Cafe Manager jobs in Brighton and Hove

Job Title: Shop Manager (Maternity/Fixed-Term Cover)

Open Bakery Queen's Park is a lovely small cafe located within Queen's Park, Brighton https://openbakery.co.uk/queens-park

It is part of a larger bakery and shop located in Kemptown village. Open Bakery is an award winning family business running for over 13 years.

Location: Queen's Park
Contract Type: Full-Time, Fixed-Term (11th January 2027 – 26th February 2028)

Hours: Approx. 40 hours per week (Shop open Monday – Saturday)

We are looking for a hands-on, organized, and energetic Shop Manager to lead our Queen’s Park retail team. In this role, you will oversee day-to-day operations, maintain our high standards of food and coffee quality, and manage a close-knit front-of-house team of approximately 5 staff members.This is a dynamic, multi-faceted position that blends team leadership, administrative management, and daily operational tasks—from visual merchandising to baking and stock transport.Key ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership & Operations

• Customer Excellence: Ensure an outstanding customer service experience is delivered consistently by yourself and your team.
• Staff Management: Create weekly staff rotas, arrange shift cover, and manage internal communication with other team leaders.
• Training & Development: Organize and deliver training for retail staff on general operations, opening/closing checklists, product knowledge, customer service, and till/money handling.
• Management Liaison: Work closely with the General Manager to report operational updates, communicate grievances, and recommend staff support or disciplinary procedures when necessary.
• Markets: support the market manager with occasionally going to markets to sell bread in various locations in Sussex and surrounding areas

Food Safety, Quality & Presentation

• Standards & Compliance: Oversee food safety standards and maintain accurate operational record-keeping for the shop.
• Coffee Quality: Maintain our high standards of quality and consistency for all coffee served.
• Baking & Merchandising: Bake croissants and a selection of prepared savoury items daily, ensuring appealing visual retail displays.

Logistics & Administration

• Financial Management: Handle daily cash, complete cashing-up procedures, and accurately maintain the shop's cash book.
• Communication: Monitor and respond professionally to shop emails and customer order enquiries.
• Logistics & Lifting: Drive our company electric van to transport stock from the main bakery to the Queen's Park shop. Assist with flour deliveries once or twice a week, and provide occasional cover for local markets.

Requirements & Experience

• Proven Leadership: Experience supervising or managing a team (ideally minimum 5 staff members) in a food, retail, or hospitality environment.
• Food Safety Knowledge: Familiarity with food safety regulations and digital or physical record-keeping.
• Valid Driver’s License: A clean, valid driving license is required to operate our company electric van. You must be a confident and careful driver
• Physical Fitness: Comfortable with hands-on tasks, including lifting flour deliveries, bread creates and managing market setups.
• Barista & Baking Skills: Experience with high-quality coffee service and light commercial baking is highly desirable.
• Strong Organization: Excellent communication skills, basic financial literacy (cash handling), and proficiency with email.

please apply with cover letter to bethan@openbakery.co.uk

Pay: £16.60 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 37.0 per week

Benefits:

• Company events
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food

Licence/Certification:

• drivers licence (required)

Work Location: In person