Student CEO (SCEO) - PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Saxbys; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

A cafe chain in West Lafayette is seeking a Student CEO to lead the cafe operations while gaining valuable entrepreneurial experience. This full-time, seasonal position offers undergraduate students the chance to develop leadership skills, manage finances, and engage with the community. Ideal candidates are encouraged to have prior cafe experience and a strong commitment to the company's mission and values.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, professional, or volunteer settings.
• Experience in customer service, hospitality, or retail preferred.
• Ability to work 30–40 hours per week during cafe operating hours
• Experience in customer service or hospitality preferred
• Leadership experience in academic, professional, or volunteer settings

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of a Saxbys cafe operation.
• Build and lead a high-performing team.
• Drive cafe profitability through financial management.
• Represent Saxbys on campus and communicate brand values

Skills

Team Development

Financial Management

Community Leadership

Brand Representation

Adaptability

Recruiting

Education

Completed at least one year of undergraduate studies

Job description

Overview

Accepting applications for Spring 2026 and future semesters!

Reports to: Operations Lead

Classification: Full-time, seasonal

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Type: Hourly

Scope: 1 cafe

Location: In-person at assigned cafe

Job Summary

The Student CEO leads all aspects of a Saxbys cafe operation while gaining real-world entrepreneurial experience through Saxbys' Experiential Learning Platform. This role provides undergraduate students with ownership of a business while developing leadership skills across team development, community engagement, and financial management.

What You Will Own

• Team Development: Build and lead a high-performing team of peers through effective recruiting, training, coaching, and performance management to create a positive work environment that embodies Saxbys' values and culture.
• Community Leadership: Establish the cafe as a community cornerstone through exceptional hospitality, meaningful partnerships, and impactful initiatives that demonstrate Saxbys' commitment to making life better.
• Financial Management: Drive cafe profitability by managing sales growth, labor costs, inventory, and overall operational efficiency while maintaining Saxbys' high standards for product quality and guest experience.
• Brand Representation: Serve as the face of Saxbys on campus, effectively communicating the company's mission, values, and Experiential Learning Platform to stakeholders, guests, and potential team members.

Who You Will Support

• Operations Lead: Collaborate on strategic initiatives, provide regular updates on cafe performance, and implement feedback to continuously improve operations.
• Marketing Team: Generate content for social media, implement local marketing initiatives, and execute promotional campaigns to drive cafe awareness and sales.
• Recruiting Team: Assist in identifying, recruiting, and developing talent for both cafe positions and future Student CEO succession planning.

Who You Will Supervise

This position will supervise around 30 direct reports depending on the size of the cafe that semester

What Success Looks Like

• Cafe achieves or exceeds budgeted revenue targets
• Cafe operates at or above budgeted Net Operating Income
• 30%+ of cafe staff are developed into Team Leads
• Guest satisfaction metrics consistently above 4.5/5

Where You Excel

• Developer of Individual Contributors
• Master of Prioritization
• Adaptable to Change
• Autonomous Problem Solving

What You Have Done

• Completed at least one year of undergraduate studies
• Prior Saxbys cafe experience preferred
• Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, professional, or volunteer settings
• Experience in customer service, hospitality, or retail preferred

What is Required

• Support, exhibit, and promote Saxbys Mission and Core Values in all daily activities.
• Must be an undergraduate student of the partner organization in good academic standing
• Ability to work 30-40 hours per week during cafe operating hours
• Physical requirements:
• Able to stand, walk, and smile for extended periods of time
• Able to stoop and kneel
• Push, pull, lift or carry up to 35 lbs
• Ascend or descend ladders, stairs, ramps

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Saxbys's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the VE RAA, we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of outreach and positive recruitment efforts. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

• A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran entitled to compensation under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person discharged or released due to a service-connected disability.
• A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty.
• A "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition with an authorized badge.
• An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who participated in a United States military operation with an Armed Forces service medal.

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

OMB Control Number 1250-0005; Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities and to measure progress toward goals. Completion is voluntary and confidential. Your decision will not affect hiring.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor OFCCP website.