At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic café team, ensuring exceptional customer experiences and operational excellence.
- Company: Join Blank Street, the next big name in food and beverage, driven by passion and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy private health insurance, 25 days leave, free fitness classes, and exclusive perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while developing your leadership skills in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: 1+ years in hospitality management with strong communication and organisational skills.
- Other info: Be part of a fun culture with regular team events and opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Blank Street, we’re on a mission to become the defining food and beverage brand of our generation. From the very beginning, we’ve set out to add a spark to ordinary experiences through elevated products, attention-to-detail, and a commitment to making every moment memorable. We’re motivated by the millions of customers we serve across cities, and know that our potential is unlimited. It all starts with our people and their commitment to make magic happen each and every day.
As a General Manager, you take full ownership of your store experience. You are responsible for upholding standards through well-orchestrated shifts where you act as both host and taskmaster. You must be able to work independently, while also thriving in a team environment. We’re looking for dynamic leaders that will motivate and inspire our teams in the Cafes to fulfil and represent Blank Street’s goals and vision. We want our team to become part of the community’s infrastructure, serving customers with passion, care, and precision.
The right person for this role is a proven operator who takes pride in giving amazing hospitality experiences and influencing their team to do the same. You thrive for opportunities to serve your community and make a big local impact. You are customer-centric and believe in quality product through flawless execution. You empower your team to give customers exactly what they need, every day, in their way. You excel in high growth environments, thrive under pressure, are highly organised, and can handle competing priorities.
What You’ll Own
- Barista Hero
- Uphold and coach our standards every day, on every shift with every customer and barista.
- Lead from the front delivering elevated hospitality - spending time outside the bar to manage queues, recognise regulars and role model to your team.
- Set the pace of the shift, jumping in when it’s most needed to support your team and maintain high energy in every shift.
- People Leadership
- Own barista recruitment, and recruit only the highest potential talent across our four Barista Hero pillars.
- Upskill your team through hands-on coaching, Field trainer collaboration and specialised sessions, identifying future leaders with Operations Managers.
- Maintain standards through firm, fair and regular feedback. Address underperformance promptly with clear coaching and consequences.
- Recognise wins and outsized performance through genuine moments of recognition that motivate your team.
- Develop a connected and engaged team - by building a fun and welcoming work environment and organising thoughtful team events.
- PnL Owner
- Design each shift by station with precision, balancing labour productivity with store demand needs. Work with your OM to define area labour planning and hiring needs.
- Oversee inventory, ordering, and waste with precision. Manage POs, counts, and stock to ensure product availability whilst reducing waste.
- Identify and execute tactical levers to drive store sales, e.g., opening 2nd POS, labour changes for peak weeks, optimising workflow.
- Change Maker
- Lead rollout of HQ initiatives (SOPs, seasonal launches, tools). Land effectively both the “why” and “how” with your team - driving successful adoption and team enthusiasm.
- Track KPIs very closely (Mystery Shopper, Audits, Reviews) and take action to drive change swiftly.
- Combine team feedback to surface opportunities and develop a clear quarterly plan to drive continuous improvement.
- Take initiative to propose and test new ideas that can have an impact. Collaborate with your OM and HQ to pilot and refine solutions.
Who Are You
- 1+ years of experience leading operations in high-growth hospitality/consumer brands.
- Track record scaling and managing hospitality teams.
- Track record managing inventory and supply chain ordering.
- Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills.
- Hands-on and highly action-oriented.
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to perform under pressure and time constraints.
- Deep knowledge and interest in specialty coffee.
Benefits & Perks
- Private health and dental insurance.
- 25 days of annual leave (on top of bank holidays), along with an additional paid day a year ‘to start something extraordinary’.
- Access to 1Rebel off-peak classes at the sites near our office, for free.
- A salary sacrifice scheme to spend on Cycle to Work, bike subscriptions, pensions and medical.
- Exclusive access to our coveted Regulars program – yes, that means free coffee, matcha and more!
- Great culture with regular team events.
General Manager | West London employer: Blank Street
Contact Detail:
Blank Street Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager | West London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture before your interview. Check out their social media and website to see how they engage with customers and what values they promote. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your pitch! You want to be able to clearly communicate your experience and how it aligns with the role of General Manager. Think about specific examples where you've led a team or improved customer experiences, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn to get insider tips about the interview process and what it's really like to work at Blank Street. Plus, it shows initiative and can give you a leg up in the hiring process.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your excitement for the role can leave a lasting impression. It’s a simple way to stand out and show that you’re keen to join the Blank Street family.
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager | West London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how much you care about delivering amazing hospitality experiences and making a local impact.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure to customise your CV to highlight your relevant experience in high-growth hospitality environments. We love seeing how you've led teams and managed operations, so don’t hold back!
Be Authentic: We appreciate genuine applications. Share your personal stories and experiences that relate to our mission at Blank Street. This helps us get to know the real you and how you fit into our community.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to review your application and get you on the path to joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blank Street
✨Know the Brand Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Blank Street's mission and values. Understand their commitment to elevated experiences and how they engage with the community. This knowledge will help you connect your own experiences to their goals during the conversation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a General Manager, you'll need to inspire and motivate your team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in high-pressure environments. Highlight your ability to coach, recognise talent, and create a positive work culture that aligns with Blank Street’s vision.
✨Demonstrate Customer-Centric Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you prioritise customer experience. Share specific instances where you've gone above and beyond to meet customer needs or improve service quality. This will show that you understand the importance of hospitality in driving success.
✨Prepare for Operational Challenges
Think about the operational aspects of running a café, such as inventory management and staff scheduling. Be prepared to discuss how you would handle competing priorities and ensure smooth operations, especially during peak times. This will demonstrate your readiness for the role.