Cafe Manager

Tropical Smoothie Cafe; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Tropical Smoothie Café is seeking a dedicated Café Manager to lead day-to-day operations at our Charlotte location. As the brand ambassador, you will supervise front- and back-of-house teams, ensure guest satisfaction, and drive profitability with hands-on management.

The role requires at least 3 years of managerial experience in restaurant settings, strong coaching abilities, and a proven track record in controlling costs and boosting sales.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of managerial experience in restaurant or fast-casual settings.
• Track record of recruiting, hiring, and developing great teams.
• Experience growing sales and delivering excellent customer service.
• Proven ability to manage cost of goods and labor, with strong P&L and budget skills.
• Confident in driving operational excellence on both sides of the house.

Responsibilities

• Lead front-of-house and back-of-house operations, staying hands-on in every station.
• Recruit, hire, train, and develop Crew Members and Shift Leaders to maintain staffing.
• Coach and lead the team during shifts, upholding brand standards for hospitality, quality, and speed.
• Monitor sales growth and cost control against budget and historical performance.
• Manage labor, inventory, and par levels to meet staffing and sales needs.
• Execute marketing and promotional programs to build cafe sales.
• Ensure sanitation, safety, and appearance standards and ServSafe compliance.
• Maintain equipment and create a welcoming image for the cafe.

Skills

Restaurant management

Staff development

Customer service

P&L management

Operations leadership

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

This position is located at 9020 Albemarle Road Suite D Charlotte NC 28227.

Café Manager — Tropical Smoothie Café

At Tropical Smoothie Café, we inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies with a bit of tropical fun! We're looking for a megastar who embraces our belief that when you eat better, you feel better — someone with a fun, outgoing personality who welcomes every customer like family. Our team is built on four core values: Solid Relationships, Playing to Win, Creative Spirit, and Living Better. If you've got Tropitude (that's our mojo — positive energy that makes every shift better), we want you on our team!

As the brand ambassador for our café, the Café Manager wears the "owner's hat" — leading day-to-day operations, developing a crew that delivers unparalleled hospitality, and driving profitability through smart, hands-on management. This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves coaching people up, and takes real pride in running a tight, welcoming café.

What You'll Do:

• Lead front-of-house and back-of-house operations, staying hands-on in every station
• Recruit, hire, train, and develop Crew Members and Shift Leaders to keep the café fully and appropriately staffed
• Coach and lead your team during every shift, upholding brand standards for hospitality, quality, and speed of service
• Monitor sales growth and cost control against budget and historical performance to hit profit goals
• Manage labor, inventory, and par levels to meet staffing needs and sales strategy
• Execute marketing and promotional programs, and build café sales by cultivating relationships in the local business community
• Maintain all sanitation, safety, and appearance standards, ensuring ServSafe compliance and proper food handling
• Ensure equipment is in working order to keep the café running smoothly
• Create a professional, consistent, and welcoming image for the café and crew
• Jump in wherever needed — no task is beneath the owner's hat!

What We're Looking For:

• Minimum 3 years of managerial experience in restaurant or fast-casual settings
• A track record of recruiting, hiring, training, and developing great teams
• Experience growing sales and delivering excellent customer service
• Proven ability to manage cost of goods and labor, with strong P&L and budget skills
• Confidence driving operational excellence on both sides of the house
• A self-starter who can navigate ambiguity, make solid decisions, and problem-solve on the fly
• Basic computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• ServSafe Certification preferred
• Legally eligible to work in the U.S.

Physical Requirements:

• Continuous standing and walking throughout each shift
• Ability to bend, lift, and carry up to 25 lbs (stocking, ice, trash, etc.)
• Comfortable with constant face-to-face interaction in a fast-paced environment
• Able to multi-task and stay positive under pressure

Working Conditions:

• Expect a ~50-hour work week based on business needs
• Some early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, with opening/closing responsibilities
• A fun, fast-paced, upbeat environment — and no fryers!
• Comfortable with a high level of change and always leading with our core values

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a Fast Casual restaurant with a tropical twist. At Tropical Smoothie we inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies with a bit of tropical fun! It started on a beach in Florida. The calm gulf waters, friends enjoying games in the sand and a need for replenishment from the warm Florida sun. We started by blending fruits and vegetables together to create unique and refreshing smoothies. And customers lined up for our tasty creations. Then in 1997, we opened our first cafe in Tallahassee, Florida. Guests now had a place to sit and relax while we made their favorite smoothies. Two years later, we added a range of wholesome food options to complement our smoothies, all made fresh. We started as a destination for flavor, and it’s a proud heritage that we continue today. We are guided by a simple belief: when you eat better, you feel better. Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s menu boasts bold, flavorful smoothies with a healthy appeal, all made-to-order with quality ingredients. We find that real fruits, veggies and juices just taste better. Our toasted wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads and quesadillas are made to suit your individual tastes with quality meats, fresh produce and flavorful sauces. Combine that with a fun, relaxing atmosphere - and unparalleled hospitality - and you can see why people return again and again for the Tropical Smoothie Cafe experience. Our mission is to inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies…with a bit of tropical fun.