Cafe Manager

OneRetail; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food service company is seeking an experienced Café Manager in Lowestoft. You will oversee operations, lead a motivated team, and ensure high food and service standards. The ideal candidate has a strong passion for food and at least two years of management experience in a similar environment, with the ability to drive innovation and exceed customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ management experience in a similar environment.
• Proven ability to lead and develop successful teams.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading and motivating teams to deliver high standards of food and service.
• Overseeing day-to-day operations, including stock management and budgets.
• Ensuring compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Operational management

Communication

Job description

Café Manager - One Retail, Compass Group UK&I

We’re recruiting experienced Café Managers across multiple locations, offering exciting opportunities to join our teams in different areas. If you are passionate about delivering exceptional food and world-class customer service, and can confidently oversee catering and service operations, this could be the role for you. Full-time contracts are available at 40 hours per week.

At the heart of One Retail, our mission is to enhance every customer experience through exceptional service, fresh food offers, and meaningful partnerships. As a Café Manager, you will play a key role in making this mission a reality—ensuring our units and service counters run seamlessly while creating truly memorable experiences for every customer.

In return, you’ll have the opportunity to progress your career with a company that invests in its people, celebrates individuality, and rewards and recognises employees who go beyond the plate.

Key responsibilities:

• Leading and motivating teams to deliver consistently high standards of food and service
• Overseeing day-to-day operations, including stock management, budgets, and performance monitoring
• Working closely with your line manager to track KPIs and deliver against business targets
• Maintaining a strong and positive brand presence in line with Compass Group UK&I values
• Driving innovation by identifying opportunities for new service concepts and customer offers
• Acting as the link between customers and internal teams to ensure expectations are exceeded
• Supporting, developing, and training team members, leading by example at every step
• Ensuring compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety standards across all operations

Ideal candidate:

• A true passion for food, service, and delivering memorable customer experiences
• Minimum two years’ management experience in a similar environment
• Proven ability to lead and develop successful teams
• Strong financial and operational management skills
• Excellent communication and organisational abilities
• Ambitious, motivated, and always looking to develop skills and knowledge