Cafe Manager - CHI - Gold Coast

La Colombe Coffee Workshop; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading coffee company is seeking a Cafe Manager for their Gold Coast location in Chicago. The role involves building a strong team, ensuring beverage quality, and fostering a welcoming environment for guests. The ideal candidate will have significant food service and management experience, along with a passion for customer service and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 3 years of food service experience.
• Minimum 2 years of management experience.

Responsibilities

• Build team engagement and maintain trust.
• Ensure beverage quality and coach baristas.
• Follow health and safety protocols.

Skills

People Skills

Ownership

Job description

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Summary

The Cafe Manager builds a healthy business and a healthy culture within their cafes. Ensures the operational needs of the cafe are met, while also supporting and providing leadership to the team members of the cafe. Enjoys working in a fast-paced café environment and can effectively work under pressure. In this role, they will work with and develop a team of baristas to provide the exceptional customer service and quality coffee experience that La Colombe has built its reputation on. The La Colombe Cafe Manager possesses a high sense of responsibility, quality, ethics, and integrity.

Responsibilities

1. PEOPLE & CULTURE: Build team and maintain engagement by providing excellent employee experience. Communicate proactively, professionally, and positively with the team and guests. Follow up consistently to build and maintain trust. Demonstrate compassion and care in relationships with teams while setting clear expectations and accountabilities. Confront, diffuse, and resolve difficult situations in a proactive, objective, and solution-oriented manner. Coach team to meet standards, perform well, and treat one another respectfully.
2. BEVERAGE QUALITY: Ensure teams consistently meet drink standards and serve beverages in a timely manner. Coach baristas to improve drink preparation skills. Work with other Cafe Managers, Lead Baristas, and Technical Department to achieve quality control from a technical perspective (brewing devices, water quality, TDS measurements, etc.). Schedule regular cuppings to promote coffee knowledge. Collaborate with market trainers to ensure all employees are bar trained to La Colombe’s beverage standards.
3. HEALTH & SAFETY: Follow all safety protocols, even when not present. Report and address safety, harassment, injuries, or other issues immediately. Complete Monthly Health Inspection Checklist and maintain food service manager health certificate. Create relevant checklists for cafe maintenance and wellbeing.
4. HOSPITALITY: Foster an environment passionate about hospitality. Educate baristas about La Colombe’s mission, culture, and coffee stories. Build genuine relationships with guests, communicate warmly, and seek engagement opportunities. Deliver timely, professional, and knowledgeable service to exceed guest expectations.
5. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: Curate the La Colombe experience in the cafe thoughtfully. Develop strategies for business growth, including local partnerships and product displays. Manage labor schedules efficiently, handle payroll and admin tasks accurately, and oversee sales and costs to build sales and control expenses.

Requirements

• Food Service: 3 years of food service experience
• Management: Minimum 2 years of management experience
• People Skills: Proactive, professional, and positive interaction with the public and team
• Ownership: Initiative, pride in business, and CARES mindset