Café Manager

Backhaus Café Manager Starting Salary $75,000 - $85,000, Depending upon experience Required qualifications to apply: Either a minimum of 2 years experience in a Backhaus shift lead position, or a minimum of 1 year managerial experience in a cafe, hospitality, or food setting. Position SummaryThe Café Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, hospitality standards, staff development, scheduling strategy, and operational excellence of the Backhaus Café Team. This role balances active floor leadership with structured operational management to ensure that Backhaus consistently delivers the highest level of customer experience, product quality, and team culture. Café Managers are culture carriers for the organization. They demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, and hospitality in every interaction with team members, customers, and leadership. They help shape the next generation of Backhaus leaders by developing strong shift leads and maintaining clear systems for communication, training, accountability, and performance development. Café Managers maintain a 60/40 balance of time (with seasonal variations): 60% on the floor supporting and supervising service and leading the team 40% managing operations, systems, communication, and staff development Core Leadership ExpectationsLead by ExampleConsistently demonstrate what it means to be a great team leader. Maintain a calm, focused, solution‑oriented presence during rushes and busy service periods. You are who team members look to during rushes as a beacon of being calm and collected. Work alongside your team in the FOH helping the team get through morning rushes and busy holidays.   Support shift leads by helping to reorganize positions during shifts when needed, run team huddles, as well as peel offs Inspire, encourage, and engage your team with positive support and excellent communication. Professional Standards for Backhaus ManagersMaintain a strong sense of responsibility for how Backhaus managers conduct themselves. Recognize when behavior, leadership style, or communication does not align with Backhaus values. Address concerns professionally with the manager involved when appropriate. Elevate important concerns to upper management when necessary. Do not play favorites and treat all team members equally. Assume good intentions and seek to understand team members' perspectives during conversations about behavior, scheduling needs, or job performance. Customer Experience & HospitalityThe Café Manager is fully accountable for the hospitality experience delivered by the Café Team. Responsibilities include: Develop strong relationships with customers and the local community. Continuously reevaluate systems in place to ensure Backhaus is offering the highest level of hospitality possible. Handle customer feedback, upset guests, and difficult situations during shifts as the primary point of resolution. Seek to understand what guests are truly looking for when addressing concerns. Respond to online feedback and customer correspondence through online reviews and email. Respond promptly and professionally to guest concerns including refunds or other concerns, or know when to manage up so that upper management can assist. Always look for ways to improve the Backhaus guest experience. Scheduling & Staffing LeadershipScheduling is one of the most important responsibilities of the Café Manager and directly impacts both team morale and operational success. Responsibilities include: Build and manage staff schedules intentionally and strategically. Play to your team’s strengths by scheduling strong shift leads throughout the week, especially on days when you are not scheduled. Ensure openings and closings are staffed by capable and trusted team members. Maintain strong shift coverage and address staffing gaps proactively. Hold team members accountable to their scheduled shifts and shift responsibility. Step in to cover shifts or portions of shifts when necessary. Managers should always err on the side of helping cover shifts rather than managing from the sidelines. Maintain clear visibility into scheduled hours per pay period through coordination and meetings with upper management. Ensure team members arrive on time, clock in properly, and receive breaks at appropriate times. Café Managers regularly meet with upper management to review: Shift coverage Seasonal scheduling adjustments Staffing levels Operational challenges Facility maintenance needs Team Leadership & Staff DevelopmentThe Café Manager is responsible for developing a strong, capable, and engaged team. Responsibilities include: Train new hires and retrain existing staff when standards are not being met. Host one‑on‑one orientation days for new hires including menu tastings and introduction to the Backhaus training documents with the support and coordination of upper management. Support promotions and development of team members so they can reach their full potential. Build and maintain a strong shift lead team capable of running excellent shifts. Lead regular coaching conversations with team members. Maintain written records of important conversations when appropriate. Issue disciplinary warnings when necessary and follow company processes. Annual Reviews & FeedbackConduct thoughtful annual performance reviews for team members. Assess team performance including service quality, hospitality, drink execution, and professionalism. Provide clear feedback on strengths and opportunities for improvement. Give proactive constructive feedback throughout the year. Approach feedback as a tool for growth and development. Operational ResponsibilitiesDaily OperationsSupport Team Leads and Shift Leads in leading the morning huddle before opening. Share updates about baking delays, special items, or operational information. Maintain strong communication with the Bread and Pastry teams. Communicate upcoming product launches, delays, or changes to