Cafe Manager — Lead People, Elevate Guest Experience

Panera Bread; Town of Riverhead (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

Flexible scheduling

Paid Time Off

401k with company match

Meal and cafe discounts

Dining perks across all our brands

Partner discounts (Verizon, Dell, gyms

Job summary

Panera Bread is seeking a Restaurant Manager to oversee daily cafe operations, develop future leaders, and ensure a welcoming guest experience. You will lead a high-performing team, uphold food safety standards, and drive sales while managing labor and costs. The role emphasizes community engagement and brand excellence.

The position offers a path for advancement within Panera and a focus on training and leadership development in a fast-paced cafe environment.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3+ years of restaurant or retail management experience.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and communication skills.
• Passion for guest service and team development.
• Ability to lead in a fast-paced environment.
• ServSafe Food certification a plus, training provided.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day cafe operations while ensuring a consistently warm and welcoming guest experience.
• Uphold Panera food quality, safety, and service standards.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Hire, train, coach, and develop a high performing cafe team.
• Foster a people-first culture built on respect, teamwork, and growth.
• Empower Assistant Managers, Shift Supervisors, and associates to succeed and advance.
• Drive sales, labor efficiency, and cost controls to meet business goals.
• Support financial performance through planning, execution, and accountability.
• Protect company assets and maintain strong operational controls.
• Represent Panera Bread within the local community.
• Support cafe marketing initiatives and guest engagement efforts.
• Live Panera mission of serving food with purpose every day.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Coaching

Customer service

Team development

Tools

POS systems

Scheduling software

Job description

Panera Bread is seeking a Restaurant Manager to oversee daily cafe operations, develop future leaders, and ensure a welcoming guest experience. You will lead a high-performing team, uphold food safety standards, and drive sales while managing labor and costs. The role emphasizes community engagement and brand excellence.

The position offers a path for advancement within Panera and a focus on training and leadership development in a fast-paced cafe environment.