Cafe Supervisor

Launch Recruitment; Ireland; On-site; EUR 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pantry Café in Kilkenny, Ireland is seeking a Café Supervisor to lead shifts, ensure smooth operations and uphold high standards of service and presentation. You will work on the floor with the team, serve customers, and act as first point of contact when the Manager is absent.

Responsibilities include staff leadership, customer care, food safety adherence, stock control and maintaining a clean, compliant café environment.

Qualifications

• Previous café or food service experience, ideally with a lead or senior role.
• Strong communication and people skills to lead a team.
• Level 2 Food Safety or willingness to complete it.
• Reliable, punctual and able to remain calm under pressure.
• Good numeracy and confident with cash handling and till systems.
• Flexibility to work weekends and bank holidays as rota requires.
• Right to work in Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support the team on each shift and monitor workload.
• Ensure warm greetings and prompt service to a high standard.
• Maintain HACCP and FSAI compliance and daily records.
• Assist with stock, ordering, and rotation; monitor waste and FIFO.
• Keep premises clean, tidy and presentable; uphold hygiene standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Customer service

Food safety

Cash handling

Numeracy

Flexibility

Education

Food safety Level 2

Tools

Till systems

Job description

Job Description

Business: The Pantry Café, Kilkenny, McDonagh Junction

Position: Café Supervisor

Reports to: Senior Supervisor

Contract: Full-time (hours to be agreed; includes weekends and some bank holidays)

Location: Kilkenny, Ireland

About The Role

About The Pantry Café

The Pantry Café is a welcoming, community-focused café serving freshly prepared food, quality coffee and friendly, efficient service. We are looking for a motivated, hands-on Supervisor to help lead our team and keep the standard of food, service and presentation consistently high.

Purpose of the Role

The Café Supervisor leads the team on shift, ensuring smooth daily operations, excellent customer experience and full compliance with food safety and health and safety standards. The Supervisor works alongside the team on the floor and acts as the first point of contact in the absence of the Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Lead, motivate and support the team on each shift, setting a positive example in standards and attitude.
• Allocate duties and stations at the start of each shift and monitor workload throughout service.
• Assist in the induction and on-the-job training of new team members.
• Give day-to-day feedback and flag any performance, attendance or conduct issues to the Manager.
• Assist with staff rosters, shift cover and holiday planning as directed.

Customer Service

• Ensure every customer is greeted warmly and served promptly, to a consistently high standard.
• Handle customer queries, feedback and complaints professionally, resolving issues on the spot where possible and escalating where necessary.
• Monitor the dining area for cleanliness, presentation and customer needs.
• Promote daily specials, seasonal items and in-house offers.

Food Safety, Health and Safety

• Ensure all food is prepared, stored, labelled and served in line with HACCP principles and the requirements of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
• Complete and sign off daily records, including opening and closing checklists, fridge and freezer temperature logs, cleaning schedules and delivery checks.
• Ensure correct allergen information is available and that all staff follow allergen procedures, in line with EU Food Information for Consumers (FIC) regulations.
• Maintain a safe working environment, report hazards or accidents promptly and follow fire safety and emergency procedures.
• Be fully prepared for inspections by the Environmental Health Officer (HSE).

Operations and Stock

• Carry out opening and closing procedures, including cash handling, till reconciliation and securing the premises.
• Assist with stock control, ordering and receiving deliveries, checking quantities and quality against orders.
• Help minimise waste and manage portion control and stock rotation (FIFO).
• Report equipment faults and maintenance issues promptly.
• Operate the till and card payment systems accurately and follow cash-handling procedures.

Standards and Presentation

• Ensure the café, counter, kitchen pass and toilets are clean and tidy at all times.
• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and uniform for self and team.
• Ensure food and drink are presented to the café's standards of quality and consistency.

Person Specification

Essential

• Previous experience in a café, restaurant or food service setting, ideally with some experience in a lead or senior role.
• Strong communication and people skills, with the confidence to lead a team.
• Good knowledge of food hygiene and safety practice; Level 2 Food Safety (or willingness to complete it) is required.
• Reliable, punctual and able to remain calm and organised under pressure.
• Good numeracy and confident with cash handling and till systems.
• Flexibility to work weekends, early starts and bank holidays as the rota requires.
• Right to work in Ireland.

Desirable

• Barista experience.
• Experience with stock ordering, rostering or basic admin.
• Occupational First Aid and manual handling certification.
• Experience of working in a busy, high-volume café.

Skills and Qualities

• Positive, friendly and approachable
• Leads by example
• Strong attention to detail
• Good problem-solving skills
• Team player with a hands-on approach
• Commitment to quality and customer satisfaction

The Pantry Café is an equal opportunities employer.