Cafe Operations Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Salary:  87,000-90,000

Other Forms of Compensation:

 

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

The Café Manager is responsible for leading the daily operations of a high-volume corporate dining program with approximately $8 million in annual managed volume. This position provides operational oversight for the primary café and supports broader dining complex operations, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, operational excellence, food safety compliance, and financial stewardship.

The Café Manager serves as a hands-on leader, overseeing a team of approximately 8-10 associates while partnering closely with culinary, hospitality, and micro-kitchen teams to deliver a seamless customer experience. This role is responsible for staffing, scheduling, team development, operational execution, and maintaining high standards across all aspects of the dining program. The schedule is primarily Monday through Friday, with flexibility required based on business needs.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

• Lead day-to-day café operations, ensuring an exceptional hospitality-driven guest experience and consistent execution of service standards.
• Provide operational oversight for the dining complex, collaborating with culinary, hospitality, and micro-kitchen leadership teams to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Hire, train, coach, develop, and motivate associates while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Create and manage hourly employee schedules to ensure appropriate staffing levels that support business demands and labor targets.
• Coordinate temporary staffing needs and maintain relationships with staffing partners to address operational requirements.
• Supervise and direct associates throughout each shift, ensuring productivity expectations are met and assigning meaningful tasks during non-peak business periods.
• Review and approve employee timecards, payroll records, and paid time-off requests in accordance with company policies.
• Lead daily operational and menu meetings to align teams on service expectations, menu offerings, and business priorities.
• Partner with culinary leadership to execute promotions, themed events, and special programs that enhance guest engagement and drive participation.
• Monitor operational performance, labor metrics, and financial results, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, guest satisfaction, and overall performance.
• Maintain digital HACCP records and ensure full compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations.
• Review daily food waste reporting through Leanpath and collaborate with culinary teams to identify waste reduction opportunities and support sustainability initiatives.
• Oversee cash handling procedures, point-of-sale operations, inventory controls, and routine operational reporting.
• Build strong relationships with clients, guests, and internal stakeholders while proactively responding to feedback and business needs.
• Ensure all company, safety, and regulatory standards are consistently maintained.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and food service management experience.
• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience within corporate dining, hospitality, restaurant, hotel, healthcare, higher education, or related food service environments.
• Proven success managing teams in a high-volume food service operation.
• Experience with labor scheduling, workforce planning, payroll administration, and employee performance management.
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP programs, sanitation standards, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage operational and financial performance, including labor controls, budgeting, and cost management.
• Experience coordinating with multiple operational stakeholders in a complex dining environment.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and operational reporting systems.
• Experience with digital food safety platforms, scheduling systems, and waste-management tools preferred.
• ServSafe Certification and/or Department of Health Certification preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, typically Monday through Friday, with hours aligned to business needs.

Apply to Bon Appetit today!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Associates at Bon Appetit  are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

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Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer.  At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details:

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID: 1587146

Bon Appetit 

BRYAN GONI