At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the launch and daily management of a new café and shop in a beautiful green space.
- Company: Join Earth Trust, an environmental charity dedicated to connecting people with nature.
- Benefits: Enjoy a vibrant work environment, flexible hours, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic setting with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape a unique visitor experience while promoting local and sustainable products.
- Qualifications: Experience in hospitality or retail, strong leadership skills, and a passion for the environment.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Help us launch a new café and shop at one of Oxfordshire's most loved green spaces. Earth Trust is launching a new café and shop at the foot of the Wittenham Clumps in September 2026, and we are looking for a practical, commercially minded and people-focused Café Manager to bring it to life. This is a rare opportunity to shape a brand-new visitor offer from the ground up. You'll create a welcoming grab-and-go café and small shop that reflects Earth Trust's values, celebrates local and sustainable products, and helps thousands of people enjoy their visit to this extraordinary landscape. The café will offer fresh, locally sourced, pre-prepared food and drink for walkers, families, school groups, event visitors and people spending time in nature.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys running a great day-to-day operation while also spotting opportunities to grow income, improve the customer experience and build something with real purpose.
About Earth Trust
Earth Trust is an environmental charity that cares for and helps people connect with green spaces across Oxfordshire and beyond. We champion accessible natural places, inspiring experiences and practical action for people and planet. Our work at the Wittenham Clumps and surrounding landscape welcomes visitors, families, schools, volunteers and communities throughout the year. The new café and shop will play an important role in helping people enjoy their visit and supporting Earth Trust's long-term financial sustainability.
About the role
As Café Manager, you will lead the launch and daily management of the café, shop and visitor welcome offer. You'll make sure the operation is:
- Welcoming and customer-focused
- Efficient and well organised
- Safe, clean and compliant
- Commercially effective
- Aligned with Earth Trust's values and visitor experience
The café is expected to serve around 30,000 customers a year as part of a 364-day visitor operation, with seasonal opening hours focused on daytime trade. You'll plan around weekends, bank holidays, school holidays, events, group visits, seasonal peaks and quieter periods.
Key responsibilities
You will:
- Lead the launch and day-to-day running of the café, shop and visitor welcome space.
- Manage opening, closing, service readiness, cleanliness, presentation and customer service standards.
- Create a warm, efficient and high-quality experience for visitors, families, schools, groups and event attendees.
- Supervise café staff, casual workers and seasonal team members.
- Prepare rotas and deploy staff effectively in line with visitor numbers, bookings, events and trading patterns.
- Train staff in customer service, till use, EPOS procedures, food hygiene, allergens, cleaning routines and safe working practices.
- Manage stock, ordering, deliveries, waste, pricing and product performance.
- Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene, allergen and health and safety standards.
- Use EPOS and sales data to monitor income, customer numbers, average spend, stock use and waste.
- Identify opportunities to improve the café and shop offer, increase income and support Earth Trust's wider visitor experience.
- Work with local and sustainable suppliers where appropriate.
- Support café provision for events, group visits and seasonal visitor activity.
About you
You'll bring strong hospitality or retail experience and a genuine interest in people, place and purpose. You may already be managing a café, catering outlet, visitor attraction café, events venue, retail team or similar customer-facing operation. You'll be confident working in a hands-on environment, leading a team, solving daily operational problems and keeping service standards high. You will have:
- Experience in café, catering, hospitality, retail, visitor attraction or events operations.
- Experience supervising or managing staff, including rotas, training and day-to-day support.
- Good understanding of stock control, ordering, waste management and cleaning routines.
- Confidence using tills, EPOS systems or sales reports.
- Strong customer service skills and the ability to create a welcoming experience.
- Commercial awareness, including income, average spend, cost control, waste and margin.
- Good knowledge of food safety, hygiene, allergens and safe working practices.
- The flexibility to work across a visitor operation that includes weekends, bank holidays and seasonal peaks.
- Experience developing menus, working with local suppliers, supporting events or operating in the not-for-profit sector would be an advantage.
Most importantly, you'll be practical, organised, values-led and excited by the opportunity to shape something new.
Additional information
The role will be based at the Earth Trust Centre, Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire. The café will operate as part of a 364-day visitor operation. Weekend, bank holiday and school holiday working will be required. Opening hours are expected to focus on daytime visitor trade. No regular foreign travel is required.
How to apply
Please send your CV and covering letter via our website. Your covering letter should explain why you are suitable for the role and what attracts you to this opportunity. Further details are available in the recruitment pack. Closing date: Sunday 14 June. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis as suitable candidates apply. This means the closing date may be brought forward if a suitable candidate is appointed.
Cafe Manager in Abingdon employer: Earth Trust
Earth Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead the launch of a new café and shop in one of Oxfordshire's most cherished green spaces. With a strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement, employees benefit from a supportive work culture that values personal growth and development, alongside the chance to make a meaningful impact on visitors' experiences in nature. Join us in creating a welcoming environment that celebrates local products while fostering a passion for the environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe Manager in Abingdon
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the Earth Trust vibe! Before you even step into that interview, dive into their mission and values. Show us how your passion for sustainability and community aligns with what they stand for. It’ll make you shine brighter than the rest!
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions and think about how your past experiences in hospitality can translate to this role. We want to hear about your hands-on leadership style and how you’ve tackled challenges in a café or retail setting.
✨Tip Number 3
Bring your ideas to the table! Think about how you can enhance the café experience for visitors. Whether it’s unique menu items or engaging events, we love candidates who can think outside the box and contribute to our vision.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the Earth Trust family. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe Manager in Abingdon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the café and its mission shine through. We want to see how much you care about creating a welcoming space that reflects Earth Trust's values.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in hospitality or retail. We’re looking for practical examples of how you've managed teams or improved customer experiences, so don’t hold back!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Be specific about what attracts you to this opportunity and how your skills align with our vision for the café.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application via our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Earth Trust.
How to prepare for a job interview at Earth Trust
✨Know Your Café and Community
Before the interview, do your homework on Earth Trust and its values. Understand their mission to connect people with green spaces and how the café fits into that vision. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to creating a welcoming environment that reflects these values.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Café Manager, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed staff in the past, including training, scheduling, and maintaining high service standards. Highlight your hands-on approach and ability to solve operational problems effectively.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to discuss your understanding of stock control, waste management, and pricing strategies. Share specific examples of how you've increased income or improved customer experience in previous roles. This will show that you have the commercial mindset needed for the role.
✨Engage with Local Suppliers
Since the café will focus on local and sustainable products, think about how you can build relationships with local suppliers. Bring ideas to the table about potential partnerships or menu items that celebrate the local community, which will demonstrate your commitment to Earth Trust's mission.
