Head Café Manager: Elevate Coffee & Guest Experience

Wolf Coffee; Arrowtown; On-site; NZD 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolf Coffee Roasters in Arrowtown, Otago, is seeking an experienced Café Manager to lead the café team, uphold coffee and hospitality standards, and drive day-to-day operations with ownership and pride.

You will focus on leadership, people development, and high-standard service, ensuring every shift delivers memorable guest experiences while maintaining efficiency and profitability across all cafe processes.

Qualifications

• Has proven experience leading a café or hospitality team.
• Is confident managing people, performance and accountability.
• Enjoys developing people and building a strong team culture.
• Is highly organised, proactive and good at keeping things moving.
• Has high standards and takes pride in the details.
• Understands specialty coffee and what great coffee service looks like.
• Is calm and composed in a busy, fast-moving environment.
• Has a practical approach to problem-solving and improving the way things are done.
• Is comfortable jumping on the floor when required to make coffees, serve customers and support the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead, roster and coach the café team day to day.
• Own hiring, onboarding and development of café staff.
• Provide regular feedback, support and 1-on-1s.
• Manage performance, conduct and team issues directly and fairly.
• Set clear expectations and hold the team accountable.
• Build a positive culture based on ownership, pride and high standards.
• Develop your team and help people reach their potential.
• Ensure Wolf coffee standards are consistently delivered across every shift.
• Work closely with the Coffee Training Lead to ensure training and technical expectations are met.
• Maintain high standards for dial-in, extraction, milk texture and brewing.
• Run regular quality checks and tastings.
• Build the team’s coffee and product knowledge.
• Work closely with the Head Roaster on new releases, single origins and quality feedback.
• Own the Wolf guest experience from Welcome through to Departure.
• Ensure every guest is acknowledged, looked after and made to feel welcome.
• Set the standard for hospitality, not merely service.

Skills

Cafe leadership

People management

Organised

Proactive problem-solving

Specialty coffee knowledge

High standards

Calm under pressure

Job description

Wolf Coffee Roasters in Arrowtown, Otago, is seeking an experienced Café Manager to lead the café team, uphold coffee and hospitality standards, and drive day-to-day operations with ownership and pride.

You will focus on leadership, people development, and high-standard service, ensuring every shift delivers memorable guest experiences while maintaining efficiency and profitability across all cafe processes.