At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a brand-new café, ensuring smooth operations and high standards.
- Company: Join Compass Group UK & Ireland, a leader in the food service industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, great perks, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique talents and perspectives.
- Why this job: Shape a new café experience and build a team from the ground up.
- Qualifications: Experience in café management or fast-paced food environments is essential.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 34000 £ per year.
Location: Sainsburys Crawley
Contract: Full-time
Employer: Compass Group UK & Ireland
Café Manager – Crawley £34,000 per annum • 5 out of 7 days • 40 hours per week
A brand-new café. A blank canvas. An opportunity to build something special from day one. Simple moments, made special. Great coffee. Freshly baked pastries. Proper food done well. Taste Café is about creating the small, everyday moments people genuinely look forward to — a quick coffee that turns into a catch‑up, a bite to eat that hits the spot, and a space that feels easy, comfortable, and just right. This is a new café opening within a busy retail environment — fast‑paced, full of energy, and with huge potential. From day one, it’s a place designed to feel local, welcoming, and worth coming back to.
The Role
This is a start-up opportunity within an established business. As Café Manager, you’ll play a key role in bringing a brand-new site to life — setting standards, building a team, and shaping how the café looks, feels, and operates from the very beginning. If you’ve managed a café, retail unit, or fast‑paced food operation before, this is your chance to truly make it your own. You’ll lead from the front, set the tone, and turn a brand-new café into a space people love — from the first morning coffee rush to the final close‑down of the day.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading the day‑to‑day running of a newly opened café, keeping everything smooth, organised and on point
- Recruiting, training and developing a strong team that delivers great service (and enjoys doing it)
- Setting and maintaining high standards across food, coffee and presentation
- Managing stock, performance and operational processes
- Creating a space that feels warm, relaxed and welcoming from day one
- Embedding consistency — because the little details matter
- Ensuring Health & Safety standards are always met and maintained
About You
If you’ve run a café, retail unit, or fast‑paced food environment, you’re well‑suited to this role — especially if you enjoy building teams and shaping operations. You’ll also be:
- A hands‑on leader who sets the pace and leads by example
- People‑focused — great with both your team and your customers
- Organised, proactive and calm under pressure
- Passionate about good food, great coffee and doing things properly
- Comfortable taking ownership and continuously improving performance
About Us
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive — because diversity is our strength!
Cafe Manager NEW One Retail Posted today £34,000 per year Crawley Operations employer: Chartwells Independent
Compass Group UK & Ireland is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to manage a brand-new café in Crawley, where you can shape the customer experience from the ground up. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive pay, and a vibrant work culture that celebrates diversity, you'll be part of a team that values your contributions and encourages you to thrive in your career. Join us to create memorable moments for our customers while enjoying great perks and unrivalled learning opportunities in one of the UK's largest businesses.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe Manager NEW One Retail Posted today £34,000 per year Crawley Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the café scene in Crawley! Visit local cafés, chat with managers, and understand what makes them tick. This will give you insights into what customers love and help you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend local events or join online groups related to café management. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect job or can offer valuable advice.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for coffee and food! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas on creating a welcoming café atmosphere. Let them see your vision for making their new café a hit!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe Manager NEW One Retail Posted today £34,000 per year Crawley Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your love for coffee and good food shine through! We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about creating a welcoming café experience.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects your experience in managing cafés or fast-paced food environments. Highlight specific achievements and how you've built teams or improved operations in the past — we love seeing those details!
Be Personable:In your cover letter, don’t be afraid to show a bit of your personality! We’re all about creating connections, so share why you’d be a great fit for our team and how you can contribute to making our new café a local favourite.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Compass Group!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells Independent
✨Know Your Café Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you research the café concept and the brand values of Compass Group. Understand what makes Taste Café unique and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to creating that welcoming atmosphere and high standards they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Café Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed a team, resolved conflicts, or improved service quality. Highlight your hands-on approach and how you inspire others to deliver great customer experiences.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Food and Coffee
Express your enthusiasm for good food and great coffee during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or knowledge about food trends, coffee brewing techniques, or customer service excellence that can help set the café apart in a busy retail environment.
✨Prepare Questions That Matter
Think of insightful questions to ask the interviewer about the café's vision, team dynamics, and operational challenges. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the café aligns with your career goals and values.
