Cafe General Manager
Verveine Café & Bakery is built around thoughtful food, genuine hospitality, and a deep commitment to creating a space where both guests and team members feel connected, supported, and proud of the work being done. The kitchen is the foundation of that experience, and organization, consistency, and care are at the center of how we operate.
Scope & General Purpose: The General Manager is responsible for leading the daily operations, guest experience, team development, product execution, and overall business performance of Verveine Café & Bakery. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a bakery/café environment, enjoys both guest-facing hospitality and operational organization, and can manage the details that keep a small but growing café running smoothly.
The General Manager works closely with the Owner as well as BOH leadership team to support the success, growth, and identity of the café.
The General Manager is committed to the following job components, designed to create a meaningful, growth-oriented position:
- Act as the face of the café, leading the business with professionalism, integrity, warmth, and care
- Own the daily operations of the bakery/café, including service flow, product presentation, staffing, cleanliness, and guest experience
- Support business-focused decision-making by maintaining awareness of how labor, purchasing, product movement, waste, and daily operations influence the overall success of the group
- Cultivate meaningful relationships with staff, guests, vendors, and the management team that reflect the group’s identity, values, and hospitality standards
- Lead, coach, and hold team members accountable while supporting a positive, collaborative, and standards-driven work environment
- Recognize that the success of the café depends on strong communication, organization, consistency, and the ability to work well with team members of varying skill sets and experience levels
Schedule: Full-Time, varying schedule, across business hours, including mornings, weekends, holidays, and business needs as required
Management Structure: Reports to Ownership
Core Responsibilities:
- Oversee the daily operations of Verveine Café & Bakery, ensuring the business runs smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with company standards
- Identify and resolve operational issues in real time, escalating larger concerns to the appropriate leadership team members
- Ensure that daily checklists, cleaning standards, prep expectations, and service procedures are completed consistently
- Support the continued development of systems, standards, and routines that allow the café to grow with consistency and care
- Lead scheduling based on business needs, sales trends, and staffing levels
- Ensure accurate use of POS systems, cash handling procedures, discounts, comps, and transaction standards
- Maintain organized communication around daily operations, guest feedback, FOH inventory, FOH ordering, FOH staffing, and café needs
- Partner with HR and leadership on employee relations, documentation, performance management, and policy compliance as needed
Guest Experience & Hospitality
- Lead the guest experience with warmth, professionalism, and genuine hospitality
- Ensure guests receive friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient service at the counter and throughout the café
- Train the team on product knowledge, guest engagement, service standards, and thoughtful recommendations
- Maintain clean, well-stocked, organized, and visually inviting displays throughout the day
- Respond to guest feedback, concerns, and opportunities with professionalism and a solutions-oriented approach
Product Execution & Quality Control
- Oversee the preparation, packaging, labeling, display, and service of café, grab-and-go items, espresso, beverages, and other offerings
- Ensure all products are prepared, stored, rotated, and displayed according to company standards
- Monitor product quality, freshness, presentation, and consistency throughout the day
- Partner with the Ownership and BOH leadership team on product offerings, seasonal changes, and production needs
- Maintain clear communication around product shortages, quality concerns, guest requests, and menu/product feedback
- Ensure all food safety, sanitation, labeling, and storage standards are followed at all times
Financial & Systems Management
- Oversee financial performance of the café, managing daily reporting, cash handling, and payroll processes
- Support inventory processes for both FOH & BOH
- Collaborate on purchasing decisions and vendor relationships
- Support opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency
Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Lead, coach, train, and support the FOH team in daily service, prep, guest experience, and operational standards
- Set the tone for the team by modeling strong work habits, professionalism, urgency, organization, and hospitality
- Lead hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance feedback for café FOH team members
- Communicate regularly with leadership regarding staffing needs, performance concerns, training opportunities, and team morale
- Support a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment where team members understand expectations and feel supported
Requirements:
- Previous management experience in a café, market, quick-service, restaurant, bakery, retail food, or hospitality environment preferred
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, train, motivate, and hold team members accountable
- Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail
- Guest-focused mindset with warm, professional, and clear communication skills
- Comfortable working in both hands-on service and operational management capacities
- Basic understanding of food safety, sanitation, inventory, purchasing, and labor management
- A positive, upbeat, and energetic attitude with the ability to lead by example
- Comfortable standing/walking for 8+ hours and able to bend, push, pull, and/or lift 50 lbs.
The above job description is not intended to be all-inclusive may be amended at any time by management. The General Manager may be required to perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the business.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
Work Location: In person
