At Wayfarer Coffee Roasters, we believe great coffee is only part of what makes a cafe special. It’s the people, the hospitality, the consistency, and the feeling customers have when they walk through the door.
We’re looking for an experienced, organized, and people-focused Cafe Operations Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day operations across our two year-round Specialty Coffee cafes and new seasonal cafe, open May–October.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys being in the cafes, working alongside their teams, solving problems, and finding ways to make the business better. The Cafe Operations Manager will work closely with ownership and cafe leadership to ensure all three locations are well staffed, well run, financially healthy, and delivering the level of coffee, food, and hospitality that our guests have come to expect from Wayfarer.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the daily operations of all three Wayfarer cafe locations
- Lead, coach, and support cafe team leads and their teams
- Build a culture of hospitality, accountability, teamwork, and pride in our cafes
- Ensure consistency in customer service, coffee and food quality, cleanliness, and Wayfarer brand standards across all locations
- Manage and monitor food and beverage costs, including purchasing, waste, portion control, inventory, and pricing
- Manage labor and payroll, including scheduling, staffing levels, overtime, and labor-cost targets
- Review sales, labor, food cost, and other key performance metrics and use that information to make thoughtful business decisions
- Partner with cafe managers to create effective schedules that reflect sales volume, seasonality, staffing needs, and the guest experience
- Monitor inventory and ordering to maintain appropriate stock while minimizing waste and unnecessary expense
- Develop, improve, and implement operational systems and procedures across all three cafes
- Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and ongoing employee development
- Regularly visit each location and stay connected to the teams, identifying opportunities and addressing challenges quickly
- Help develop and execute promotions, seasonal offerings, and other initiatives that grow sales and strengthen the Wayfarer experience
- Ensure compliance with food safety, health, and workplace standards
- Communicate regularly with ownership regarding sales, staffing, financial performance, operational needs, and opportunities for growth
- Be present during key business periods, withmornings and weekends being an important part of the role
- Jump in wherever needed—from supporting a busy bar to helping a team navigate a challenging shift
- Continually look for ways to make our cafes more efficient, welcoming, and enjoyable places to work and visit
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who understands that successful cafe operations are about both people and numbers.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Previous experience managing a cafe, restaurant, or multi-unit food-service operation
- A strong understanding of food cost, labor cost, inventory, and profitability
- Experience with payroll, scheduling, and staffing
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Excellent organization and follow-through
- Comfort working with numbers, financial reports, and operational metrics
- The ability to balance the needs of guests, employees, and the business
- A hands-on management style and willingness to work alongside the team
- A genuine passion for hospitality, Specialty Coffee, food, and creating memorable customer experiences
- The ability to build trust with teams while maintaining clear expectations and accountability
- A mindset of continuous improvement and a willingness to take ownership
Most importantly, we're looking for someone who cares. Someone who notices the little things, takes pride in the details, supports their team, and wants to help build something meaningful with Wayfarer.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means our three cafes feel like Wayfarer—regardless of which location a guest visits.
Our teams are supported, engaged, and held to clear standards. Our cafes are organized and running smoothly. Our customers receive warm, consistent hospitality and an excellent coffee and food experience. Our costs are controlled, our labor is managed thoughtfully, and our locations are profitable.
The right person will take ownership of the operation without losing sight of the people who make it work. They will develop strong team leads, create consistency across locations, identify opportunities before they become problems, and continually look for ways to make Wayfarer better.
This is an opportunity to play an important role in the continued growth of Wayfarer Coffee Roasters, with the potential to grow alongside the company as we increase revenue and add additional cafes.
Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
