Regulatory Compliance: Enforce Victorian Food Safety standards, council health codes, and Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) guidelines.

Venue Functions & Operational Coordination

• On-Site Incident Leadership: Provide immediate, physical on-site leadership during venue emergencies (equipment failures, power trips, sudden shift call-outs) rather than handling critical issues remotely.

Rostering, Labor Control & Scheduling

• Labor Budget Discipline: Build and publish rosters via Deputy aligned strictly with sales targets and labor cost caps.
• Active Shift Management: Monitor daily trade to execute early finish cuts during slower windows while guaranteeing punctuality and full coverage during peak rushes.

Recruitment, Training & Team Accountability

• Targeted Hiring: Screen, interview, and onboard skilled front-of-house, barista, and back-of-house staff with genuine, long-term availability.
• Structured Training: Deliver hands-on onboarding programs, verifying competency before assigning independent shifts.
• Team Accountability: Run pre-shift huddles, address performance deficits with prompt feedback, and maintain team alignment with business ownership directives.

Candidate Requirements

• Mandatory Management Experience: Minimum 3 years of proven experience in a Café Manager, Venue Manager, or Assistant Manager role in high-volume hospitality.
• Mandatory Weekend Availability: Full, unrestricted availability on Saturdays and Sundays is non-negotiable.
• Hands-on Floor Presence: A manager who works the floor alongside the team during peak hours rather than supervising from a desk.
• Operational Discipline: Proven experience managing labor budgets, rostering software (Deputy), food hygiene audits, and closing verification routines.
• Certifications: Current Victorian RSA and Food Safety Supervisor certificate (or willingness to obtain immediately).

What We Offer

• Salary: $65,000 – $80,000 base + superannuation, tailored to your management background and capability.
• Visa Sponsorship: Approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) open to sponsoring the right eligible candidate.
• Daytime Hours: Sociable daytime trading hours without late-night finishes.
• Owner Collaboration: Clear direction and direct communication with venue owners.

Venue: King of the Castle — Geelong West