General Manager

Origin Coffee Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading specialty coffee company in London is seeking a General Manager to lead their flagship cafe. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in coffee and hospitality, with responsibilities including driving sales, team management, and ensuring compliance with health standards. The role offers a vibrant work environment with a focus on values and team development.

Benefits

26 days holiday + your birthday off + flexible bank holidays

Employee discounts on products

B-Corp certified work environment

SCA training opportunities

Pension scheme with 5% employer contributions

Enhanced family leave policy

Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• You're an experienced leader with a strong background in specialty coffee and hospitality.
• You're commercially astute, calm under pressure, and deeply passionate about great coffee and people.

Responsibilities

• Lead the flagship cafe ensuring a best-in-class customer experience.
• Drive sales and profitability through excellent cost control.
• Champion compliance with food safety and health regulations.

Skills

Experience managing a speciality coffee or hospitality venue

Financial fluency across P&L, COGS, labour and forecasting

Skilled in people management, coaching and team development

Strong communication, organisation and leadership skills

Familiar with digital tools and Office 365

Experience in B Corp business or purpose-led environments

Job description

About the Role

As General Manager, you'll lead our flagship cafe in Southwark, London; a go-to destination for coffee enthusiasts, locals, and visitors alike. You'll deliver a best-in-class experience that reflects the Origin brand, building a high-performing team and running a beautiful, profitable space.

Working closely with our Head of Retail, CEO and department leads, you'll influence creative direction and strategy while staying grounded in the detail of daily operations.Your focus will span six core areas:

• Brand & Marketing
• Communication
• Financials
• Health & Safety
• Operations
• People

What You’ll Be Doing

Brand & Marketing

• Maintain visual standards and store design to deliver a best-in-class customer experience.
• Ensure retail and coffee displays are consistent with brand guidelines.
• Lead on in-store events, activations and collaborations with our Events Manager.

Communication

• Champion clear, consistent communication across the team and wider business.
• Work closely with customer service, marketing, brand, finance and operations to ensure alignment.
• Keep your team well-informed and motivated, creating a space where everyone is included and empowered.

Financials

• Drive sales and profitability through excellent cost control and operational discipline.
• Manage key metrics including P&L, wages-to-sales ratio, average transaction value, and COGS.
• Maximise loyalty, repeat custom and customer spend through creative and data-led initiatives.

Health & Safety

• Ensure compliance with food safety, H&S, risk assessments and company policies.
• Maintain up-to-date training records (HACCP, First Aid, SCA, etc.).
• Champion a safe and positive workplace for your team and customers.

Operations

• Lead and develop operational SOPs and ensure they're consistently applied.
• Optimise supplier relationships and stock levels to support commercial performance.
• Own front-of-house standards and ensure smooth, high-quality service at all times.
• Partner with the barista team to curate and showcase Origin's coffee offering.

People

• Lead, coach and inspire your team to deliver great service and grow their careers.
• Manage the full employee lifecycle: hiring, onboarding, reviews, performance and progression.
• Champion Origin culture and values in every interaction.
• Foster a supportive, respectful and professional environment that's great to work in.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue growth and sales performance
• Gross profit % and cost of sales
• Wages-to-sales ratio

Who You Are

You're an experienced leader with a strong background in specialty coffee and hospitality.

You're commercially astute, calm under pressure, and deeply passionate about great coffee and people. Whether you're coaching a new team member or presenting your numbers to the board, you bring confidence, care, and high standards to everything you do.

You lead by example, keep your cool, and bring others along with you. You thrive in fast-paced environments and love seeing your team succeed.

Skills & Behaviours

• Experience managing a speciality coffee or hospitality venue
• Financial fluency across P&L, COGS, labour and forecasting
• Skilled in people management, coaching and team development
• Strong communication, organisation and leadership skills
• Familiar with digital tools and Office 365
• Experience in B Corp business or purpose-led environments is a plus

Values & Mindset

At Origin, we live our values:

• You seek progress and drive improvement
• You take ownership and welcome feedback
• You lead with empathy, coach with intention
• You champion progression and connection
• You prioritise respect and belonging
• You build inclusive spaces for your team and customers

Why Origin

• 26 days holiday + your birthday off + flexible bank holidays
• All the coffee you could dream of – plus discounts on merch and partner products
• Work that’s meaningful, creative, and rooted in values
• Industry-leading brand with a people-first culture
• B-Corp certified and proudly independent
• SCA training and ongoing learning opportunities for all employees
• Enhanced family leave for every kind of parent
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contributions
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme & GP Service
• Enhanced sick pay, period leave & personal days
• Two paid volunteering days every year

Everyone is Welcome at Origin

We believe diverse perspectives enrich our culture and creativity. If you’re passionate about coffee and excited by this opportunity – even if you don’t tick every box – we encourage you to apply. Your unique experience could be exactly what we need.

Why Join Us?

At Origin, you’ll be part of a dynamic team that values creativity, sustainability, and collaboration. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and inspiring environment where you can grow professionally and make a meaningful impact. And, of course, you’ll have access to some of the best coffee experiences imaginable.

Ready to elevate Origin’s digital presence and shape the future of speciality coffee? Join us on this exciting journey.