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CAFE MANAGER, BEVERAGE

Sofra Bakery & Cafe, Cambridge

ABOUT US

In Turkish, Sofra is synonymous with generosity and hospitality.  James Beard nominated Executive Pastry Chef Maura Kilpatrick and co-founder Ana Sortun (of Oleana, Sarma & Siena Farms) approach cuisine with a Middle Eastern sensibility by creating delicious food featuring unique spices and spice blends.  Sofra Bakery & Cafe reinterprets regional food traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean to make them accessible and inspiring for our guests. 

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

We care about each other and our customers. We build long-term relationships with our employees and support individuals who wish to further their career development within the food industry.  We offer extensive educational and professional development opportunities, including wine and beverage training, Mediterranean diet education, community engagement, and guest speakers. 

We will always believe in exceptional hospitality with warmth & professionalism, but not pretension.  Our managers try to practice what they preach, not leading with aggression or negativity, but rather dedication, fairness, and desire to bring the best out in their team. We look for passionate, kind, committed and honest people who find joy in their profession and can transcend that message outward.

At the end of the day, we want our restaurant to be a representation of our values – the kind of place we would hang out on our day off.  All of our businesses are funky, fun spots that appeal to people from all walks of life.

Sofra is an equal opportunity employer.  We are committed to a diverse workforce and support an environment that is inclusive and respectful.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who is passionate about food and hospitality, is eager to lead teams and work hard, and brings positive energy to the workplace. 

The Cafe Manager is responsible for assisting in managing and overseeing all bakery/cafe operations.  This role is focused on training and beverage culture.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Working under the general supervision of the General Manager, the Cafe Manager will:

FOH Manager (80%) as part of the FOH management team:

Operations and Facilities

• Manage service operations and supervise staff.  Solve problems and assist as needed. 
• Assume opening and closing duties of the bakery/cafe.
• Ensure adherence to standards while working to achieve operational excellence. 
• Ensure the facility is clean, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing at all times.
• Prioritize safety, cleanliness, and sanitation in all facets of production and operation.
• Assist with POS system management. 
• Assist with waste management.
• Assist with managing all web operations including online ordering and menu updating.
• Work with management team members to organize the holiday seasons in a timely, efficient, effective manner.

Customer Service and Hospitality

• Create and develop guest relations protocols.
• Build relationships with regular and interested guests.
• Work with team members to create and maintain a culture that ensures that guest needs are met at every point of their Sofra experience.    
• Respond to guest inquiries and complaints.

HR and Training

• Assist with overseeing training of all FOH staff including register, expo, runner, baristas, stewards, managers, and any new FOH role that may develop.
• Assist with developing training materials and strategies ensuring all remain current, relevant, and effective.
• Monitor, assess, and manage FOH staff performance; including disciplinary actions as needed.
• Assist with HR duties as needed.

Finance

• Assist in monitoring labor, beverage, packaging, and retail costs to achieve company’s financial targets.
• Assist in overseeing inventory, ordering, and stock rotation to minimize waste and ensure optimal utilization of resources.
• Collaborate with management team members to meet the company's financial objectives. 

Leadership and Communication

• Meet with Sofra Managers as needed for consultation, coordination, and brainstorming.
• Provide leadership, act as a role model of appropriate behavior in the workplace, enforce company policy and procedures, and uphold quality standards. 
• Maintain company culture to champion vision, values, and uphold staff morale.

Beverage (20%) - working closely with the Allston General Manager:

• Manage the beverage program.
• Train new baristas.  
• Ensure quality and consistency of all beverage prep and ingredients including but not limited to proper rotation, appearance, and taste. 
• Manage the sourcing and selection of beverages to be sold at Sofra aligned with company cuisine and culture.
• Manage ordering, inventory, and vendor relationships for all beverages.
• Manage the creation of reference materials for beverage program including recipes.
• Maintain bar documents.
• Manage pricing of beverage menu items.
• Manage beverage equipment maintenance and repair.
• Maintain seasonality and creativity in beverage menu options.
• Lead communication and implementation for all beverage menu offerings.

Other

• Complete other duties as assigned.

As a member of the leadership team, the successful Cafe Manager will lead establishing goals and values to uphold existing culture and the highest quality standards of customer service and hospitality.  

Requires excellent communication skills with both the public and the staff at all times.  Utilizing best practices for building team and relationships, the Cafe Manager will lead by example and demonstrate impeccable character and integrity.  The Cafe Manager will successfully manage community relations.

This is an exempt position.  The Cafe Manager is expected to accomplish the responsibilities outlined in this job description in approximately 45 hours per week.  

Qualified candidates will have – 

• Have at least 1 year of management or supervisory experience in a similar environment
• Have strong barista experience 
• Preferably have experience working with Toast POS 
• Be available mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Have excellent attendance and punctuality
• Treat customers and co-workers with courtesy and respect
• Be genuinely passionate about hospitality and the overall guest experience
• Work in a clean and organized fashion
• Work as a team
• Be able to deal successfully with multitasking and be comfortable in a fast-paced work environment
• Exhibit a desire to teach and learn
• Have a strong attention to detail and a positive attitude

COMPENSATION

• Competitive pay, between $52-54k/year 
• 2 weeks paid vacation time per year 
• Educational and professional development opportunities
• Employee discounts at our sister businesses—Oleana, Sofra, Sarma and Siena Farms
• Free meal per shift
• Partially subsidized health insurance, and group rates on dental, and/or vision

Please consider joining our team!  To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@sofrabakery.com.