WHO WE ARE
Equator Coffee Roasters is an Ontario-based, mission-driven coffee roasting company from the friendly town of Almonte, Ontario. We exist to connect the coffee drinker to the coffee farmer, from one family to another. We are a certified B Corp, which means that we have demonstrated our commitment to our mission, the highest standards of excellence, and our social and environmental impact. We believe the world is a better place with better quality coffee that is sourced ethically and cared for organically. At Equator, coffee is more than just a beautiful beverage; it’s a way to change the world for the better. Our cafes serve as the “front line” of our company and brand – a place for customers to learn and enjoy our core values: service, quality, community.
JOB SUMMARY
At Equator, our Cafe Site Manager is the heartbeat of our café operations, driving operational excellence while ensuring that every customer feels warmly welcomed and receives exceptional service. They’re responsible for bringing our core values to life with each interaction and fostering a sense of community. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of the café: being an integral part of the café staff, taking a team leadership role, and supporting ongoing training, managing seasonal and ongoing change, developing strong financial performance, and always ensuring alignment with Equator’s values and mission.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Team Leadership & Development
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Recruit, train, mentor and manage a high-performing, value and customer-oriented team.
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Consult with the Cafe Operations Lead and Cafe Director regarding hiring, staff reviews, discipline and termination as needed.
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Foster a positive work environment, emphasizing team collaboration, open communication, and adherence to Equator's values.
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Conduct quarterly and annual performance reviews, with ongoing, informal & formal feedback and encouragement.
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Plan and execute regular staff meetings to provide information, improvement, and training.
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Work with Cafe Operations Lead to facilitate team involvement in occasional social or team building events.
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Ensure a positive culture is maintained in the café environment including teamwork, staff morale, and positive communication.
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Cater to self-development and ongoing learning opportunities.
Customer Experience
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Lead by example by showcasing exceptional customer service to customers and staff.
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Develop the entire team to achieve a friendly, welcoming environment and provide attentive, individualized care to each customer.
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Resolve customer complaints professionally, always striving for full customer satisfaction and applying feedback to prevent future issues.
Operational Management
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Ensure efficient day-to-day operations of the café, maintaining the highest standards of product quality, service, and cleanliness.
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Regularly review and adjust operational processes, ensuring optimal efficiency and customer satisfaction.
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Ensure specialty coffee standards are being met every day, and correct the team when there's a deviation.
- Ensure there is operational flow, that customers are being served in an efficiently
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Ensuring speed of service.
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Ensuring the food and baked goods are on display, are full, available to order, and fresh.
- Training the team to work proactively, such as refilling, batch prepping, and cleaning the space (dishes, tables, seating, behind counters, washroom, floors etc).
- All roles in the cafe are responsible for cleaning including Cafe Managers.
Financial Responsibility
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Work with Equator Management to reduce or maintain the café budget regarding margins for labour, beverage, food, merchandise, and supply costs.
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Monitor daily sales and adjust as needed to improve profitability (i.e., reduce hours if traffic is low).
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Regularly analyze sales data to identify trends, potential areas for growth, and areas of concern.
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Strategize ways to increase sales with the Management Team.
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Cash Tip Management
Schedule Management
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Manage the schedule based on labour numbers provided by your Operations Manager and make sure the cafe is adequately staffed to offer efficient service, while reducing or maintaining labour costs.
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Schedule On-Call shifts every day.
- Schedule management for illness, emergencies, and slow periods - call in an extra person or extend existing shifts. Send someone home if slow – FIFO.
Cafe Manager Work Schedule is Tuesday to Saturday with Off Days being Sunday & Monday.
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Inventory & Supply Management
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Responsible for placing and receiving all product orders and keeping the stock room clean and
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organized. Check deliveries on receipt for accuracy and give invoices to the Cafe Operations Lead.
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Maintaining Food & Beverage Cost of Goods based on the Forecast provided.
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Regularly monitor and manage inventory levels, ensuring optimal stock levels to minimize waste.
Marketing & Promotions
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To be an Equator Brand Ambassador and teach other employees to do the same.
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Work with the Equator Marketing Team to promote Equator, café products and events to customers and ensure your team are doing the same.
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Provide Equator’s Outreach Coordinator with Social Media content upon request.
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Promote and Support Product Sales or Promotions
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Organize and attend on-site events, including recurring bookings, private celebrations, community service and fundraising.
Communication and Administration
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Manage the site-specific email address.
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Maintain POS system, menus, and pricing in cooperation with Cafe Operations Lead.
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Maintain and model the Equator Staff Communication Plan for your specific location.
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Report all concerns and conflicts to Cafe Operations Lead and Cafe Director for timely and effective resolution.
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Participate in weekly Café Manager Meetings.
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Ensure cash is fully stocked with small bills and change, especially before and after weekends.
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Maintain the community bulletin board with only time-dated and appropriate advertisements.
Troubleshooting and Maintenance
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Troubleshoot issues with Square, Push Operations, Security System and Internet/Wi-Fi. Working closely with the Cafe Operations Lead to ensure the correct people have been notified.
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Reporting to the Operations Manager any equipment issues, or building facilities issues in a timely manner.
- Along with the Cafe Operations and Director, act as the point person for maintenance of cafe equipment and furniture
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Fix simple things; notify the right people when more challenging issues arise.
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Ensures that all closing procedures to do with maintaining and cleaning equipment are being followed (e.g., filters on,. fridges and freezers are cleaned weekly by staff, hot water poured down the drains in the bathrooms once per week, etc.).
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
If you believe that you can excel at this role, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t perfectly meet the following criteria.
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Post-secondary education in Hospitality, Business Management, or a related field.
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3 years of experience as a Barista in Specialty Coffee.
- Barista training or equivalent coffee-related certification would be a plus.
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A minimum of 3 years of experience in cafe or restaurant management, preferably in a similar setting.
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Proven track record in successfully supervising or managing cafe operations, including inventory and financial oversight.
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Demonstrated experience in team leadership, including hiring, training, and performance management.
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Prior exposure to analyzing sales data and implementing strategies to drive profitability.
PERSONAL CHARACTER
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Passion for coffee, food, and delivering exceptional service.
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Professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility.
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Team leadership, valuing the contributions of each team member, promoting collaboration and cohesion within the café team.
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Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take the initiative where needed.
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Embraces and champions the company's values, particularly The Equator Way.
EXPECTATIONS AND COMPENSATION
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Flexibility in working hours, including weekends and holidays as required; 37.5 - 40 hours per week during regular café hours (6am-9pm)
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Physical stamina to stand for extended periods and supervise the fast-paced environment of a cafe.
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If the café is offering special events, night, holiday, or weekend hours, you will need to be available to work during those times.
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Compensation for the Cafe Site Manager ranges from $19.00/hour to $22.00/hour depending on education, previous experience and time worked.
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Additional benefits of free coffee, customer tips, other product discounts, health benefits, specialized training and mentoring.
