About the Jikoni Group Founded in 2016 in Marylebone, Jikoni is a purpose-led restaurant and community-focused business founded on the belief that the purpose of a restaurant is to restore. We create warmth, generosity, and kindness through hospitality that transforms how people feel, drawing on multicultural culinary traditions and the wisdom of the maternal kitchen. Our approach, "Cooking Without Borders," celebrates diversity by sharing flavours, stories, and techniques from Asia, the Far East, India, the Middle East, and East Africa, bringing the nourishing, selfless essence of home-cooked meals to every guest.
Since our founding, Jikoni has grown steadily and has now opened a new all-day café and restaurant project with the new V&A East Museum in Stratford's Olympic Park. We are poised to expand to another vibrant new restaurant in Bloomsbury late 2026. These expansions will serve as the foundation for the Jikoni Group.
Why Join Us?
At our flagship site in Marylebone, Jikoni, we "cook without borders". Our food is a joyful celebration of maternal cooking, immigrant cuisine and pluralism. This includes a celebration of the rich culinary heritage of South Asia, the Far East, the Middle East, East Africa and Britain. As we grow, our core principles remain the same.
We are a restorative business committed to our team, our guests, our planet and wider community. As the UK's first independent Carbon Neutral certified restaurant, and with an exclusive partnership with a biodynamic farm, our commitment to social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
Jikoni has consistently been recognised among the UK's best restaurants, appearing in the top 7 restaurants in London on the Nordic 360 Eat Guide (2024), Timeout's Top 100 London Restaurants (2023), SquareMeal's Top 100 Restaurants (2022), Harden's Best 100 UK Restaurants (2019), and the National Restaurant Awards (2017). Jikoni is also currently featured in Condé Nast Traveller's Best Restaurants in London and Timeout's London's Best Cafés.
What we're looking for
We're looking for a passionate and talented Assistant Cafe Manager to join our team at Cafe Jikoni at the V&A East in Stratford's Olympic Park.
Emotional Skillset: You embody the qualities that define great hospitality: Kindness, Optimism, Self-Awareness, Curiosity, Integrity, and Empathy.
Experience: 1 years' experience as a Cafe Supervisor is preferred or any equivalent experience.
Values Alignment: You share our family values of Multiculturalism & Pluralism, Integrity, Hospitality & Seva (Selfless Service), Excellence, and Entrepreneurialism.
Leadership & Ambition: A desire and drive to build and shape new channels of the business, contribute to a positive and supportive culture and build a career with us.
Culinary Curiosity : A deep curiosity for our style of maternal cooking and immigrant cuisine and global flavours and a good base of coffee knowledge.
Key responsibilities
Oversee daily café operations to ensure smooth and efficient service
Lead, train, and supervise front-of-house and kitchen staff
Manage staff scheduling, performance, and payroll tracking
Deliver excellent customer service and handle customer feedback or complaints
Monitor stock levels, place orders, and manage supplier relationships
Control costs, manage budgets, and meet sales targets
Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety regulations
Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and brand consistency
Prepare reports on sales performance and operational metrics to present back to the senior team
What we offer
Career Progression: Opportunities for growth in a dynamic and progressive company and working directly with senior management and directors to grow your leadership, business and hospitality skills while contributing to business with a positive purpose.
Unique Training: Go beyond the kitchen with visits and hands-on training with our biodynamic farm partner and specialist producers.
Competitive Package and Team Benefits: Delicious and wholesome team meals, a 51% team discount at our restaurants upon passing probation, 28 days holiday, a company pension scheme and private health insurance plans for all team members.
Everyone Is Welcome
At Jikoni, one of our core values is Pluralism, the idea that celebrating both our similarities and differences make our community richer and stronger. We warmly encourage applications from women and people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. If this role speaks to you but you don't meet every requirement, we would still love to hear from you. Please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments or accommodations we can make during the hiring process.
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Assistant Cafe Manager in Bexley employer: Jikoni Ltd
At Jikoni, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values warmth, generosity, and community. Our vibrant work culture fosters creativity and inclusivity, offering employees opportunities for personal and professional growth in the heart of Marylebone. Join us to be part of a purpose-led team that not only serves delicious multicultural cuisine but also makes a meaningful impact on our guests and the community.
