Life Cafe Assistant Lead

Life Time Inc.; Montvale (NJ); On-site; USD 28,929 - 39,950; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully subsidized membership

Discounts on Life Time products and -‑

401(k) with company match

Training and professional development

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Life Time is seeking an Assistant Café Leader to support the Café Leader in delivering exceptional guest experiences and leading daily café operations.

The role requires 1–2 years of leadership in a fast-casual or café setting, with ServSafe Manager certification and CPR/AED certified. Benefits include full Life Time membership and health options for full-time staff.

Qualifications

• Passion for hospitality and guest engagement
• Ability to lead by example in a fast-paced café
• Experience with POS systems and inventory processes

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day café operations with hospitality and shift execution
• Coach and motivate team to deliver exceptional guest experiences
• Partner with Café Leader on labor, food costs, and financial performance
• Support hiring, onboarding, and development of team members
• Ensure food safety, cleanliness, and Life Time brand standards on every shift

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Coaching team

POS systems

Food handling

Inventory management

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Physical stamina

Education

High School Graduate or equivalent

Tools

POS systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant Café Leader supports the Café Leader in delivering exceptional guest experiences, leading daily operations, and developing a high-performing team. This role combines strong service leadership with operational know-how, ensuring the café runs smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with Life Time’s hospitality standards. From coaching team members to ensuring food quality and safety, the Assistant Café Leader sets the tone for service excellence while supporting business goals.

The Assistant Café Leader supports the Café Leader in delivering exceptional guest experiences, leading daily operations, and developing a high-performing team. This role combines strong service leadership with operational know-how, ensuring the café runs smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with Life Time’s hospitality standards. From coaching team members to ensuring food quality and safety, the Assistant Café Leader sets the tone for service excellence while supporting business goals.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Leads day-to-day café operations with a focus on hospitality, service standards, and shift execution
• Coaches, trains, and motivates team members to deliver exceptional guest experiences and meet performance expectations
• Partners with the Café Leader to manage labor, food costs, inventory, and overall financial performance
• Supports hiring, onboarding, and ongoing development of team members to create a strong, service-focused café culture
• Ensures all food safety, cleanliness, and Life Time brand standards are upheld on every shift

Position Requirements

• Strong passion for hospitality, guest engagement, and team leadership
• Ability to lead by example and coach others in a fast-paced café environment
• Experience working with POS systems, food handling, and inventory processes
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs repeatedly and perform physical tasks throughout shifts
• Strong communication and organizational skills

Education

• High School Graduate or equivalent

Years of Experience

• 1-2 years of leadership experience in a fast-casual or café setting

Licenses / Certifications / Registrations

• ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent
• ServSafe Alcohol Safety or equivalent (if applicable)
• CPR/AED certification

Preferred Requirements

• College degree in business, culinary arts, hospitality, or related field
• Knowledge of food costing, scheduling, and basic profit & loss analysis
• Experience leading team culture and driving sales through service
• Ability to develop and implement service recovery or upselling strategies
• Passion for creating a desirable, guest-centric café environment

Pay

This is an hourly position with wages starting at $21.50 and pays up to $28.75, based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

All team members receive the following benefits while working for Life Time:

• A fully subsidized membership
• Discounts on Life Time products and services
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company discretionary match (21 years of age and older)
• Training and professional development
• Paid sick leave where required by law

Full-time Team Members are eligible for additional benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• Short term and long term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Pre-tax flexible spending and dependent care plans
• Parental leave and adoption assistance
• Paid time off, including 5 to 20 vacation days per calendar year (based on tenure) and paid sick leave
• Deferred compensation plan, if the team member meets the required income threshold

Life Time is a place for everyone. As an organization, we are committed to an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace that respects and celebrates the unique contributions of each individual while ensuring we remain an equal opportunity employer that recruits, hires, trains and promotes based on merit and qualifications.