Cafe Manager

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Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations! Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards - Best Places to Work, This is R/A !

Job Summary

As a Cafe Manager at the Employee Eatery at The Met Museum, you’ll play a key role in shaping a welcoming and high-quality dining experience for employees and guests. In this role, you’ll guide the front-of-house team, support daily operations, and help create a culture centered on hospitality, collaboration, and service excellence.

You’ll partner closely with culinary and operations teams to deliver consistent, thoughtful service while maintaining an organized, well-run dining environment. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys developing people, working in a dynamic setting, and contributing to a strong service culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and support front-of-house team members in delivering attentive, high-quality service
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, and ongoing training to build a confident and capable team
• Create and manage schedules, payroll processes, and daily administrative tasks to support efficient operations
• Monitor food and beverage costs by supporting inventory management, par levels, and resource planning
• Facilitate pre-shift meetings to align the team on daily priorities, service standards, and guest expectations
• Collaborate with culinary, operations, and support teams to ensure a seamless guest experience
• Manage reservations, seating plans, and station assignments to support service flow
• Develop and oversee side work assignments, ensuring completion and teamwork across roles
• Foster a clean, organized, and welcoming dining environment
• Respond to guest feedback with professionalism, empathy, and a focus on resolution
• Support planning and execution of special events or promotional initiatives when needed

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in hospitality, restaurant, or foodservice environments, with exposure to front-of-house operations
• Previous leadership or team coordination experience (formal or informal)
• Ability to coach, support, and develop team members in a positive and inclusive way
• Comfortable managing schedules, basic financial processes, and operational details
• Familiarity with POS systems, reservations platforms, or similar tools is helpful
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to stay organized and focused in a fast-paced environment
• Interest in fine dining or elevated service standards
• Experience supporting events, promotions, or guest programming
• Comfort working with basic business tools such as Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Commitment to delivering a high level of service and maintaining professional standards

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA

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.

Associates at Restaurant Associates are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• 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
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug-free workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.