Community Café Manager (E7674) - St Vincent de Paul Society

Leeds Safe Roads Partnership; Leeds; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading community-focused organization as a Community Café Manager at St Vincent’s Support Centre in Leeds. Lead the café operations, mentor a diverse team, and make a lasting social impact while serving nutritious meals and fostering community connections. If you're passionate about food and community, this role is your chance to create a nurturing space that uplifts and empowers.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years’ experience as a chef, cook, or kitchen manager.
• Warm, inclusive leadership style with a passion for mentoring.
• Experience working with vulnerable or disadvantaged communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations, serving nutritious meals.
• Mentor and inspire a team of volunteers.
• Design weekly menus balancing taste, health, and budget.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Community Engagement

Education

Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2

First Aid Certification

Job description

Location: St Vincent’s Support Centre, Leeds
Salary: £26,000 – £28,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours/week (typically Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm, with occasional evenings/weekends)

Are you a passionate chef or kitchen manager with a heart for community and a flair for leadership? Do you dream of running a café that’s more than just a place to eat -a space that nourishes, supports, and uplifts?

At St Vincent’s Support Centre, we’re looking for a Community Café Manager to lead our vibrant café - a welcoming hub where good food meets good company! This is your chance to shape a space that brings people together, supports vulnerable individuals, and creates real social impact.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the day-to-day operations of our café, serving nutritious and affordable meals.
• Mentor and inspire a team of 15 volunteers and 1 part-time staff member.
• Design weekly menus that balance taste, health, and budget.
• Ensure top-notch food hygiene and kitchen safety standards.
• Drive income generation while staying true to our values of compassion and inclusion.
• Support individuals from diverse backgrounds to build skills and confidence.
• Collaborate with our wider team to grow the café’s reach and impact.

What You’ll Bring:

• At least 2 years’ experience as a chef, cook, or kitchen manager.
• Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 (minimum), First Aid certification.
• A warm, inclusive leadership style and a passion for mentoring others.
• Experience working with vulnerable or disadvantaged communities.
• A values-led approach and a genuine belief in the power of community.

Bonus Points For:

• Level 3 Food Hygiene
• Experience in a charity or community setting
• Familiarity with volunteer management and digital tools

Why Join Us?

This is more than a job — it’s a chance to make a difference every single day. You’ll be part of a supportive, mission-driven team that values compassion, dignity, and opportunity for all. Together, we’ll grow something truly special.

Ready to stir up change?
Apply now and help us serve more than just meals - help us serve hope, connection, and community.

Whilst we ask that staff have sympathy with Christian values, religion is not considered in recruitment as we value people of all faiths or none.

If you have any further questions, please contact the HR Team on 01274 513045 (option 3).

Unfortunately, if you have not received a response within four weeks of your application, you have not been successful on this occasion. We encourage early applications as we may close the listing early, when sufficient applicants have been received.

About the SVP:

The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) was established in England and Wales in 1844 and is part of a large and thriving Christian voluntary movement dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms by providing practical assistance to people in need in 153 countries. Our core valueisone of service and we treat each person as a unique individual deserving of dignity and respect. Person-to-person contact is therefore at the heart of our work and spending time with people is our greatest gift. We offer non-judgemental support to anyone in need, regardless of faith, race, gender, sexual orientation, background, or circumstances.

The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.