Community & Social Enterprise Café Manager
Salary: £19 - 21,000 (dependent on experience)
Hours: 37.5 per week Fixed term contract (31st July 2021), with likelihood to be extended
Pension contribution (3%) and 28 days annual leave Weekend and potential evening work required
Closing date for application: 10th January 2021 (midnight) Interviews to be held at the Storehouse 3-7pm 19th & 20th January Successful applicant subject to 3 month probationary period
ABOUT THE ROLE
An exciting opportunity to join the team as part of the Penicuik Storehouse social enterprise has arisen, built on a foundation of dreams of a community owned asset in a revived Penicuik High Street and the hard work of our volunteers over the last few years. We’re looking for someone who’s excited by an opportunity to work with and support a mixed group of volunteers, creating delicious, healthy food and vibrant community hot-spot. You will have experience of customer service and working in a food serving environment, and critically you’ll be a flexible and solid team player.
The post holder will be fully responsible for the day to day operation of the Storehouse’s community cafe. The success of the Café is dependent on the effectiveness of the manager. You will:
1. Manage and supervise the operation of a community café run by volunteer staff. Creating a welcoming environment for all, the café will provide a healthy, affordable and quality menu for the local community and groups using the Storehouse.
2. Support and develop the delivery of food based events and services in response to the need of the community. These will include initiatives to build awareness and contribute to positive well-being within the community; both through the café, along with running extra training, courses, projects and developing partnerships with local services. The role will be critical in development of a future program of events and services in line with the Storehouse strategic vision, as set by the Management Committee of the PCA.
3. In collaboration with the General Development Manager, provide café administrative support, key-holding assistance and supervision of volunteers to ensure suitable development opportunity and satisfaction in their role.
OUR COMMUNITY CAFE GUIDING VALUES
This will not be any café, it will be a hub for the community, a place where volunteers can grow and these meet alongside the creation of great seasonal and local food. The vision of the Storehouse Community Café is founded on these 3 guiding values:
Good Food: Serving healthy, affordable, local and seasonal food. Built on the foundation of the well sourced stock of the Storehouse shop enterprise.
Good for People: Our volunteers are the heart of the Storehouse. The café is run by a team of well supported volunteers, who enjoy their volunteer journey with us. They are invested in with regards to training, new skills and the space to learn.
A place of Community: At the centre is the community, for whom we provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming space to meet, explore and form networks within.
ABOUT THE STOREHOUSE
The Penicuik Storehouse, it’s café and other projects are overseen by the Shareholders of the Penicuik Community Alliance, a Community Benefit Society. As a social enterprise we have set ourselves the mission to bring people together and make our community more resilient. In our shop we stock fresh produce, groceries, household products and toiletries that are local, environmentally friendly, organic, or fair trade to help enable people to live a healthier and more sustainable life.
However, we are much more than just a shop: We’ve received funding for an exciting climate change project, run a small community café and training kitchen, and we are developing an indoor market hall, as well as spaces for workshops and events. We are proud to work together with a variety of other community projects and charities.
JOB DESCRIPTION DAILY MANAGEMENT OF THE CAFE
Volunteers
Coordinate café volunteers to ensure that the café is adequately staffed.
Manage training, supervision and support to café volunteers.
Ensure café volunteers are working to the volunteer agreement as set by the Management Committee.
Customer Service
Ensure a professional level of customer service is delivered by all café staff at all times.
Prepare hot and cold meals and drinks to order in a timely manner and to a high standard.
Develop and manage relationships with customers, volunteers and suppliers to both ensure the efficient running of operations and create a welcoming and warm environment
Deal with customer queries in a courteous and timely fashion.
Health and Safety
Adhere fully to CookSafe guidelines using HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) based procedures according to most recent government regulations.
Implement, update and manage CookSafe guidelines for the Storehouse in line with existing policies ensuring healthy and safe preparation, storage, cooking and serving of food and drink from the café.
Food Management
Organise and manage the purchasing of café supplies to enable the café to meet the needs of its customers by:
o Undertaking weekly stock-takes
o Providing weekly sales and purchasing figures to the General Development Manager
o Putting a supply system in place to ensure stock control and efficient stock management
TRAINING, ENTERPRISE & DEVELOPMENT
Marketing and Promotion
Increase turnover in order to create a viable and self-sustaining enterprise.
Increase customer numbers by marketing and promoting the café.
Increase the appeal of the café to the wider community and build community relationships.
