At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Haven Café, ensuring a welcoming space and supporting volunteers' growth.
- Company: The Haven Centre, a community-focused café with a mission for inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, meaningful work, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a unique facility dedicated to supporting young people and families.
- Why this job: Shape a café that empowers young adults and fosters community spirit.
- Qualifications: Experience in food safety, mentoring, and barista skills preferred.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 32000 £ per year.
The Haven Centre is looking for a Café Manager to lead the day-to-day running of the Haven Café, a community café based within the centre in Inverness. This role is central to ensuring the café operates as a welcoming, well-run space for families, visitors and the wider community, while also supporting its wider purpose as a training and development environment for volunteers, including young adults with learning disabilities and additional support needs. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Café Manager will play an important role in developing the café as both a thriving community hub and a supportive, inclusive space for learning and growth.
What you will be doing:
- Leading the day-to-day running and supervision of the Haven Café
- Welcoming customers and delivering excellent customer service
- Opening and closing the café, including the use and maintenance of barista equipment
- Supervising, mentoring and training volunteers, including young adults with learning disabilities and additional support needs
- Providing tailored support and guidance to help volunteers build confidence and skills
- Developing and maintaining café menus, including allergen and dietary information
- Building and maintaining supplier relationships, placing orders and overseeing deliveries
- Operating the EPOS system, handling financial reconciliation and keeping accurate records
- Carrying out monthly stock checks and maintaining equipment inventories
- Overseeing cleaning schedules, COSHH procedures and risk assessments
- Ensuring compliance with Food Safety, Environmental Health, Health & Safety, safeguarding and risk management requirements
- Supporting food preparation and cooking when required, including involving young adults in a safe and supported way
- Working with ENF management and Trustees to develop the café, increase profitability and explore new opportunities such as external catering and supplier partnerships
- Coordinating training and placement opportunities for young adults with disabilities and complex needs
- Implementing quality assurance processes to maintain high standards across all areas of café operations
- Helping promote the café locally and through ENF social media channels
What we are looking for:
- Knowledge of Food Safety, Environmental Health and Health & Safety regulations
- Experience supervising, mentoring and training young people with learning disabilities or additional support needs
- Ability to operate a coffee machine and deliver high-quality barista service
- Confidence using an EPOS till and handling financial reconciliation
- Ability to develop menus with awareness of allergens and dietary requirements
- Strong organisational skills for stock management, inventory and supplier liaison
- Experience implementing cleaning schedules, COSHH procedures and risk assessments
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well with customers, volunteers, suppliers and Trustees
- Flexibility to support food preparation and cooking when required
- Patience, empathy and the ability to adapt tasks and training to individual needs
- Experience working with young people with disabilities or complex needs would be beneficial
- Experience in menu planning, external catering, budgeting, profitability or social media promotion would have advantages
Why work with us:
The Haven Café is part of the Haven Centre, a unique community facility run by the Elsie Normington Foundation. By joining the team, you will be helping shape a café that is not only a welcoming place for the public and centre users, but also an important space for inclusion, confidence-building and supported development for young adults with additional support needs. This is an opportunity to lead a community café with real purpose, while supporting the wider mission of the foundation and helping create meaningful opportunities for young people and families across the Highlands.
How to apply:
To apply, please email cafe@enfoundation.co.uk with your CV and covering letter, or call 07561 858302 for more information.
Café Manager in Inverness employer: Enfoundation
Contact Detail:
Enfoundation Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Café Manager in Inverness
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the café scene in Inverness! Visit local cafés, chat with staff, and understand what makes them tick. This will not only give you insights but also show your genuine interest when you meet the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your barista skills! If you’re not already a pro, spend some time learning how to operate a coffee machine and perfecting your latte art. It’s a great way to impress during interviews and shows you’re ready to jump in.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of food safety and health regulations. Being well-versed in these areas will not only boost your confidence but also demonstrate your commitment to running a safe and compliant café.
✨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 take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Café Manager in Inverness
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Personalised Cover Letter: When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor it specifically to the Café Manager role. Highlight your experience with food safety and mentoring young adults, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see your passion for community work shine through!
Showcase Your Relevant Experience: In your CV, focus on your previous roles that relate to café management or working with young people with disabilities. Use bullet points to clearly outline your responsibilities and achievements, so we can easily see how you fit into our team.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Avoid jargon and ensure your writing is easy to read. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences stand out without unnecessary fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. This way, we can keep track of your application better and ensure it reaches the right hands quickly. Don’t forget to double-check everything before hitting send!
How to prepare for a job interview at Enfoundation
✨Know Your Café Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with The Haven Café’s mission and values. Understand how it serves the community and supports young adults with learning disabilities. This will show your genuine interest in the role and help you connect your experience to their goals.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in supervising and mentoring young people, especially those with additional support needs. Share specific examples of how you've adapted your approach to meet individual needs, as this is crucial for the Café Manager role.
✨Demonstrate Your Barista Skills
If you have barista experience, be ready to talk about it! Highlight your ability to operate coffee machines and deliver excellent customer service. If you can, practice making a few drinks beforehand to feel confident discussing techniques during the interview.
✨Prepare Questions About Community Engagement
Think of thoughtful questions to ask about how the café engages with the local community and supports its volunteers. This shows that you’re not just interested in the job, but also in making a positive impact in the community, which aligns with the café's purpose.