Cafe Manager

Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free coffee

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) eligibility after 90 days

Commuter benefits

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters in Arlington, VA, is seeking a Café Manager to lead our retail café and team. This hands-on leadership role is focused on owning day-to-day operations, coaching staff, and delivering an exceptional guest experience.

The right candidate will recruit, onboard, schedule, train, and develop the team while maintaining labor efficiency, inventory control, and high standards of hospitality and beverage quality.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 2 years of management experience leading teams.
• Retail or hospitality experience preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day café operation and be primary point of contact for the team.
• Build and coach a high-performing team with training and feedback.
• Recruit, onboard, schedule, and develop staff.
• Maintain hospitality, quality, cleanliness, and service speed.
• Own labor, inventory, and COGS; analyze data to improve outcomes.
• Plan seasonal initiatives and coordinate with vendors for repairs.
• Ensure staffing and proactive coverage for call-outs.
• Collaborate with Café Director to align with company priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Scheduling

Retail operations

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Square POS

Gusto payroll

Inventory management

Job description

At Commonwealth Joe, great coffee is only part of what makes a great café. The experience comes from the people behind the bar, the way we welcome customers, support one another, solve problems, and take pride in the details.

We’re looking for a Café Manager to lead our retail café and team. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who is proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking ownership. The Café Manager is responsible for the overall day‑to‑day performance of the café—from developing the team and delivering an exceptional guest experience to managing labor, inventory, sales, and operational standards.

The right person can lead from the floor while also thinking ahead. They notice what needs attention, take initiative, communicate clearly, and bring solutions forward.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the day‑to‑day café operation and serve as the primary point of contact for the café team.
• Build, coach, and develop a high‑performing team through clear expectations, regular feedback, training, recognition, and accountability.
• Lead café recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and ongoing employee development.
• Maintain a strong, visible leadership presence and model high standards for hospitality, beverage quality, cleanliness, professionalism, and speed of service.
• Ensure the café is appropriately staffed and proactively address call‑outs and unexpected staffing needs, stepping into café roles when necessary.
• Own key store performance metrics, including sales, labor, COGS, waste, shrink, and customer satisfaction.
• Manage labor through thoughtful scheduling, deployment, and active participation on the floor.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, product rotation, and waste to maintain appropriate stock levels and control COGS.
• Use reporting and operational data to identify trends, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
• Develop and maintain procedures, checklists, and systems that create consistency and accountability across shifts.
• Coordinate preventative equipment maintenance and work with vendors and contractors to address repairs in a timely manner.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve operations, team effectiveness, guest experience, and profitability—and bring forward thoughtful solutions.
• Plan ahead for seasonal launches, holidays, events, promotions, and other café initiatives.
• Partner with the Café Director and other teams to execute company priorities, engage the local community, and strengthen relationships with customers and neighboring businesses.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to perform all café roles as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Café Manager directly supervises all café employees and is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and performance of the retail team. This role carries full supervisory responsibility and is exercised in accordance with Commonwealth Joe policies and all applicable laws.

Responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and directing work; setting and evaluating performance expectations; coaching and developing team members; recognizing performance; administering corrective action when necessary; and addressing employee questions, concerns, and workplace issues in a fair and timely manner.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 2 years of management experience leading teams.
• Experience in retail, hospitality, or another service‑driven environment; café or coffee experience strongly preferred.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to coach, develop, and hold team members accountable.
• A proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset with strong judgment and follow‑through.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Comfort using data and reporting to understand performance and make operational decisions.High standards for quality, presentation, hospitality, and execution.
• Genuine interest in coffee, hospitality, people development, and creating an exceptional guest experience.
• ServSafe certification or ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe.
• Comfort using Square POS, scheduling, payroll, inventory, and productivity tools; experience with platforms such as Gusto is a plus.

COMPUTER & TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or similar productivity tools.
• Experience using point‑of‑sale (POS) systems and inventory management tools.
• Familiarity with employee scheduling and payroll platforms (e.g., Gusto) preferred.

PHYSICAL & OTHER DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role. These may include standing for extended periods; moving, pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, and twisting; and frequent talking and listening in a busy café environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & SCHEDULE EXPECTATIONS

This is a full‑time, fully in‑person position averaging approximately 40 hours per week, with an estimated 24–30 hours actively working on shift behind the bar. Remaining time is dedicated to scheduling, training, administrative responsibilities, planning, team development, and other management work.

Flexibility is an important part of this leadership position. The Café Manager must be able to respond to unforeseen operational needs, including staffing gaps, equipment or maintenance issues, and other situations requiring management support.

Starting Salary: $63,000, with a scheduled 90‑day performance review and salary increase.

Perks & Benefits of Joining Our Team:

• Free coffee (yes, you can try everything on the menu!)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance for team members consistently working 30+ hours per week.
• Paid time off—we value rest and work‑life balance.
• 401(k) eligibility after 90 days.
• Commuter benefits to help make getting to and from work easier.
• Voluntary benefits, including short‑term disability, accident insurance, and life insurance, for team members consistently working 30+ hours per week.
• Opportunities for growth

If you're looking for more than just a job and want to be part of a team that's passionate about coffee, hospitality, and building community, we'd love to hear from you!

Commonwealth Joe is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.