the FOH team. Ensure end‑of‑shift responsibilities and side work are completed. Ensure the FOH space is clean, organized, and well maintained. Ordering & InventoryPlace orders to EPS for paper goods, cleaning products, and packaging materials. Monitor inventory levels and maintain appropriate stock levels. Place coffee orders 1–2 times per week with sufficient lead time. Monitor dairy ordering systems and ensure closers submit orders through Slack. Review closing inventory sheets and monitor product selling trends. Communicate trends to Bread and Pastry teams to support production planning. Administrative TasksApprove timesheets by the assigned deadline. Confirm usage of PTO and sick hours when applicable. Maintain organized operational documentation. Maintain consistent communication using Slack. Communication & Leadership Alignmentcafé Managers maintain strong communication across departments and with upper management. Responsibilities include: Maintain a consistent open channel of communication with the Pastry and Bread teams. Collaborate with department heads on holiday production planning and special orders. Host FOH team meetings to standardize operations and communicate updates, if necessary. Maintain weekly communication with Leads through "Café Notes”. Create clear written communication shared via Slack and in person. Follow up with team members to ensure communication is understood. Quality & Product StandardsBackhaus Café Managers maintain strong standards for product quality and service execution. Responsibilities include: Ensure the team consistently delivers the best possible product each day. Monitor drink quality and food presentation. Assess team members' performance in drink preparation and service. Continuously look for opportunities to improve systems that support quality. Coffee Program SupportThe café Manager works closely with the Coffee Trainer to maintain coffee quality standards. Responsibilities include: Support coffee bar training and education. Assist with hosting coffee bar tests. Ensure coffee standards are consistently executed by the team. Encourage staff knowledge of coffee and baked goods so they can answer guest questions confidently. Special Orders & Guest RequestsManage special order inquiries submitted through the Backhaus website. Respond promptly to guest inquiries. Print and distribute invoices to the correct departments. Ensure communication between FOH and production teams is clear. Culture & Continuous ImprovementBackhaus Café Managers are responsible for protecting and strengthening the culture of the organization. Responsibilities include: Uphold the expectations outlined in the Backhaus Culture Guide. Encourage collaboration between FOH and bakery teams. Maintain a fun, respectful, and hardworking environment. Encourage curiosity and improvement rather than complacency. Question systems that may no longer serve the business and propose thoughtful improvements. Café Managers are expected to always be asking: "How can we make the Backhaus experience even better for our guests and our team?" Key Performance AreasCafé Managers are evaluated on success in the following areas: Hospitality and customer experience Staff development and retention Scheduling effectiveness and shift coverage Operational organization and communication Product quality and service standards Leadership and culture building Collaboration with bakery production teams The Café Manager plays a critical role in ensuring Backhaus operates as a highly organized, hospitality‑focused, and team‑driven bakery where both staff and guests feel welcomed, supported, and proud to be part of the experience. Physical & Workplace RequirementsRegular and consistent attendance required, and expected to work on-site at the bakery/café. 40 + hour work weeks Ability to stand and move throughout the cafe/bakery for extended periods of time, typically up to eight (8) hours per shift.Ability to use hands and arms continuously for operational tasks such as preparing beverages, organizing product displays, assisting customers, and supporting the team during busy service periods.Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds, including boxes of product, dairy deliveries, coffee orders, and supply shipments.Ability to reach, bend, kneel, stoop, climb, and walk regularly throughout the shift.Ability to move items weighing up to 50 pounds for distances of up to approximately 20 feet.Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities, including busy service periods, holidays, and special events.Ability to interact professionally with team members, customers, vendors, and leadership for extended periods of time throughout the workday.Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.Ability to interpret and follow instructions and procedures provided in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.Ability to perform basic math and cash handling functions when necessary. Ability to visually assess product quality, cleanliness, and operational standards, including close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.Ability to work extended hours, weekends, holidays, or last-minute shift coverage as business needs require. Delivery Coverage & Driver ExpectationsAs part of the Backhaus leadership team, Cafe Managers may be called upon to support delivery operations, including covering scheduled driver shifts during staffing shortages, vacations, or operational needs. Cafe Managers will receive training to support this responsibility and must: Be comfortable operating the Backhaus delivery van when needed.Hold and maintain a valid California Driver’s License in good standing.Maintain a safe driving record and comply with all company vehicle policies and safety standards. This responsibility helps ensure that Backhaus maintains reliable product delivery and operational continuity across locations More detail about Backhaus, please visit

Created: 2026-04-09