Home » News » JOB VACANCY: The Berin Centre – Community Cafe Manager
JOB VACANCY: The Berin Centre – Community Cafe Manager
March 19, 2025
Role summary
The Cafe Manager role is crucial in bringing our vision of a Community Cafe to life! We’re looking for someone with a special mix of hospitality know-how and experience, and a real heart for people and community-building. Someone who can make sure that the nuts and bolts of running a successful cafe are all in place, and who can’t resist the opportunity to really make change in the lives of individuals. Does this sound like you?!
After several years of planning, community involvement, and fundraising, we’re delighted to currently be in the process of constructing a new building which will become our Community Cafe. This brand new facility will offer a host of new services, including operating a cafe 3 days/week, and working alongside our Community and Family staff to provide a range of other groups, activities and classes. For more detail on our vision for this service, please watch our Explainer Video: Community Cafe Updates.
Job location (usual place of work): Based in The Berin Centre, Berinsfield. Occasional travel out of Berinsfield may be required.
Responsibilities
1. Cafe management
● Oversee all cafe operations on a day to day basis, and work with the Director to plan the longer-term vision for the cafe
● Source local suppliers and develop good working relationships, securing good value for money and ethical buying choices
● Create a welcoming, inclusive and friendly atmosphere for the cafe
● Establish systems for stock management to maintain adequate stock, high quality and minimise waste
● Ensure the cafe and its garden are maintained to a high, clean, tidy and safe standard at all times
● Be responsible for overall standards of record keeping, cleanliness, Health and Safety, and food hygiene, ensuring the cafe maintains a high Food Hygiene Rating
● Oversee the maintenance of kitchen and cafe equipment
● Work closely with the Cook to develop a varied menu of healthy, delicious and affordable food
● Lead on promotion of the cafe and its services, driving visits, engagement and sales, through social media and other channels
● Work closely with the Director to plan the launch of the cafe in 2025, in terms of operational planning, resourcing, and promotion/events
2. Service planning and delivery
● Work closely with the Family Services team and Community Services team to plan and deliver activities in the cafe space, such as cooking groups or events
● Identify opportunities for new activities and initiatives that would add value to the local community, such as workshops, training opportunities, or regular services
● Support and contribute to the planning and delivery of The Berin Centre-wide events, such as the annual Summer Celebration
● Engage with similar or complementary initiatives around the county for mutual support and learning, for example Good Food Oxfordshire
● Contribute to data collection and impact measurement processes
● Attend occasional meetings with key partners and funders
3. Staff and volunteer management
● Ensure adequate staffing
● On shift management of cafe staff and volunteers including efficient task allocation and behaviour management
● Ensure all staff and volunteers have all necessary training
● Recruit, train and manage volunteers to support the cafe operations, developing their skills, confidence and employment potential
● Provide regular supervision and annual PDPs to the Food Services team
● Facilitate regular Food Services team meetings to plan, reflect and learn, and to monitor the six monthly Action Plans
● Facilitate staff involvement in the ongoing development of The Berin Centre’s Food Services, supporting them to share ideas and proactively identify emerging needs
● Ensure positive, professional relationships with all beneficiaries are maintained by being understanding, purposeful, and consistent in approach
● Foster an ethos of support, transparency, professionalism and constructive challenge within the team
4. Finance
● Establish procedures for effective day-to-day financial management of the cafe, including cashing up systems and daily sales records, so that the cafe operates within budget
● Set pricing and examine margins to ensure a balance between affordability and profitability
● Oversee the commercial development of the cafe, identifying opportunities for income generation and bringing in new customers
● Regularly review supplier prices to ensure value for money
5. Personal responsibilities
● Ensure health and safety and safeguarding policies and procedures are followed, including carrying out practical risk assessments where needed
● Ensure that the Director is kept informed of all accidents, incidents, complaints and concerns, and support agreed actions as appropriate
Responsibilities of all Berin Centre employees
● Support the day-to-day running of The Berin Centre on occasion
● Ensure that The Berin Centre (including the cafe) is a welcoming, inclusive and nurturing environment for all
● Support the development of a culture of continuous improvement and user involvement; actively seeking opportunities to improve our services and to involve stakeholders in doing so
● Act at all times in a professional manner and positively promote The Berin Centre in all interactions
● Be accountable for own actions and practice, attending meetings, supervision, and development opportunities to ensure service excellence
● Manage individual workload and plan time effectively
Note: The post holder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description is subject to changes to meet the needs of the organisation, following discussion with the post holder.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to an enhanced criminal records check by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
We are a certified Oxford Living Wage employer.
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