Retail & Cafe Manager - Nineteen38 Coffee at Morton House in Luton

Position: Retail & Café Manager (part‑time, permanent).

Location: Nineteen38 Coffee, Morton House, 21 Kimpton Road, Luton LU2 0LA.

Hours: 30 hours per week (5 shifts of 7 hours) including Bank Holidays, Monday to Friday with weekend rotation.

Hourly pay: £13.49 (equivalent to £24,552 per annum, full time).

About the Retail & Cafe Manager Role

Nineteen38 Coffee™ powered by Royal Voluntary Service is part of the community’s fabric and offers a variety of drinks and healthy food. The manager will oversee the day‑to‑day operation of the busy Café at Morton House, ensuring high store standards and excellent customer service. The role involves leading, developing and managing a team to meet KPIs and ensuring all policies and procedures are followed consistently.

What You’ll Bring

• Deliver excellent, friendly, and helpful customer service
• Maximise overall customer experience
• Lead, develop, and manage a team to meet targets
• Ensure all policies and procedures are consistently followed
• Demonstrate strong communication with customers and team members
• Use organisational skills to manage tasks and resources effectively
• Utilise IT systems (e.g. Microsoft Office, email) for admin tasks
• Motivate and guide team members through effective leadership

Job Requirements

• Proven leadership and people management with motivational skills
• Previous experience in a barista/café environment and managing people
• Remain calm and professional in a fast‑paced environment
• Deliver excellent customer service
• Knowledge of EPOS systems
• Knowledge of Food Safety & Health & Safety procedures
• Excellent communication skills
• Work well within a team and independently as needed
• Skilled at organising, delegating, and prioritising
• Flexible to the needs of the business and able to attend out‑of‑hours training if required
• Knowledge and experience of general administrative processes
• Experience with email and internet for basic tasks
• Proficient in the use of IT systems, e.g. Microsoft Office and email

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of Nineteen38 Coffee™ operations, including stock control, staffing, and day‑to‑day running.
• Deliver against agreed Profit and Loss (P&L) targets by monitoring performance and adjusting costs.
• Maintain exceptional café standards, ensuring a safe, clean and organised environment while providing excellent customer service.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory and organisational standards, including Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, Data Protection and financial controls.
• Lead by example to create a positive and inclusive environment for both employees and volunteers.
• Motivate, engage and support the team through clear communication and effective leadership.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and training to ensure adherence to policies and delivery of operational excellence.
• Manage team performance, implementing processes to drive continuous improvement.
• Recruit, coordinate and support volunteers and employees to meet operational needs.
• Use management information and reports to monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve sales and efficiency.
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends, sharing insights with the Area Manager and Retail Support team.
• Collaborate with the Area Manager to develop and implement the Retail Business Plan at a local level.
• Provide regular performance updates and insights to the Area Manager.
• Work flexibly in line with café trading hours.

Job Benefits

• Salary of £13.49 per hour (equivalent to £24,552 per annum).
• 26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata).
• Up to 2 days paid volunteer leave a year through our employer‑supported volunteer scheme.
• Ten weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation.
• A great pension scheme.
• Salary Death in Service Benefit (subject to qualification).
• Enhanced family leave schemes.
• An employee benefits package including access to an exclusive rewards website for discounts and cashback.
• A 24‑hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies.
• A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face‑to‑face counselling sessions.
• Extensive online and on‑the‑job training to ensure you succeed in your role.
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career.
• The chance to make a positive and lasting impact that changes lives, communities and society.

Application Period

Closing date for this role is 20 May 2026. Applications may be closed earlier if sufficient applications are received.