Cafe Manager jobs

KSG Catering is a leading provider of café, restaurant and hospitality services to a broad range of clients and blue-chip companies. Our mission is to deliver excellence in food and service while creating outstanding daily culinary experiences for our customers.

With 120 locations across Ireland, serving approximately 13 million meals each year and employing 1,350 skilled people, KSG Catering is on a fast track within the restaurant and food services industry. We are looking for a passionate and experienced Coffee Manager to join our team at Cork Airport and help us take our coffee offering to the next level.

We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Cafe Manager to manage and oversee the coffee operation across KSG sites within Cork Airport.

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining consistently high standards across the coffee offer, supporting and developing barista teams, and working closely with key stakeholders, suppliers and the KSG Head of Coffee.

This is a hands-on management role suited to someone who has a genuine passion for coffee, excellent leadership skills and the ability to deliver high standards in a busy airport environment.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, 5 days over 7.
Location: Cork Airport
Important: As this role may require airside access, the successful candidate must be able to successfully complete and provide the required 5-year background/security check for airport access.

Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Management

• Take responsibility for all aspects of the coffee offer across the Cork Airport operation, ensuring company standards and procedures are consistently followed.
• Work closely with the KSG Head of Coffee to deliver coffee standards, innovation projects and best practice.
• Be capable of completing all daily operations of the coffee bar and supporting the team during busy periods.
• Liaise effectively with coffee suppliers regarding brand training, equipment maintenance and ongoing support.
• Oversee the coffee station to ensure excellent sales, customer service, beverage preparation and presentation.
• Create a professional, friendly and efficient working environment and contribute ideas to improve operational flow.
• Carry out regular audits and inspections, responding proactively to results and working towards consistently strong unit performance.

Finance & Commercial

• Ensure the smooth and professional running of the coffee operation, including opening and closing procedures.
• Monitor expenditure and maintain effective budget control.
• Identify opportunities to improve sales, profitability and operational efficiency.

Health & Safety

• Take responsibility for coffee equipment and ensure any faults or maintenance requirements are reported and followed up through the correct procedures.
• Complete and monitor coffee and espresso check sheets.
• Investigate and escalate any Health & Safety concerns or breaches.
• Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness throughout the operation.
• Ensure appropriate stocks of cleaning materials and equipment are maintained.
• Ensure COSHH requirements are up to date and PPE guidelines are followed correctly.

Customer Service

• Create a unique and welcoming coffee experience through excellent customer service, beverage preparation and presentation.
• Maintain high standards of in-store marketing and presentation.
• Handle customer complaints and feedback professionally and effectively.
• Proactively identify problems, provide appropriate solutions and make decisions that benefit both the operation and the wider business.

Quality Assurance & Auditing

• Ensure the operation is audit-ready at all times for internal and external audits, including KSG, airport/DAA requirements, Mystery Shopper and Environmental Health inspections.
• Ensure corrective action registers are completed and followed up within agreed timescales.
• Follow up and close out all required actions.
• Communicate company standards clearly to the team and ensure employees understand their responsibilities.

Training & Development

• Inspire and develop a strong passion for coffee among the barista team.
• Deliver hands-on training and coaching to new and existing employees.
• Lead by example and promote a positive, professional attitude.
• Support the team in consistently exceeding customer expectations.
• Ensure all training records are completed, signed and maintained appropriately.
• Identify opportunities for continuous development and improvement within the team.

People Management

• Assist with recruitment and selection, ensuring the right people are recruited for the operation.
• Effectively manage and support new employees during their onboarding and integration into the team.
• Ensure all employees follow company policies, procedures and operational standards.
• Support staff welfare and, where required, assist with grievance, disciplinary and capability processes.
• Conduct staff appraisals and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Escalate any significant non-conformance or employee issues to the relevant manager.

Marketing & Visual Merchandising

• Liaise and cooperate with clients, contractors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain the KSG brand image and professional standards at all times.
• Ensure projects and responsibilities are completed efficiently and within agreed timescales.
• Contribute innovative ideas to improve the coffee offer and customer experience.
• Take responsibility for the visual presentation of the coffee station, ensuring it is attractive, clean, organised and customer-friendly at all times.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 3 years' relevant experience in coffee, café, hospitality or food service management.
• Previous experience managing multi-site or high-volume operations is highly desirable.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness.
• Barista qualification or equivalent professional coffee experience.
• Experience developing and implementing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
• Proven experience in training and developing baristas and hospitality teams.
• Excellent knowledge of coffee and a genuine passion for the coffee industry.
• Good understanding of current coffee trends, best practices and developments within the Irish coffee industry.
• Strong IT and administrative skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about coffee and delivering exceptional quality.
• A confident and inspiring leader.
• Positive, enthusiastic and solutions-focused.
• Hands-on and willing to work alongside the team.
• Commercially aware with a strong understanding of sales and costs.
• Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Customer-focused with excellent interpersonal skills.
• A strong team player who leads by example.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced airport environment.

Airport Security Requirement

Due to the nature of this position and the requirement for airside access at Cork Airport, candidates must be able to successfully complete the relevant airport security and background screening process.

Applicants must be able to provide a verifiable 5-year background history as required for airport security clearance. Employment, education and/or other relevant activities during this period may need to be verified as part of the screening process.

If you are passionate about coffee, enjoy developing people and are ready to take ownership of a high-profile coffee operation within a busy airport environment, we would love to hear from you.

Key search terms: Coffee Shop Manager, Store Manager, Catering Manager, Café Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Restaurant Manager, Hospitality Manager, Retail Manager, Duty Manager, Assistant Manager, Senior Barista, Barista Supervisor and Café Supervisor, coffee operations management, café management, barista management, high-volume hospitality, team leadership, people management, staff coaching and development, SOP development, quality assurance, operational audits, supplier management, airport hospitality, Cork Airport jobs and hospitality management Cork.

#KSGcoffeemanager

Job Types: Permanent, Full-time

Benefits:

• Bike to work scheme
• Employee assistance program
• Food allowance
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Are you able to provide your full employment, education and/or activity history for the period July 2021 to July 2026? Please list below where you worked/studied or what you were doing during this period, including the organisation/company name and dates.

Experience:

• coffee, hospitality or food service management: 3 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• recognised Barista/coffee qualification (required)

Work Location: In person