Experienced Cafe Manager

Hockey's Farm Shop is a family run business in the heart of the beautiful New Forest.

We have a rare opportunity for a hands-on and enthusiastic Cafe Manager to join our team, with responsibility for a destination location with a farm shop, butchers, cafe and bric-a-brac shop. Hockey's Farm Shop is an award-winning business in the New Forest and as such, this is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a brilliant customer experience in beautiful surroundings.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone seeking a varied role where they can drive progress and develop themselves and our business. We are committed to active career development opportunities for the right candidate, which will be supported by a enhanced salary commensurate to responsibilities undertaken.

As well as the requirements listed below, we fundamentally need someone with a passion for people - both our customers and our team. The successful candidate will be active in all areas of the business and be a recognisable and friendly face for our customers.

Preferably from either a hospitality or retail background, our ideal candidate will have experience in delivering a high quality customer experience, leading an effective team, maximising sales, improving margins, creating new opportunities and ensuring all legal practices are adhered to.

We are very proud of our established and committed team and want somebody who can support the continued development of our business.

Duties include:

• Overseeing and working across both the kitchen and front of house. A keen interest in food and previous kitchen experience is essential.
• Creating a weekly staff rota
• Weekly ordering and maintaining stock levels
• It is the manager's responsibility to ensure that health and safety practices as well as food hygiene are followed by all staff
• Develop and train staff members

Key Responsibilities:

• To lead and inspire our team's passion
• Be dedicated to maintaining our reputation as both a fantastic destination and experience, by driving high standards of operational delivery across the business
• Accountable for all food quality & safety compliance in line with food safety regulations
• Ordering and managing stock levels - evaluating sales to ensure minimum waste and maximum sales
• Reporting on monthly P&L and overseeing departmental staffing costs as a percentage of turnover
• Continuous monitoring of retail margins in a fluctuating market
• Be responsible for all compliance issues within the business including Health & Safety, Environmental Health (HACCP), Fire Safety and Pest Control
• To present our hospitality and retail displays to the highest level, reflecting seasonal and promotional periods
• Reviewing staff rotas and to cross reference shifts with contracted hours and liaise with our retail department
• To research competitor practices and bring innovative ideas to promote and grow the Hockey's brand

Our ideal candidate:

• Previous management experience in hospitality and/or retail
• Excellent communication skills working with family owners, colleagues and customers
• Strategic commercial thinking, taking full responsibility to deliver an outstanding experience for our customers
• Passionate about good quality food and great customer service
• Adaptability, a proactive problem solver, with outstanding people skills towards your own team and the customer
• Experience in EPOS systems would be preferable
• Organised and capable of managing multiple teams in different areas of our business
• Ability to work under pressure during busy periods
• Able to manage and develop people

We can offer:

• 28 days paid holiday (including Bank Holidays) - we are closed December 25th-26th and New Year's Day
• A friendly working environment
• Discount on purchases from our farm shop and cafe
• A commitment to your ongoing support, training and development
• 40 hours per week over 5 days (alternate weekend work is required)

Self contained 2 bedroom accommodation could be available for the right candidate after the appropriate probationary period.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £27,000.00-£31,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Store discount

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Weekend availability

Supplemental pay types:

• Performance bonus
• Tips

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Fordingbridge: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 14/05/2023