Café Manager

Newnham College; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

USS pension 14.5%

33 days holiday incl Birthday

Medicash

Free meal when on duty

Free parking where available

Gym facilities access

Job summary

Newnham College, University of Cambridge, invites applications for an experienced Café Manager to lead Iris Café. You will oversee daily operations, manage a small permanent team with casual staff on a rota, and maintain a friendly, sociable space for Fellows, staff, students and the public.

The role is permanent, full-time (37.5 hours/week) with a salary of £31,861 per annum. Benefits include USS pension, 33 days holiday (incl.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a café or similar facility.
• Strong customer-service orientation and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of food safety and allergen management.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day running of Iris Café at Newnham College.
• Create a welcoming atmosphere serving Fellows, staff, students and the public.
• Direct a permanent team with casual staff on a rota basis.
• Ensure smooth opening across 7 days a week (not evenings).

Skills

Management experience

Customer focus

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Barista service

Job description

Permanent, full-time post 37.5 hours per week

£31,861 per annum

Newnham College is seeking to recruit an experienced, pro-active Café Manager to take charge of the day-to-day running of the Iris Café at Newnham College. Working as part of the wider catering team, this role takes the lead on creating a friendly, welcoming café atmosphere serving Fellows, staff, students and the general public with a range of beverages, including barista service, cakes, sandwiches and other culinary treats. The café is a light, bright open space with a garden for the warmer months and has a reputation as a sociable hub where you can relax, meet with friends or do a bit of work whilst sipping your favourite drink.

The successful applicant will have some managerial experience, running a similar facility or be ready to take on this challenge. The café is staffed by a permanent team with additional help from casuals who work on a rota basis and the café is open 7 days a week but not in the evenings. Having good commercial sense, a customer focused attitude, experience of food safety and allergen awareness and with an eye for what sells well, this vacancy offers an ideal opportunity to take on a café which already has a great reputation and take it to the next level.

This is a permanent full-time post working 37.5 hours per week with responsibility for a team working Monday - Sunday. The salary is paid at point 34 on the University's single salary spine which is currently £31,861 per annum. The College offers membership of the generous USS pension scheme, with a current employer contribution rate of 14.5% and holiday entitlement is 33 days per year (inclusive of bank holidays) with an additional day of paid leave for your Birthday. Other benefits include access to Medicash, the College's health cash plan, a free meal when on duty, free car parking where available and free use of the College's gym facilities.

Newnham College is an equal opportunities employer.