Cafe General Manager

Cambridge School of Culinary Arts; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Growth opportunities

Job summary

CSCA Café in Cambridge, MA, seeks a Café Bakery Manager to oversee daily cafe bakery operations, lead baristas, and partner with pastry chefs to deliver high-quality products with exceptional service.

The role focuses on managing staff, scheduling, inventory, budgets, and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for customers.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of management in cafe, bakery, or restaurant settings.
• ServSafe Food Manager certification required; strong organizational skills expected.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day café operations and staffing
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and train baristas and support staff
• Lead and develop ateam of Shift Leads, Baristas, and support staff
• Create efficient schedules that cover shifts and minimize gaps
• Manage vendor relationships, inventory, and costs
• Collaborate on menu development with pastry team and ownership
• Develop seasonal drink specials with barista team
• Monitor budgets and sales, control costs in collaboration with marketing
• Maintain a spotless, welcoming cafe that meets health and safety codes
• Turn customer feedback into repeat visits and growth
• Support CSCA Academics and Student Life when needed

Skills

Cafe management

Barista experience

MS Office

Organizational skills

Leadership

Flexible schedule

Customer-first mindset

Drive and initiative

Education

High school diploma or GED

Culinary/Pastry or Business degree

ServSafe certification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Description TITLE: Café Bakery Manager DATE: 9/3/2026 DEPARTMENT: Operations FLSA STATUS: Exempt REPORTS TO: Owner/Director LABOR GRADE: Salary APPROVED BY: APPROVED DATE:

Job Summary

CSCA Café is a café and bakery in Cambridge, MA, run by the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Since opening in early 2025, it has become a favorite neighborhood gathering spot, offering exceptional coffee alongside pastries, specialty desserts, spreads, and syrups that are all made from scratch, in-house, by CSCA's culinary talent. We pride ourselves on providing top-notch service, the highest quality products, showcasing the work of CSCA's Professional students, and creating a community space where customers can relax and enjoy their favorite beverages and baked goods.

The Café Bakery Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the café bakery, leading a team of baristas, and partnering with our pastry chefs to ensure exceptional customer service, efficient operations, and high-quality product delivery. This role involves managing staff, scheduling, inventory, budgets, and maintaining a welcoming, spotless environment for customers.

To be successful in this role, you should have proven experience managing in a café, bakery, or restaurant setting. Ultimately, you will help increase profitability, boost customer engagement, and build a culture of hospitality that keeps CSCA Café the favorite neighborhood spot.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day café operations,
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and train baristas and support staff
• Lead, train, and develop ateam of Shift Leads, Baristas,and support staff
• Build fiscally responsible schedules that keep the café sufficiently, yet efficiently covered, even when someone calls out
• Manage vendor relationships, ordering, and inventory — and keep waste in check
• Partner with our Executive Pastry Chef, Production Lead, and ownership on menu development and seasonal specials
• Work with your barista team to develop trendy and unique seasonal drink specials
• Monitor budgets and sales performance, and find smart ways to control costsCollaborate with the marketing team on promotions and events
• Keep the cafe spotless, welcoming, and up to health and safety code
• Turn customer feedback into action — and turn first‑time visitors into regulars
• Create a culture of hospitality that is second to none
• Partner with CSCA's Academics and Student Life teams to support student learning opportunities as needed

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in cafe, bakery, or restaurant management (required: managerial experience in food or hospitality)
• Previous Hands-on experience with professional coffee equipment, Barista experience preferred
• A ServSafe Food Manager certification (or equivalent)
• Strong organizational skills — able to juggle a rush, a delivery, and a scheduling gap all at once
• A genuine, customer‑first attitude and leadership skills to bring a team along with you
• Comfort with MS Office
• High school diploma or GED required; a degree in Culinary/Pastry Arts, Business Administration, or Business Management is preferred
• Availability to work within café hours, including weekends and holidays
• The drive to do whatever it takes to succeed

Physical Demands

• The ability to lift 25+ pounds and stand for long periods of time

Work Environment

• This job operates in a retail/restaurant environment

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

• This is a full‑time, salaried position
• Work hours are 40+
• Schedule based on operating hours and business needs

Benefits

• Competitive, bonus‑eligible salary
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Employee discounts
• Real opportunities for professional growth