Café Manager (Full Time)

Explorefoodandfarm; Town of Plover (WI); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Medical benefits

401K plan

Employee discounts

Gym membership discount

Job summary

Food + Farm Exploration Center seeks an experienced Café Manager to lead daily cafe operations, balancing hands‑on service with strong leadership. You will supervise staff, ensure food safety, manage inventory and costs, and collaborate with the Culinary & Events Director on improving efficiency and guest experience.

The role requires ServSafe certification (or it must be obtained upon hire), plus Alcohol certification and a bartender license or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in restaurant or food service, including at least two in management.
• Experience leading daily kitchen and front‑of‑house operations.
• Experience supervising multiple employees in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience with staffing, labor, inventory, ordering, waste reduction, and food cost management.
• Strong understanding of health regulations and food safety.
• Experience with POS systems and cash handling.
• ServSafe certification required or obtained upon hire.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead a team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily café operations, including food and beverage preparation, kitchen workflow, service, and opening/closing procedures.
• Ensure consistent food quality, presentation, and service standards through standardized recipes and portions.
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, allergen management, and workplace safety standards across café operations.
• Manage inventory, ordering, product freshness and waste, monitor costs with the Director.
• Oversee kitchen cleanliness and equipment maintenance, coordinate repairs and replacements.
• Maintain operational records and communicate staffing, supply, equipment, and service concerns to the Director.
• Identify opportunities to improve café operations, staff efficiency, and guest satisfaction, and support special events.

Skills

Staff management

Food safety

Allergen management

POS systems

Cash handling

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Education

ServSafe Certification

ServSafe Alcohol Certification

Bartender License

Job description

Food + Farm Exploration Center (F+FEC), in partnership with Farming for the Future Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating current and future generations about agricultural innovation and sustainability. Located in Plover, Wisconsin, F+FEC aims to deepen the understanding of modern agriculture, promote agricultural literacy, and foster connections between farmers and consumers. By creating a space for learning and engagement, F+FEC provides an opportunity for people to explore the world of agriculture and better understand the origins of their food.

Position Overview

The Café Manager is a hands‑on working leader responsible for the daily front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house operations of the Colorful Plate Café. This position ensures safe, efficient, and consistent café operations by overseeing food preparation, kitchen readiness, guest service, sanitation, inventory management, and staff performance.

The Café Manager directly supervises café employees, including hiring, scheduling, training, and performance management. Balancing active participation in daily service with operational leadership, this position maintains high standards for food safety, product quality, customer hospitality, and team accountability. The Café Manager works in collaboration with the Culinary & Events Director to manage costs, maintain equipment, improve processes, and support the café's financial and operational goals.

Oversee daily café operations, including food and beverage preparation, kitchen workflow, customer service, and opening and closing procedures.

Ensure consistent food and beverage quality, presentation, and service standards through adherence to standardized recipes, portion sizes, and preparation techniques.

Maintain food safety, sanitation, allergen management, and workplace safety standards throughout café operations.

Manage inventory, ordering, product freshness and waste while working with the Culinary & Events Director to monitor food and labor costs and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.

Oversee kitchen cleanliness and equipment maintenance, coordinating repairs and replacements with the Culinary & Events Director.

Maintain required operational records and communicate staffing, supply, equipment, and service concerns to the Culinary & Events Director.

Identify opportunities to improve café operations, staff efficiency, and guest satisfaction, and support café services for special events as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• At least five years of restaurant or food service experience, including at least two years in management or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead daily kitchen and front-of-house operations while maintaining food quality, service standards, and operational efficiency.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing multiple employees in a fast‑paced food service environment.
• Experience with staff scheduling, labor management, inventory control, ordering, waste reduction, and food cost management.
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, allergen management, food handling, and applicable health regulations.
• Experience with POS systems and cash-handling procedures required.
• ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification required or must be obtained upon hire.
• ServSafe Alcohol certification and bartender license required or must be obtained upon hire.
• Strong organizational, problem‑solving, decision‑making, and process improvement skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, leadership, guests, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and maintain a professional and accountable team environment.

Physical Demands

• Able to stand and sit for long periods of time.
• Physical requirements include but are not limited to stooping, kneeling, bending, standing, squatting/crouching, crawling/kneeling, pushing/pulling, climbing (ladders), reaching above the shoulders, lifting of up to 50lbs.
• Weekend hours and occasional evening hours will be required.

Food + Farm Exploration Center Commitments

The annual salary range for this position starts at $42,000.

Paid time off (PTO)

Competitive medical and supplemental benefits are available after 60 days of employment

A 401K plan is offered following one year of employment

Complimentary employee membership and discounts (includes discount in our gift shop and at Colorful Plate Café)

Discounted gym membership at a local fitness facility.

Offers of employment are contingent upon results of thorough background check, drug screen, and reference checks

All inquiries about and interactions with candidates are kept in strict confidence

Food + Farm Exploration Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military.

Food + Farm Exploration Center is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in company policy and the way we do business at Food + Farm Exploration Center and is an important principle of sound business management.