General Manager - Espresso Bar. in London

WatchHouse is a group of specialty coffee Houses located in iconic neighbourhoods across London, Bath and New York. We are dedicated to elevating the coffee experience through our "Modern Coffee" philosophy. From our award-winning brews to our unmatched hospitality, we’re proud to have been named Europe’s Best Coffee Shop Chain at the 2024 European Coffee & Hospitality Awards.

As House Manager, you’ll be the embodiment of WatchHouse—championing our core values, upholding brand standards, and leading your team with passion and purpose. You’ll ensure operational excellence, deliver outstanding financial results, and foster a culture where both your team and guests thrive. We’ll equip you with the tools, training, and support to succeed—what you bring is leadership, energy, and a love for specialty coffee.

Key Responsibilities:

• Motivate and empower your team to consistently perform at their best, fostering a collaborative and passionate work environment.
• Take ownership of your House’s financials, focusing on KPIs, and continuously seeking ways to increase revenue and drive efficiency.
• Oversee daily operations to ensure the Modern Coffee Experience is delivered to every guest, every day.
• Ensure smooth opening and closing procedures, proactively manage issues, and maintain a well-stocked and functional cafe.
• Actively mentor and develop your team, ensuring opportunities for growth and development within WatchHouse.
• Manage and maintain all compliance in your House, from daily due diligence to EHO inspections.
• Uphold and instil the highest standards of cleanliness, quality, and service across the House.
• Create a vibrant, sociable, and exciting workplace that employees are proud to be a part of.
• Address challenges with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
• Work closely with senior management to align your House with WatchHouse’s vision and goals.

Key Skills:

• Live and breathe the WatchHouse Core Values of Passion, Empathy, Diligence and Can Do.
• Always maintain a high level of personal hygiene and appearance.
• A hands-on leader who motivates and supports their team to achieve operational and personal excellence.
• Comprehensive understanding of Food Hygiene and Health & Safety standards.
• Strong understanding of financial metrics and the ability to drive a profitable and high-performing site.
• Skilled in managing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations in a high-volume environment.
• Passionate about creating outstanding customer experiences with attention to detail and quality.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment, adjusting as needed to meet evolving business needs.
• Committed to mentoring and developing your team members to help them grow and succeed.
• Unwavering focus on cleanliness, organization, and maintaining impeccable service levels.
• Quick thinker who can address and resolve issues efficiently and effectively.
• Confident in making decisions, taking ownership, and leading your House independently.

What Can You Expect At WatchHouse:

• Beautifully designed Houses, working on industry-leading equipment and with fellow hospitality professionals.
• Contracted hours every week to give you stability and the ability to plan your personal life.
• Access to the House Manager bonus scheme (up to £8,000 per year).
• Free WatchHouse made drinks (even on your days off!).
• On and off shift training when you join the team to ensure you are set for success.
• Access to SCA training.
• 250g of free coffee each month.
• Access to the Cycle to work scheme.
• A day off shift induction within your first two weeks of joining WatchHouse.
• Genuine opportunities for career growth within WatchHouse as we continue to grow.
• Free lunch on every shift.
• A social budget for each location to have fun with your team outside of work.
• An invite to the annual WatchHouse Party; including presenting the Core Value Awards and prizes such as a trip to Coffee Farms!
• 30% off food in any of our House, any time.
• 30% off our WatchHouse retail coffee, anytime.

Working at WatchHouse:

WatchHouse was born from a passion to do better. Diligence and attention to detail are paramount to what we do, we focus on the detail. We strive for perfection. We really care. We are a people-first business, curious and interested in those around us. We treat everyone with respect. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where diversity is celebrated, equality is insisted and inclusion expected. A company where we believe in having the right person in the role; personality and individuality at the top of the list of what we are looking for in applications and throughout our hiring process.

We also know that everyone is different, and we value and respect diversity, standing up for equality and standing against any form of discrimination. Decisions about and the treatment of people at work should be based on the individual’s abilities, skills, performance and behaviour—these should be assessed against the WatchHouse job description requirements for each individual role. We are always patient and considerate towards others. Encouraging, approachable and communicating brilliantly. We strive to be the best we can be, by giving and receiving regular and honest feedback in a professional manner. We plan ahead, prioritise and are mindful and respect the time of others. We complete every task to the best of our ability. Always happy to ask for help, work in cohesion with other people/departments and share successes. We work to make WatchHouse an environment of trust and comradery, where others are inspired to play their part in working effectively together. Building strong relationships with others and demonstrating positive energy. We recognise and value the contribution of others across the business, working together to deliver the Modern Coffee experience to each and every person touched by our business. Our four core values - passion, can do, diligence and empathy - are what make WatchHouse who we are. Our decisions are made based on these principles. To grow and succeed at WatchHouse, it is imperative that these values also resonate strongly with you and can drive your ambition in the same way they do ours.