Job Title: Café and Catering Manager
Below covers everything you need to know about what this opportunity entails, as well as what is expected from applicants.Location: House of Books & Friends 81 King Street Manchester M2 4AHHours: Full Time PermanentSalary: £30kAbout House of Books & FriendsHouse of Books & Friends is more than a bookshop and café, we are a vibrant Community Interest Company in the heart of Manchester city centre, our mission is to address loneliness and social isolation. We bring people together through books, conversation, great coffee, and memorable events. From carefully curated shelves and cosy reading corners to bustling Afternoon Teas and community gatherings, we create a welcoming and inclusive space.We are now looking for an experienced, energetic Café and Catering Manager to lead our café operations and play a key role in our continued growth.The RoleAs Café and Catering Manager, you will lead on the daily running of our busy café while working closely with our bookshop and events teams. This is a hands-on, shop-floor-based role where leadership, creativity and commercial awareness are equally important.Key ResponsibilitiesOperationsOversee all café activities including food & beverage preparation, service, and cleanlinessManage stock levels, ordering, supplier sourcing, and negotiationsMaintain and enforce health & safety standards and ensure compliance with legislationKeep all paperwork up to date and aligned with regulationsDevelop innovative, costed ideas to broaden services and product offeringsKey holding duties (opening and closing)Support shop floor operations across both the bookshop and café, including serving and phone enquiriesEventsOrganise and deliver our popular Afternoon Tea events, generating and implementing new ideas with minimal directionCollaborate with the events team to deliver high-quality room hire and catered eventsCreate clear systems and procedures to enable smooth event deliveryFurther develop catering options from standardised to bespoke packages for a range of budgetsUndertake hosting duties where requiredCustomer ExperienceCreate a warm, welcoming atmosphere with exceptional serviceManage enquiries, feedback, and complaints professionally and efficientlyTeam LeadershipTrain, supervise, and motivate café staff, future line management responsibility. xwzovoh Foster a positive, collaborative working environmentFinancial ManagementManage budgets, revenue, expenses, and profitabilityImplement cost controls without compromising qualityAnalyse sales data, identify trends and key seasonal opportunitiesDevelop strategies to increase revenue and meet targetsMenu Development & MarketingCollaborate on menu updates ensuring consistent qualityAdapt offerings based on seasonality, dietary needs, and customer preferencesSupport promotional campaigns and monitor competitor activityCreate and implement creative and new revenue streams for the cafeAbout YouProven experience (at least 2+ years) as a shop floor-based Café/Catering Manager (or similar hospitality leadership role) only people with this experience will be considered for the role.Strong knowledge of café operations, food safety, and customer serviceExperience training and managing a teamConfident using POS systems and standard office softwareFlexible to work weekends and holidays as requiredA genuine interest in books and the literary worldWhat We Offer£30,000 salaryHoliday entitlementPension schemeStaff discountHealth cash planA book on your birthdayOne paid Reading Day per year to catch up on your readingIf you bring energy, enthusiasm, and a love of people and want to be part of a growing organisation that makes a real difference in the community we would love to hear from you….