Restaurant Assistant Leader

Life Time Inc.; Westfield (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Life Time Inc. is seeking an Assistant Café Leader to support the Café Leader in delivering outstanding guest experiences and managing daily operations. You will coach a high-performing team, uphold food safety and quality standards, and help drive labor and cost control in a fast-paced café setting.

You will play a pivotal role in hiring, onboarding, and developing staff while sustaining a guest-centric culture and Life Time hospitality excellence across all shifts.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 1–2 years of leadership experience in a fast-casual or café setting.
• ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent.
• ServSafe Alcohol Safety certification or equivalent (if applicable).
• CPR/AED certification.
• Experience working with POS systems and basic inventory processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day café operations with focus on hospitality and shift execution.
• Coach, train, and motivate team members to deliver exceptional guest experiences and meet performance expectations.
• Partner with Café Leader to manage labor, food costs, inventory and financial performance.
• Support hiring, onboarding and development of team members to foster a service-focused café culture.
• Ensure food safety, cleanliness and Life Time brand standards on every shift.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Guest engagement

Team leadership

Coaching and training

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Shift execution

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

ServSafe Manager certification

CPR/AED certification

ServSafe Alcohol Safety certification

College degree in business/culinary/hospitality

Tools

POS systems

Inventory processes

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.

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

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.