Café Manager

Clement Janken; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meal provided during shifts

Discounted on-campus parking

Closed over Christmas and New Year

Job summary

Monash Club on the Clayton campus is seeking an experienced Café Manager to lead daily operations, mentor staff, and ensure exceptional guest experiences at a busy campus café known for specialty coffee and fresh food.

You will guide service during peak periods, manage rostering and budgets, and collaborate with the culinary team to maintain quality and profitability in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate leadership and strong communication to mentor front-of-house staff.
• Experience in managing stock control, rostering, labour costs, and achieving financial targets.
• Proven ability to maintain high service standards and handle fast-paced hospitality environments.
• Strong knowledge of specialty coffee, espresso preparation, and cafe operations.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with attention to food allergens and guest safety.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day management of the cafe and lead front-of-house staff.
• Manage rostering, labour costs, and operational budgets.
• Monitor stock control, purchasing, and inventory management.
• Provide menu, wine, and coffee recommendations tailored to guest preferences.
• Ensure exceptional customer service and consistent product quality.
• Train staff in coffee preparation, milk texturing, and service standards.
• Collaborate with Head Chef on menu planning and pricing strategies.
• Liaise across Front of House and Kitchen to ensure seamless operations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team development

Customer service

Conflict resolution

Specialty coffee

Espresso preparation

Time management

Allergen knowledge

Tools

OpenTable

Job description

Monash Club is seeking an experienced Café Manager to join our team. Located on the vibrant Monash University Clayton campus, Church of Secular Coffee is a welcoming café destination serving students, staff, alumni, and visitors. Known for its specialty coffee, fresh food offerings, and community-focused atmosphere, the café provides a relaxed space for customers to connect, study, meet, and enjoy high-quality hospitality in the heart of campus.

Working closely with the Venue Manager, Supervisor, Chefs, and front-of-house team, you willplay a key role in maintaining service excellence and creating memorable experiences for our guests.

About the Role

The role is a hands‑on Café Manager position that involves providing ongoing guidance, leadership, and operational support to café staff during daily service and peak trading periods. The position is responsible for maintaining exceptional customer service standards, coordinating team activities, overseeing the efficient flow of service, and supporting staff to

effectively manage busy café operations while ensuring a positive customer experience, operational efficiency, and consistent product quality.

Skills & Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Minimum 2 years experience in a Café Manager, Restaurant Manager, or Hospitality Management role.
• Strong knowledge of specialty coffee, espresso preparation, and café operations.
• Proven leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Experience managing stock control, labour costs, rostering, and financial targets.
• Strong customer service and conflict resolution abilities.
• Experience in using OpenTable.
• A strong knowledge of food allergens
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced hospitality environment while maintaining high service standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

• overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the café;
• leading, supervising, mentoring and developing front-of-house staff;
• managing rostering, labour costs and operational budgets;
• purchasing, stock control and inventory management;
• Provide informed menu, wine, and coffee recommendations tailored to guest preferences.
• Ensure exceptional customer service standards are consistently delivered by all team members.
• Maintain expert knowledge of coffee varieties, origins, roast profiles, and brewing methods.
• Train and mentor staff in coffee preparation, milk texturing, alternative milk products, and beverage service standards.
• Conduct coffee tastings and quality control checks to ensure product consistency.
• Oversee the cleaning, maintenance, and operational standards of coffee equipment.
• contributing to menu planning and pricing strategies in consultation with the Head Chef;
• monitoring financial performance and implementing initiatives to improve profitability and customer satisfaction;
• ensuring compliance with food safety, workplace health and safety and other regulatory requirements.
• Liaise effectively between Front of House, Kitchen, and the Head Chef to ensure seamless venue operations.
• Complete administrative duties accurately and within required timeframes.
• Develop and implement initiatives to increase customer traffic and venue revenue.
• Identify market trends and customer preferences, providing insights and recommendations to management.
• Manage all catering, group booking, and event enquiries, including preparing proposals and contracts.
• Ensure all scheduled events are delivered successfully and meet guest expectations.
• Work closely with suppliers, management, and event stakeholders to maximise event outcomes.
• Recruit, onboard, and train new team members in company policies, operational procedures, and service standards.
• Conduct performance reviews and implement development plans where required.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and training sessions.
• Closed over Christmas and New Year
• Staff meal provided during shifts
• Discounted on-campus parking

If you are passionate about hospitality, enjoy leading teams, and thrive in a fast-paced events

and restaurant environment, we would love to hear from you.