Associate Manager

Au Bon Pain; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Quarterly bonuses

Pet insurance

401K

Vacation Time

Employee Referral Programs

Job summary

Au Bon Pain in Chicago is seeking an Associate Manager to support café operations and uphold service excellence. Responsibilities include leadership in providing a guest-first experience, assisting with financial management, and recruiting talent.

The ideal candidate has a BA/BS degree and at least one year of experience in the restaurant sector, alongside necessary certifications. This role involves significant teamwork and customer service.

Competitive salary with bonuses, health insurance, and additional perks are provided.

Qualifications

• 1+ year experience in a restaurant environment, preferably fast casual or full service.
• Experience in leading or directing teams as an assistant manager or shift supervisor.
• Strong computer skills necessary.

Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to Au Bon Pain guidelines and create a teamwork environment.
• Assist in financial objectives by controlling labor, food cost, and cash handling.
• Recruit, select, and train qualified team members to meet hospitality standards.
• Maintain sanitation and cleanliness standards during shifts.
• Conduct weekly inventory and manage food cost accuracy.
• Respond to guest needs and ensure satisfaction during peak periods.

Skills

Team Leadership

Financial Analysis

Sanitation Standards

Customer Service

Communication Skills

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

ServSafe Certification

Computer Skills

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Associate Manager contributes to Au Bon Pain’s success by ensuring our ‘Guest First’ service and café standards are met. The Associate Manager assists the General Manager with daily operating procedures, such as maintaining café operations, ensuring product quality, maximizing financial contributions, and supervising the development of the Shift Supervisors and hourly café team members.

Key Position Responsibilities

• Assists in providing leadership in the café by ensuring adherence to all Au Bon Pain guidelines and standards and by creating an environment that promotes teamwork and a guest‑first philosophy during the assigned shift.
• Assists in meeting the café financial objectives by analyzing variances, controlling labor, food cost and other financial controls; maintains the integrity of the safe, cash drawers and deposits during the assigned shift and notifies the General Manager of any anomalies with the cash; ensures the adherence to the Au Bon Pain cash handling policy by all crew members on the assigned shift.
• Assists in the recruitment, selection, training and development of qualified Shift Supervisors and hourly team members to maintain hospitality standards; performs performance counseling when necessary; ensures the proper deployment of labor for all shifts to adhere to the café labor budgets; directs and coaches the crew during the assigned shift to ensure effective communication of standards.
• Maintains proper sanitation and cleanliness standards during the assigned shift and ensures all team members are properly performing cleaning, sanitation and food safety routines; participates in audits by the Board of Health or other agencies as required.
• Assists with maintaining the integrity of the food cost management system; ensures the accuracy of all production entries during the assigned shift and participates in conducting the end of the week inventory.
• Ensures that the Au Bon Pain guest‑first philosophy is practiced by every team member during the assigned shift; responds to guest needs and coaches and directs the team to perform their duties to exceed guest expectations; assists in working stations during peak periods to ensure guest satisfaction.
• Performs all functions of the General Manager in his/her absence.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• A BA/BS degree is strongly preferred; a combination of practical experience and/or education will be considered as an alternative.
• A minimum of one year experience in a restaurant concept, preferably in a fast casual or full service environment is required with experience in leading or directing teams as an assistant manager or shift supervisor.
• Must be ServSafe certified, or will become certified within the first 90 days of employment.
• Must have had exposure to all dimensions of restaurant functions and have strong computer skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to maintain stationary position (e.g. standing) for extended periods of time – constantly.
• Ability to move around the café to attend needs of customers and staff – constantly.
• Ability to move, lift and handle equipment, supplies and other objects weighing up to 50 pounds – frequently.
• Ability to position self to move items weighing up to 50 pounds from floor to shelves and to cabinets above and below counter height – frequently.
• Ability to shift position in multiple directions and orientations to work all stations on the food preparation line (e.g. bending and twisting) – frequently.
• Ability to position self to reach items under counter height – frequently.
• Ability to tolerate exposure to commercial cleaning solvents – frequently.

Additional Information

• 5 day work weeks
• 7 week structured training program
• Competitive salary, weekly pay
• Quarterly bonuses
• Medical insurance / Dental insurance / Vision insurance
• Pet insurance
• Employee Referral Programs
• Vacation Time
• 401K
• Workplace banking and much, much more!