Café Catering Manager — Balanced Hours & Growth

Coolings Nurseries; Knockholt; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Ownership

28 days holiday

Staff discount

Job summary

Coolings Nurseries' Blueberry Café in Knockholt, Kent seeks a Catering Manager to lead the café operations with calm leadership and a commercial mindset. You’ll drive menu decisions, margins, and service quality in a beautiful garden-centre setting.

The role offers stable full-time hours, a supportive team, employee ownership benefits, 28 days holiday and a generous staff discount. You’ll manage people and processes to deliver consistent hospitality.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years’ proven experience in a catering or café management role.
• Commercially aware with profit margins, cost control and admin.
• Hands-on leader who builds trust, develops and inspires people.
• Calm, measured and solutions-focused.
• Values quality of life as much as service.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations, ensuring a seamless customer experience
• Manage menus with a commercial mindset – balancing quality, cost and efficiency
• Take control of the numbers, margins, stock and reporting
• Implement and refine processes that drive clarity, consistency and performance
• Lead, support and develop a great team of people – working alongside them, not “above” them
• Build a positive, accountable culture where standards are understood and upheld

Skills

Catering experience

Leadership

Financial acumen

Job description

Coolings Nurseries' Blueberry Café in Knockholt, Kent seeks a Catering Manager to lead the café operations with calm leadership and a commercial mindset. You’ll drive menu decisions, margins, and service quality in a beautiful garden-centre setting.

The role offers stable full-time hours, a supportive team, employee ownership benefits, 28 days holiday and a generous staff discount. You’ll manage people and processes to deliver consistent hospitality.