Cafe Team Leader

Tesco; England; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

Tesco is seeking a Team Leader for one of its cafés in Bedford. The role focuses on delivering excellent customer service in a friendly, fast-paced environment, while supporting the Manager and coaching team members. The position offers flexible working options and opportunities for development within Tesco Cafés.

You must be 18 or over to apply. The team will work to maintain safety standards, train staff on health and food safety, and drive sales through effective coordination and leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience in hospitality required.
• Team/Shift Leader experience preferred.
• Strong customer service focus.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and Food Safety.
• Excellent communication and multitasking skills.
• Proactive, able to take initiative.

Responsibilities

• Maintain operational and safety standards.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Lead by example with excellent customer service.
• Open/close café; oversee operations in Manager’s absence.
• Coach and develop team members.
• Deliver Health & Safety training.
• Support the Café Manager with coaching and development.
• Identify improvements to service.
• Foster an inclusive environment.

Skills

Hospitality experience

Team Leader

Customer service

Health & Safety

Food Safety

Communication skills

Multitasking

Initiative

Job description

About the role

We’re looking for a Team Leader to join one of our Cafés, where a friendly, fast-paced environment awaits. With a passion for providing excellent customer service, a proactive can-do attitude, and great collaboration skills, you’ll help keep everyday operations running smoothly.

You’ll get to flex, and build on, your skills and experience with a wide range of responsibilities. From supporting the Manager to meeting business and financial goals, to coaching, developing, and training team members, to leading by example with impeccable customer service.

All the while, we’ll support you with bag-loads of benefits, including flexible working options, development and training tailored to you, and tonnes of opportunities to progress. Plus, you’ll be part of an inclusive workplace where you can be your best, and most authentic, self.

Please note that you need to be 18 or over to apply for this role.

Responsibilities

• Making sure everything runs smoothly by maintaining operational and safety standards.
• Ensuring all food safety and hygiene regulations are met and followed.
• Leading by example by providing an excellent experience for customers.
• Opening and closing the café and overseeing full operations in the Manager’s absence.
• Recognising and celebrating team members for providing excellent service.
• Learning our menu inside out and helping our team to do the same.
• Boosting sales by making sure everyone’s in the right place at the right time.
• Delivering Health & Safety and Food Safety training for team members.
• Supporting the Café Manager with colleague coaching and development.
• Seeking ways to constantly help improve our service for customers.
• Promoting an inclusive environment where colleagues feel respected, valued, and safe.

Requirements

• A background in hospitality, with Team/Shift Leader experience.
• A passion for providing excellent customer service.
• Health & Safety and Food Safety knowledge.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and adapt to changing priorities.
• Confidence using your initiative to improve ways of working.

Benefits

• Get 10% off and 15% at pay day weekends; save up to £2,000 a year with your Colleague Clubcard with an additional card to share with family outside your home.
• Request flexible working from day one.
• Retirement savings plan.
• LifeAssurance.
• Access to free wellbeing services with a range of resources to support your mind, body, and life.
• An exclusive deals and discounts website saving you money on everyday purchases, treats for the family, eating out and utility bills for the home.
• Uniform provided and policies to support you for all of life’s moments, big and small.
• Holiday starting at 28 days (Including Bank Holidays).
• Access to our colleague networks providing a space for colleagues to come together from a range of backgrounds.

About Us

With 329 Cafes across the country and counting, our teams work closely to make sure that the customer experience is to the best standard and service; no two days are ever the same! Tesco Cafes are a great place to work, with a genuine family feel – truly a Place to Get On.

We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco Café where everyone is welcome and truly feels able to be themselves. In our Cafes, we not only celebrate diversity, but we strive to create a workforce that reflects our customers not only here in the UK, but worldwide. Our aim is to attract and welcome a diverse range of applicants from all walks of life, offering many varying working patterns across our business and we would love to hear from you!

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Tesco, we always welcome chats about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.

We’re proud to have been accredited Disability Confident Leader and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Key Details

Company: Tesco

Salary: Competitive

Hours: Part-time

Job type: Permanent

Location: Bedford, MK42 0BG

Posting date: 30 Oct 2026

Closing date: 28 Nov 2026