Cafe Manager

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Cambridge is seeking an enthusiastic Café Manager to lead a dynamic team within its catering service. This role involves managing café operations, providing outstanding service to a diverse customer base while ensuring cost control and efficient management. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and a passion for hospitality.

Benefits

Competitive pay with service-related progression

Generous annual leave allowance

Flexible working opportunities

Great family-friendly schemes (e.g., workplace nurseries)

Employer contribution to pension scheme

Travel benefits and retail discounts

Support with relocation

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in a large commercial restaurant or fast casual dining outlet.
• Proven experience in staff management and training.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact with customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the café team for high-quality daily operations.
• Manage procurement of consumables within budget.
• Drive sales performance while controlling costs.

Skills

Leadership

Customer Service

Team Management

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership

Food Hygiene certificate level 3

BIIAB Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders

Health and Safety Qualification (e.g., IOSH Managing Safety)

Job description

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University of Cambridge provided pay range

This range is provided by University of Cambridge. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

The Role:

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Café Manager to lead our dynamic team within the University of Cambridge Catering Service. This is a hands-on role, ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering exceptional service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and motivate the café team to ensure smooth, efficient, and high-quality daily operations.
• Deliver outstanding catering services to a diverse customer base, including students, staff, visitors, and the general public.
• Drive sales performance while maintaining strict control over costs and resources.
• Manage the procurement of all consumable and non-consumable items, ensuring purchases remain within agreed budgetary limits.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a prestigious institution and play a key role in enhancing the University Catering Service.

This role operates a Monday to Friday working pattern with occasional weekend working required.

About you:

In order to succeed in this role, you will join us with

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership
• Food Hygiene certificate at level 3 / intermediate level
• BIIAB Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders.
• Health and Safety Qualification e.g. IOSH Managing Safety.
• Have substantial experience in a large commercial restaurant environment or fast casual dining outlet.
• Experience of all aspects of staff management
• Experience of training staff
• Experience of dealing with customers

Please be aware that a Full UK Driving Licence is essential for this role (a full EU Driving Licence is acceptable on appointment, but the successful applicant must transfer to a UK Licence prior to confirming a start date).

Benefits of working at the University of Cambridge include:

• Competitive rates of pay with automatic service related pay progression and annual cost of living increases;
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Flexible working opportunities;
• Generous maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement and other family friendly schemes (e.g. workplace nurseries)
• An auto-enrolment pension scheme, with a generous employer contribution;
• Travel benefits and retail discounts at over 2,000 local and national stores;
• Schemes to support with relocation

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please email Estates Division on [e-mail]

Please quote reference XM45797 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Associate

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management and Customer Service

• Industries

  Food and Beverage Services and Hospitality

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