Cafe Manager

About Us

Coffee Embassy is a locally and independently owned specialty coffee roastery and café brand based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Roasting since 2014, Coffee Embassy is built around sourcing, roasting and sharing Better Coffee responsibly, with a strong focus on quality, seasonality, transparency, community and the stories behind each coffee.

As we continue to grow, we are expanding our presence in Queenstown and are looking for an experienced and passionate Café Manager to join our team.

Our Queenstown café will be a specialty coffee-focused business, built around espresso-based beverages, filter coffee, retail coffee beans, quality service and a strong customer experience. We also plan to develop more locations across the Greater Queenstown area in the future, and this role will be involved in supporting that growth through operations, training, systems, marketing and brand consistency.

Who we need

We are looking for a Café Manager with the following qualifications, skills and experience:

• A minimum of two years’ experience in a café, restaurant, hospitality or specialty coffee management role; or 
• A Level 5 Diploma qualification in Hospitality Management, Business or a related field;
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to train, support and motivate a team in a fast-paced customer service environment; 
• A strong understanding of specialty coffee, including espresso preparation, filter coffee service, coffee bean knowledge and café workflow; 
• A genuine passion for coffee culture, customer service, community engagement and business growth; 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a customer-first mindset; 
• Strong organisational skills, including rostering, stock control, purchasing, supplier management and daily operational planning; 
• The ability to monitor labour costs, operating costs and overall café performance; 
• An interest in local marketing, social media promotion, new beverage development and future business expansion.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay of $32–$40 per hour, depending on experience and skill level;
• A minimum of 30 hours per week;
• The opportunity to be part of a growing specialty coffee business in Queenstown;
• Future involvement in the setup and operation of additional locations across the Greater Queenstown area;
• A warm, collaborative and values-driven team environment;
• Staff coffee allowance and access to our range of specialty coffee beans;
• Ongoing training and development in specialty coffee, café operations and leadership.

Your Responsibilities

As Café Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Oversee all aspects of daily café and coffee bar operations, ensuring smooth workflow, exceptional customer service, consistent specialty coffee quality, and compliance with health and safety standards across all customer and work areas;
• Maintain and continuously improve coffee quality standards, including recipe consistency, grinder calibration, espresso extraction, milk texturing, brewing procedures, retail coffee presentation and team product knowledge;
• Develop and maintain the café’s beverage offering, including espresso-based drinks, filter coffee, seasonal drinks, retail coffee products and new beverage ideas that align with the Coffee Embassy brand;
• Train, supervise and support baristas and front-of-house team members, maintaining a positive, professional and efficient workplace culture;
• Prepare staff rosters according to business needs, customer demand and budget requirements;
• Manage stock levels, purchasing and pricing for coffee beans, milk, alternative milks, takeaway packaging, retail products and other café supplies;
• Maintain relationships with existing suppliers and source new suppliers where appropriate to improve product quality, cost efficiency and operational reliability;
• Monitor overall operating costs, including wages, stock, wastage, supplies and other store-related expenses, and report regularly to the business owner;
• Engage with customers to understand their satisfaction with coffee, beverages, retail products and service, and respond promptly to feedback;
• Plan and implement local marketing initiatives, including Instagram, Facebook, Google Business Profile, local media, community engagement and promotional campaigns;
• Support promotional activities for new products, seasonal beverages, retail coffee beans, events and future store openings;