Cafe Chef Manager

Lead the Team. Create Great Food. Make Every Day Better.

APEX Restaurant and Market Solutions is looking for an enthusiastic, organized, and people-focused Café Manager to lead our corporate café team!

At APEX, we believe a great café is about more than just food. It's about creating a welcoming experience where customers enjoy great meals, employees feel valued, and the team takes pride in what they do.

If you enjoy leading people, love food and hospitality, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where every day brings something new, we'd love to meet you!

Why You'll Love Working at APEX

• No late nights and no weekends for most café operations
• Enjoy a schedule that supports a healthy work-life balance
• Lead a team in a professional corporate dining environment
• Work with fresh food and restaurant-quality menus
• Build relationships with customers and our clients
• Develop your leadership and culinary skills
• Work alongside a supportive team that values ideas and initiative
• Opportunities for professional growth and cross-training
• Be part of a company that values people, quality, teamwork, and great service

Position Overview

As the Café Manager, you'll be responsible for making sure the café operates smoothly and delivers an exceptional experience every day.

You'll lead the team, oversee food quality and service, manage daily operations, and build strong relationships with our customers and client partners.

This is a hands-on leadership position. You'll work alongside your team, helping with food preparation and service, solving problems, coaching employees, and making sure everything is ready for a successful day.

What You'll Do

Lead the Café

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the café
• Make sure breakfast, lunch, and other food service activities run smoothly and on schedule
• Plan, update, and execute menus that meet APEX and client expectations
• Oversee food preparation, production, presentation, and quality
• Make sure customers receive friendly, fast, and professional service
• Monitor the café throughout the day and step in wherever you're needed
• Solve problems quickly and keep the operation moving
• Help create a welcoming and positive environment for customers and employees

Lead & Develop Your Team

• Hire, train, schedule, coach, and motivate café employees
• Set clear expectations for service, food quality, cleanliness, attendance, and teamwork
• Provide hands-on training and ongoing feedback
• Recognize employees for great performance
• Address performance concerns fairly and professionally
• Conduct team huddles and communicate daily priorities
• Lead by example and be willing to jump in and help your team
• Build a culture where employees enjoy coming to work and take pride in what they do

Deliver Great Food & Service

• Maintain APEX standards for food quality, portioning, presentation, and service
• Monitor food freshness and ensure products are properly stocked
• Work with culinary team members to maintain consistency and quality
• Listen to customer feedback and look for ways to improve the café experience
• Help coordinate special events, promotions, and client activities
• Represent APEX professionally with customers and client partners

Keep Things Safe & Clean

Food safety and cleanliness are an important part of the APEX experience.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming café and kitchen
• Ensure employees follow proper food handling and sanitation practices
• Monitor food temperatures and safe holding procedures
• Follow all applicable health department and food safety requirements
• Make sure cleaning and sanitation tasks are completed properly
• Address safety, sanitation, or food quality concerns immediately
• Maintain an operation that is always ready for customers and inspections

Manage Inventory & Costs

• Monitor inventory levels and order food, supplies, and other products as needed
• Maintain proper product rotation and storage
• Work with vendors and suppliers as needed
• Monitor food usage and minimize waste
• Track food and labor costs
• Manage the café within established budgets
• Complete required reports accurately and on time
• Look for opportunities to improve efficiency and control costs without sacrificing quality

Build Great Client Relationships

The Café Manager is an important face of APEX.

• Build positive relationships with client contacts and customers
• Communicate regularly with client leadership regarding café operations
• Respond professionally to questions, concerns, and feedback
• Help coordinate client events and special requests
• Represent APEX with professionalism and a positive attitude
• Look for ways to exceed expectations and make the café an important part of the workplace

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a leader who enjoys working with people, loves hospitality, and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves.

The ideal candidate is:

• Friendly, positive, and approachable
• Dependable and organized
• A natural leader who enjoys developing people
• Experienced in food service, restaurant, hospitality, café, or catering operations
• 3+ years of food service or hospitality management experience preferred
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledgeable about food safety and sanitation
• Comfortable with inventory, ordering, and cost control
• A strong communicator who can work effectively with employees, customers, vendors, and clients
• Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple priorities
• Comfortable making decisions and solving problems
• Adaptable and willing to jump in wherever needed
• Bilingual is a plus
• Someone who takes pride in creating a great customer experience

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

This is an active, hands-on position in a busy café and food service environment.

• Ability to stand and move throughout the shift
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, push, and pull as needed
• Comfortable working around commercial kitchen equipment, heat, and varying temperatures
• Ability to maintain a steady pace in a busy environment
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements of the position