General Manager

General Manager | Skyway Coffee

Chicago, IL
Full-Time | Starting at $20/hour About Skyway Coffee

Skyway Coffee is a new neighborhood coffee shop opening in Chicago with a mission to create more than great coffee—we're creating a welcoming gathering place where exceptional service, quality beverages, and community come together.

We're looking for an experienced General Manager who is excited by the opportunity to help build something from the ground up. This is more than a management position. You'll work directly with the owner to shape the guest experience, develop the menu, establish operating systems, hire and train the team, and help create the culture that defines Skyway Coffee.

If you've ever wanted your ideas to matter and to help build a business from its very beginning, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

• Partner with the owner during pre-opening and opening-day preparations

• Help build and lead an outstanding hospitality team

• Hire employees with owner support

• Train, coach, and mentor staff

• Open and close the coffee shop

• Prepare espresso beverages and work alongside the team during service

• Maintain exceptional customer service and beverage quality

• Create schedules and assist with payroll administration

• Conduct employee performance reviews

• Manage inventory, ordering, and operational standards

• Ensure cleanliness, food safety, and equipment maintenance

• Help develop menu offerings and operational procedures

• Plan and participate in community events, private rentals, and special events

• Foster a positive, respectful, and service-focused workplace culture

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of coffee shop, café, or restaurant management experience

• Professional barista experience required

• Commercial espresso machine experience required

• Strong leadership and communication skills

• Excellent customer service and problem-solving abilities

• Dependable, organized, positive, and self-motivated

• Comfortable working both on the floor and behind the scenes

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting pay of $20/hour

• Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week)

• Paid Time Off

• Annual performance and compensation reviews during the first three years, with opportunities for merit-based pay increases

• One complimentary beverage each shift

• 10% employee discount

• Opportunity to help shape the menu, systems, and culture of a brand-new business

• Direct collaboration with the owner and meaningful input into business decisions

Schedule

Initial operating hours are expected to be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Weekend hours may be added as the business grows, and the General Manager should be flexible to support future operational needs.

Why Join Skyway Coffee?

We're looking for someone who wants to build a lasting neighborhood destination—not simply manage another shift. If you're passionate about hospitality, leadership, coffee, and community, you'll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact from day one.

To Apply

Please submit your resume along with a brief introduction telling us why you're interested in helping launch Skyway Coffee and what excites you most about building a new coffee shop.