Cafe general manager

Job Description TITLE: Café Bakery ManagerDATE: 9/3/2026DEPARTMENT: OperationsFLSA STATUS: ExemptREPORTS TO: Owner/DirectorLABOR GRADE: SalaryAPPROVED BY: APPROVED DATE: Job Summary CSCA Café is a café and bakery in Cambridge, MA, run by the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Since opening in early 2025, it has become a favorite neighborhood gathering spot, offering exceptional coffee alongside pastries, specialty desserts, spreads, and syrups that are all made from scratch, in-house, by CSCA's culinary talent. We pride ourselves on providing top-notch service, the highest quality products, showcasing the work of CSCA's Professional students, and creating a community space where customers can relax and enjoy their favorite beverages and baked goods.
The Café Bakery Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the café bakery, leading a team of baristas, and partnering with our pastry chefs to ensure exceptional customer service, efficient operations, and high-quality product delivery. This role involves managing staff, scheduling, inventory, budgets, and maintaining a welcoming, spotless environment for customers.
To be successful in this role, you should have proven experience managing in a café, bakery, or restaurant setting. Ultimately, you will help increase profitability, boost customer engagement, and build a culture of hospitality that keeps CSCA Café the favorite neighborhood spot.Essential Duties and Responsibilities Own day-to-day café operations, Recruit, hire, onboard, and train baristas and support staff Lead, train, and develop a team of Shift Leads, Baristas, and support staff Build fiscally responsible schedules that keep the café sufficiently, yet efficiently covered, even when someone calls out Manage vendor relationships, ordering, and inventory — and keep waste in check Partner with our Executive Pastry Chef, Production Lead, and ownership on menu development and seasonal specials Work with your barista team to develop trendy and unique seasonal drink specials Monitor budgets and sales performance, and find smart ways to control costs Collaborate with the marketing team on promotions and events Keep the cafe spotless, welcoming, and up to health and safety code Turn customer feedback into action — and turn first-time visitors into regulars Create a culture of hospitality that is second to none Partner with CSCA's Academics and Student Life teams to support student learning opportunities as needed Requirements 3+ years of experience in cafe, bakery, or restaurant management (required: managerial experience in food or hospitality) Previous Hands-on experience with professional coffee equipment, Barista experience preferred A Serv Safe Food Manager certification (or equivalent) Strong organizational skills — able to juggle a rush, a delivery, and a scheduling gap all at once A genuine, customer-first attitude and leadership skills to bring a team along with you Comfort with MS Office High school diploma or GED required; a degree in Culinary/Pastry Arts, Business Administration, or Business Management is preferred Availability to work within café hours, including weekends and holidays The drive to do whatever it takes to succeed Physical Demands The ability to lift 25+ pounds and stand for long periods of time Work Environment This job operates in a retail/restaurant environment Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time, salaried position Work hours are 40+ hours per week Schedule based on operating hours and business needs Benefits Competitive, bonus-eligible salary Health, dental, and vision insurance Paid time off Employee discounts Real opportunities for professional growth