CAFE MANAGER

Bon Appétit Management Company; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Bon Appetit is seeking a Café Manager to lead the daily operations of a café, delivering exceptional dining experiences and upholding top food quality, service, and hospitality standards. This hands-on role emphasizes team development, financial performance, and compliance with safety standards.

Ideal candidates thrive in fast-paced environments, enjoy leading teams, and are passionate about guest satisfaction and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 1–3 years of food service or café management experience.
• Experience in high-volume corporate dining environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, cash handling, inventory management, and daily café operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and general computer applications.
• ServSafe or health department certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, train, and develop a team of food service associates to deliver excellent service.
• Oversee daily café operations for efficiency, quality, and standard execution.
• Plan and promote events and café initiatives to enhance guest experience.
• Monitor food quality, sanitation, and safety to meet standards.
• Manage inventory, labor, expenses, and cash handling while supporting budgets.
• Identify opportunities to improve operations and customer satisfaction.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment focused on teamwork.
• Build strong relationships with clients, guests, and internal partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Food safety knowledge

Cash handling

Inventory management

Cafe operations

Microsoft Office

ServSafe certification

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Bon Appetit

Salary: $75000 - $85000 /year

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Job Summary

The Café Manager is responsible for leading the daily operations of a café while delivering an exceptional dining experience for guests and maintaining the highest standards of food quality, service, and hospitality. This hands-on leadership role oversees team development, operational performance, financial results, and compliance with food safety and sanitation standards.

The ideal candidate is an energetic hospitality professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys leading teams, and is passionate about creating an outstanding guest experience while driving operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, train, and develop a team of food service associates to deliver exceptional customer service.
• Oversee the daily operation of the café, ensuring efficiency, quality, and consistent execution of company standards.
• Plan, promote, and execute special events, promotions, and café initiatives that enhance the guest experience.
• Monitor food quality, cleanliness, food safety, and sanitation to ensure compliance with all regulatory and company standards.
• Manage inventory, labor, operating expenses, and cash handling while supporting financial goals and budget expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment focused on teamwork, accountability, and hospitality.
• Build strong relationships with clients, guests, and internal partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• One to three years of food service, hospitality, or café management experience.
• Experience in corporate dining, restaurants, hotels, higher education, healthcare, military dining, or other high-volume food service environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, cash handling, inventory management, and daily café operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and general computer applications.
• ServSafe or Department of Health Food Safety Certification preferred.

Operational Expectations

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Demonstrate a hands-on leadership style with a commitment to operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and team development.
• Maintain a professional, positive presence while delivering exceptional hospitality and service every day.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

Bon Appetit

Darren Lee