Assistant Café Supervisor at Carlton Marshes Visitor Centre

Suffolk Wildlife Trust; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation charity in Lowestoft is seeking an Assistant Café Supervisor to support the café’s operations. Responsibilities include leading the team, managing food preparation, and ensuring excellent service standards in a visitor-centred environment. Key qualifications include excellent communication, customer service skills, and experience in similar settings. The role offers a permanent contract with competitive pay and benefits, including 33 days of annual leave, pension contributions, and additional perks in our cafés.

Benefits

33 days of annual leave

9% employer pension contribution

Free life insurance

Discounts at high street retailers

10% discount in cafés

Qualifications

• Confidence in preparing and serving food and maintaining cleanliness.
• Experience in a similar environment is essential.
• Ability to support and guide others in a busy setting.

Responsibilities

• Support the smooth running of the café and ensure an exceptional visitor experience.
• Lead the café team to deliver outstanding service and maintain high presentation standards.
• Manage food preparation, stock management, and staff supervision.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Customer service skills

Food preparation skills

Teamwork

Supervisory skills

Tools

EPOS till systems

Job description

Carlton Marshes, located in the Waveney Valley at the southern tip of the Norfolk Broads near Lowestoft and part of the Suffolk Broads, is a mosaic of habitats including grazing marsh, fens, peat pools, meadows, dykes and scrub that have evolved over centuries to support specialised wildlife.

Assistant Café Supervisor

As the Assistant Café Supervisor, you will play a key role in supporting the smooth, day‑to‑day running of the café and ensuring an exceptional experience for every visitor. Working closely with the Café Supervisor, you will help lead the café team to deliver outstanding service, maintain high standards of presentation and uphold the welcoming, nature‑inspired atmosphere that defines the Carlton Marshes Visitor Centre.

Responsibilities

You will have responsibility for key operational areas including food preparation, stock management, and staff supervision, deputising for the Café Supervisor when needed. Through your leadership, attention to detail and enthusiasm for great service, you will help ensure the café’s success as a friendly, efficient and financially sustainable part of the visitor experience — while supporting Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s mission to connect people with nature and bring wildlife back.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and customer service skills, with confidence in preparing and serving food, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, and working well as part of a team. Experience in a similar environment is essential, along with the ability to support and guide others in a busy setting. Proficiency with EPOS till systems and barista skills are desirable, as is previous experience in a supervisory or leadership role.

Pay & Hours

This is a permanent position working four out of seven days each week, including bank holidays and at least one weekend day each week on a rota basis. The starting salary will be £17,675.00 per annum (FTE £24,375.00) and the working hours are:

• April to October – 28 hours per week over four days
• March to November – 26 hours per week over four days

Application

To apply for this opportunity, please submit an online application via our website by 9:00 am on Tuesday 16 November 2025. The application process will include uploading a CV and optional cover letter. The interviews are planned for Tuesday 23 December 2025 at Carlton Marshes Visitor Centre. Please indicate on the application your availability for interview.

Benefits

Annual leave entitlement starts at 33 days per annum (including Bank Holidays), increasing annually to 38 days plus employees receive an extra day off for their birthday. We offer a 9% employer pension contribution with no employee contribution required, free 24‑hour Employee Assistance Programme, free life insurance from day one of employment, free access to a private GP and discounts at high street retailers. Staff can also enjoy a 10% discount in our visitor centre cafés, including retail.

EEO Statement

Suffolk Wildlife Trust is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we recognise the importance of diversity in both nature and our workforce of staff and volunteers. We strive to ensure that everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to our vision of “A Wilder Suffolk where nature is thriving and abundant because everyone is doing more to help”.