Duty Manager in Newark on Trent

Nestled within the YMCA Community & Activity Village in Newark, our café provides a welcoming, vibrant, community focused space serving a delicious range of food and beverages to all the different groups who visit us. We are recruiting a new position of Duty Manager within our café. With the support of our Hospitality Director, you will oversee the smooth running of the front of house team, ensuring exemplary customer service is your number 1 priority. If you are motivated by the power of community, creating a welcoming space for everyone and share our passion for great food and drink, this could be your perfect opportunity.

As well as overseeing the front of house café, you will also oversee the running of the numerous and varied events we run in our events space and our café. From private functions, live music, corporate events and more, you will ensure each event runs without a hitch, embedding exemplary customer service in everything you do.

Responsibilities

• Oversee front of house operations in the café and the events space to ensure smooth service and excellent customer experience.
• Manage events planning and execution for private functions, live music, corporate events and more.
• Support the Hospitality Director to help shape product selection, menu choices and pricing, with a focus on local, seasonal, high-quality produce.
• Work with local and artisan producers to refresh options and keep customers satisfied.
• Lead and develop the front of house team; recruit, train, conduct appraisals and manage HR processes with support from the HR team.
• Ensure health and safety and food & drink preparation practices are followed and continuously improved.
• Monitor financial targets, quality standards and annual budget to support YMCA profitability and local impact.
• Flexible rota for 37.5 hours over 5 days, including evenings and weekends to cover events.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Experience in a hospitality setting with responsibility for front of house operations and events.
• Good business acumen to support financial targets and budget management.
• Working knowledge of health and safety and food and drink preparation practices.
• Ability to work with the Hospitality Director to shape product selection, pricing and supplier relationships.
• Strong team management skills with ability to recruit, train, and manage HR processes (with HR support).
• Customer-focused with a passion for community impact and delivering high-quality service.

Values and Benefits

• We value our core values: We Seek Out, We Welcome, We Inspire, We Speak Out, We Serve Others.
• Funded training, qualifications and career progression across YMCA services.
• Quarterly Campfires – celebrating our impact across the organisation.
• Wellbeing package (after probation): 24/7 GP access, health/dental cashback, Employment Assistance Programme.
• Minimum of 23 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), increasing to 28 days with service.
• Discounted YMCA childcare & holiday clubs.
• £500 refer-a-friend bonus.
• Blue Light Card eligibility with 10% discount at YMCA Café and Malt Cross.

Diversity & Safer Recruitment

YMCA Robin Hood Group is committed to equal opportunities, promoting diversity, and creating an inclusive culture where all staff can thrive. If you require adjustments to support your participation in our recruitment process, please share your needs so we can support you. We follow rigorous safer recruitment processes to protect children, young people, and adults at risk. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS checks, reference checks, and thorough vetting as part of our safeguarding commitment. We reserve the right to close the position earlier than advertised if required.