Cafe Manager Job Description

• Employer: Awel Aman Tawe
• Reports to: Hwb y Gors Centre Manager
• Salary:  £30,000 per annum
• Hours:  Full time post 37.5 hours per week (flexible rota to suit needs of centre)
• Contract term: 3 years. With potential extension subject to review.
• Holiday entitlement:  25 days leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time working.
• Ethical Pension scheme with a 6.5% salary contribution being matched by AAT.
• Deadline: 31^st January 2025

Who we are:  www.aat.cymru

Awel Aman Tawe is a charity based in the upper Amman Valley and founded in 1998 with the joint objectives of addressing the climate emergency and supporting community resilience.  We have developed the two largest renewable energy co-ops in Wales: Awel Co-op (our wind co-op) and Egni Co-op (our solar co-op).  We also run a variety of projects including Energy Warriors schools’ education programme, sustainable community transport, energy efficiency advice and community arts.  We bought the former primary school in Cwmgors in 2018 and are currently re-developing it into a new low-carbon arts, education and enterprise centre: Hwb y Gors. We anticipate the centre opening in early 2025 and this position of Cafe Manager will play a key role in developing our vision for the venue.

Position Summary

You will have a deep understanding and passion for the launch, development and growth of our Hwb y Gors vegetarian and vegan Cafe, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the role. You will be experienced and committed to serving nutritious food that reflects the spirit of Hwb y Gors. You will be a problem solver whose attention to detail is as strong as your appreciation for the bigger picture. With great communication skills you will be able to interact with a variety of stakeholders, including volunteers, whilst continually prioritising the needs of the Centre within the organisation.  This is a challenging, highly rewarding position, the success of which requires a commitment to the local community and to AAT’s joint purpose of addressing the climate emergency and supporting community resiliency.  We will strive to ensure the centre is self-sustaining withing 3 years and net zero by 2030.  The café will play an integral role in reaching these goals.

Vision for the Cafe at Hwb y Gors 

We would like our café (yet to be named) to serve the community through the delivery of tasty, healthy vegetarian/vegan foods.  We envisage our café becoming an important meeting place for everyone in the community of Cwmgors, visitors from further afield and the community of artists, educators and small enterprises within the centre.

Key to the delivery of the service within the centre will be to coordinate and work with centre volunteers and Hwb officers, who will undertake minimal service (light refreshments) when the Cafe Manager is not present, and to liaise with our community garden volunteers to utilize their produce.

Flexibility in working hours is required.   We anticipate the opening hours to be daytime service with up to two evenings per week including Friday.

We are looking for a special person to work with us to realize this vision.

Roles and Responsibilities

As the Cafe Manager you will:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the café.
• Create and deliver an exciting vegetarian & Vegan menu based on seasonality and customers’ preferences.
• Maintain a clean and inviting environment.
• Nurture customer relationships to increase loyalty, turning our café into a favourite local spot.
• Manage stock and place orders.
• Cost items and analyse sales by maintaining daily, weekly and monthly revenues and expenses.
• Help to increase profitability to ensure the café is self-sustaining by year 3 including all staffing costs associated with the café.
• Be accountable for relevant COSHH, Food Safety and Hygiene, allergen management, H & S, legal regulations, environmental policies and be responsible for maintenance of all food hygiene within the café.
• Liaise with public health officer.
• Train and supervise volunteers in drinks preparation and the proper use of equipment.
• Coordinate with volunteers to produce a monthly community meal and other events.
• Create events to mark specific days e.g. valentines, Dydd Santes Dwynwen, Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
• Create an atmosphere conducive to community engagement – e.g. informal language sessions in Welsh/Spanish/French.
• Resolve issues and advise volunteers on the best way to resolve issues with clients and deliver excellent customer service.
• Be a keyholder for the centre.

Person Specification

	Essential	Desirable
Experience
Minimum 2 years working in a food outlet	x
Minimum 2 years’ experience cooking high quality vegetarian/vegan food in commercial setting	x
Good mathematical skills and experience of cash-handling	x
Experience of working with community-based organisations and a good understanding of the charity sector environment	x
Experience of managing staff and/or volunteers	x
Experience and passion for food and developing menus	x
Experience in setting and managing a budget	x
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Excellent communication and customer service skills	x
Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people including volunteers and vulnerable people	x
ICT skills – ability to use databases, social media and to contribute to web content.		x
Good problem-solving skills and awareness of risk assessments	x
Ability to take initiative and identify, prioritise and plan activities independently	x
Commitment to challenging discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour	x
Ability to contribute to strategic target-setting and development planning		x
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.	x
Welsh speaker or commitment to learn.	x
Personal Qualities	Essential	Desirable
Leadership qualities	x
Commitment to principles of equality and respect for others	x
Good understanding of the social and economic issues faced by the local community	x
Flexibility with working hours including evenings and weekends	x
Commitment to the Race to Zero Campaign	x
Willingness to undertake training and personal development	x

Training Required which will be arranged by Awel Aman Tawe

• Safeguarding Group B/Level 2
• Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)
• Food Hygiene and Safety Level 3
• ACT – Terrorism training
• Allergen Awareness
• Health & Safety
• GDPR
• EDI training
• Disability Awareness
• Manual Handling
• COSHH
• DSE Awareness
• DEFIB
• Accessible toilets alarm

Positions are open to all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Application process:

Applications must comprise a CV and covering letter. AAT is a special place to work and it’s important for us to understand clearly why you want to be part of the team and what you feel you can bring. Please ensure you describe fully as part of your application your motivations, experience and suitability for the role with reference to the expectations set out in the personal specification and job description

Please email your application to croeso@awel.coop. Please put Hwb y Gors Cafe Manager in the subject heading.

Deadline: 31^st January 2025

Interviews: 11th February 2025

This post is part-funded by the National Lottery People and Places Fund.