Assistant Cafe Manager (Seattle - Floating)

Grand Central Bakery; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Grand Central Bakery is seeking an Assistant Café Manager to support multiple Seattle-area cafes. You will train and coach staff, run daily operations as a reliable PIC, and help ensure exceptional customer service and quality. This floating role requires flexibility to cover multiple locations and shifts.

You will lead by example, manage scheduling and payroll in the Café Manager's absence, and collaborate with product teams to uphold GCB standards while maintaining safety and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Valid Food Handler's Card.
• Regular attendance and punctuality.
• Two or more years’ experience in a café/restaurant/coffee shop.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams to deliver excellent customer service following the 3 steps to great service.
• Act as a visible, reliable leader and motivate the team.
• Assume Café Manager responsibilities during the Manager’s absence.
• Coach in the moment and provide timely feedback and training assessments.
• Troubleshoot across café operations and communicate with the team.
• Assist in hiring and train new café staff on menu, ingredients, POS and daily operations.
• Follow safety practices and maintain food safety compliance.
• Maintain knowledge of menu items and relay feedback to Product teams.
• Ensure accurate cash handling and proficient POS use; manage café admin tasks.

Skills

Customer service

English fluency

Team leadership

Attendance reliability

Tools

Serrated knife

Espresso machine

Point of Sale (POS)

Soup Warmer

Oven

Bread slicer

Dishwasher

Sandwich grill

Job description

This position is represented by United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW 3000) and is subject to terms of the Grand Central Bakery and UFCW 3000 collective bargaining agreement.

• Sandwich grill

Grand Central Bakery ignited a bread revolution in 1989 by introducing rustic artisan loaves to Northwest tables. Values are at the heart of our company and sustainability touches everything we do - from where we buy ingredients to how we care for our employees and invest in our communities.

A Certified B Corporation, Grand Central Bakery is part of a global movement of organizations using business as a force for good.

Job Summary

The Assistant Café Manager supports café operations and Grand Central Bakery’s mission to serve our customers delicious, authentic food made from high quality local and sustainable ingredients. The Assistant Café Manager is a leader in the café, supporting café operations through training, coaching, and efficiently running the day as a reliable Person-in-Charge (PIC). The Assistant Café Manager is adaptable; recognizes that change is necessary and has the ability to “roll with it.” The Assistant Café Manager supports the Café Manager by inspiring and motivating café team members to provide exceptional products and outstanding customer service. This is a floating Assistant Cafe Manager position and will support multiple cafes across the Seattle area.

Compensation

$25.51/hour (non-exempt, eligible for overtime).

• Tips average $9.00 - $11.00 per hour.

Supervision

This position reports to the Café Manager.

Specific requirements

Must be able to work Tues-Sat (Sun/Mon off).

Schedule Requirements

Must be able to work at least five (5) shifts per week, a variety of shifts including opening, mid, and closing shifts. Ability to work weekends and around holidays required. The Assistant Café Manager may be required to work extra days or at other café locations to meet business needs.

Essential Job Responsibilities

See the full Assistant Cafe Manager job description here.

• Leads teams in delivering excellent customer service - following and promoting the 3 steps to great service at all times.
• Serves as a visible and reliable leader with a positive presence and can effectively motivate the team to do their best work. Works in a way that can improve the cafe environment- takes initiative, contributes ideas, is solutions oriented.
• Is able and willing to assume the role and responsibilities of the Café Manager during the Café Manager’s absence.
• Supports the Café Manager with performance management by coaching in the moment and timely communication of coaching notes and training assessments with Cafe Manager. Adjusts personal communication style to effectively deliver coaching in a constructive manner and consistent with GCB expectations.
• Responsible for troubleshooting in all areas of café operations. Has a solid understanding of our organizational structure and who/what/where to go for problem solving.
• Communicates effectively and often with the café team to disseminate relevant information, as well as filter feedback and questions up to the Café Manager.
• Assists in the hiring process for new Café Team Members. Responsible for new hire and ongoing training on menu and ingredients, customer service, systems (POS, online ordering) and daily café operations. Utilizes checklists and training documents to become competent and proficient with the cafe systems. Adjusts personal training style to individuals in order deliver effective training.
• Follows and holds others accountable to safety best practices. Works to maintain a high level of food safety compliance.
• Is knowledgeable about menu items and regularly shares that knowledge with customers and team members. Ensures high quality food and maintains GCB standards by sending feedback and communication regularly to Product teams and quality checking items served to customers in the café.
• Is proficient in the Point-of-Sale (POS) system, adheres to proper cash handling procedures and standards with a high level of accuracy, and is able to troubleshoot common POS issues.
• Is proficient in café administrative functions including PARS, ordering, invoices, and inventory management.
• Understands and is able to meet café cost goals.
• Is able to manage daily scheduling, shift coverage, and complete payroll when the Café Manager is unavailable. Is able to make and serve all café products in a timely manner, including during busy times, while ensuring they meet GCB specifications.
• Consistently demonstrates a “pitches in” mentality and can be seen volunteering for duties and helping others. Stays thoughtfully busy at all times, regardless of customer flow.
• Maintains a clean cafe environment including bussing, washing dishes, and executing all necessary café cleaning tasks.
• Knows and acts in accordance with the mission, vision, and values of Grand Central Bakery in all parts of their job. Above all, sets the best example of behavior, work ethic, work quality, and safe work procedures.
• Works collaboratively with a team. As an active participant in setting company culture, disrupts behavior that is harassing, discriminatory, or otherwise harmful to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion by correcting and redirecting behavior in the moment.
• Follows all safety requirements, safety training, and instructions. Notifies manager of any potential hazards in the workplace, enters maintenance and safety tickets into FMX, and promptly reports all injuries, big or small, that are sustained while at work.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Ability to read, write, and speak English
• Valid Food Handler's Card at all times and follows health department guidelines at all times
• Must be able demonstrate regular attendance by coming to work on scheduled working days and being on time
• Basic math skills
• Two (2) or more years’ experience working in a café, restaurant, or coffee shop required. Leadership experience preferred.
• Ability to provide outstanding customer service at all times.
• Ability to work in a team environment with frequent interruptions, background noise, and changing tasks required.

Tools And Equipment Used

• Serrated knife
• Espresso machine
• Point of Sale (POS)
• Soup Warmer
• Oven
• Bread slicer
• Dishwasher
• Sandwich grill

Other Requirements And Work Environment

S: Seldom (1-10%)

O: Occasional (10-30%)

F: Frequent (30%-70%)

C: Constant (Over 70%)

N/A: Not Applicable

Requirement

Frequency

Requirement

Frequency

Pulling/Pushing

O – 50 lbs.

Climbing stairs or ladder

S

Lifting/carrying

O – 30 lbs.

Operating a Motor Vehicle

N/A

Reaching/working above shoulder

O

Handling/grasping

C

Walking

F

Repetitive hand/arm motions

C

Standing

F

Fine finger manipulation

C

Sitting

S

Seeing

C

Crouching/kneeling

S

Hearing

C

Crawling

S

Talking

C

Bending/twisting at waist

O

Social interactions

C

Noise

C

Interruptions

C

Other

This position works in a facility that produces food and constantly exposed to wheat flour dust and other grain dusts (rye, corn, oat).

Busy cafe environment with frequent interruptions, background noise, and changes throughout the workday.

It is understood that this does not constitute an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities of this position but is offered as a general guideline of minimum essential expectations involved in this position.