Contribute to the ongoing development of the café and the promotion of a healthy eating lifestyle.
Work alongside the General Development Manager and in conjunction with subgroups of the management committee, to look creatively at the Storehouse as a whole. Using the café as a way of consulting with its users to find out what other services they would like to see provided by the Storehouse and how we can best market its services to the wider community.
Training and Professional Development
In conjunction with the General Development Manager, identify training requirements for volunteers and cooking courses to be run for a wide range of individuals within the community.
Run pre-agreed cooking courses in the Storehouse for a wide range of individuals, ensuring that pre-agreed outcomes are met.
Provide ongoing individual training support for café volunteers and provide new volunteers with a café induction and training session prior to starting volunteering in the Storehouse Community café.
Ensure all café volunteers have relevant food hygiene certification according to the CookSafe guidelines and are appropriately trained to carry out the role asked of them.
Development
With the support of the General Development Manager, plan, implement and evaluate the café on a regular basis in order that the café:
o Continues to provide a healthy and varied menu
o Is run professionally and profitably
o Has procedures in place to facilitate its efficient running
o Expands and Develops according to the needs of the Storehouse and its users
Financial
Undertake the following financial functions in order to ensure that the cafe is accountable and ultimately self-sustaining:
o Undertake weekly stock-takes
o Record all income and outgoings on relevant cash sheets.
o Liaise closely with the General Development Manager to monitor performance
o Ensure that financial sustainability is achieved and maintained by reviewing supplier pricing, menu pricing and wastage.
OTHER DUTIES
Work within Penicuik Storehouse and Penicuik Community Alliance’s Equality and Diversity Policy through personal example, commitment and action, ensuring fair treatment in employment, service delivery and external communications.
Adhere to our policy and procedure on confidentiality and the management and sharing of information; and to work at all times within the established policies and practices of policies provided within our Policy Guide Folder.
To cooperate with requests from The General Development Management.
To take up arrangements for support and supervision and participate in all relevant internal meetings.
To undertake other reasonable duties as requested, which may not be specified within the job description.
To work in close liaison with the General Development Manager and to open up and be responsible for the safe running of the Storehouse in the absence of the General Development Manager.
This job description is not exhaustive and is liable to review following discussion with the job holder.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The successful development of the Community Café will depend to a large extent on the imagination, initiative and energy of the Community & Social Café Manager. A combination of flexibility, enthusiasm, innovation and sound organisational skills is essential.
Experience required
Previous experience of working in the food service industry at a similar level.
Experience of supervising volunteers.
Previous customer care experience essential. Proven management and organisational skills - with thoroughness and attention to detail.
Proven leadership and ability to work on own initiative without supervision.
Proven cooking skills and knowledge of food.
Proven interpersonal skills - able to develop good work relationships, enjoy meeting and working with people at all levels and from diverse walks of life.
Energy and vision to see tasks through to successful completion.
Skills required
Good understanding of the principles of food hygiene and preparation.
Good understanding of health and safety issues and ability to implement procedures to ensure compliance.
Basic food preparation skills.
Strong interest in, or knowledge of, special dietary requirements and wholesome food.
Excellent organisational ability.
Catering - a love of food, good presentation skills, imaginative menu and daily specials creation.
IT - good command of MS Office especially Word & Excel.
Financial - stock control and budgeting.
Formal qualifications
Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate (or must be willing to work towards if successful).
Other qualifications relevant to role
Other Desirable Skills and Experience
Familiarity with the Storehouse and the community of Penicuik and the surrounding area.
Supervisory experience in a commercial catering environment, including counter service/front of house and food preparation.
Ability to lead a team with varying talents and skills and work on own initiative.
A positive and flexible approach to work and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
Supporting, mentoring and encouraging volunteers to develop new skills and confidence and prepare for the workplace.
Experience of leading and running cooking courses with a variety of individuals or groups.
The post will be subject to an enhanced PVG application, please state if you are an existing member or not.
HOW TO APPLY
For more information please contact a member of the Management Committee on nim@penicuikstorehouse.org - please note that while the Storehouse will remain open during the post Christmas lockdown, that we will be busy meeting the community’s needs for local food and volunteers in the store will not be able to answer questions relating to this role.
Application
Please supply:
A CV
A cover letter (max 1 side A4) - please outline experience, examples and motivation
Please provide name and contact details of 2 people who can provide references.
To be sent to: secretary@penicuikstorehouse.org
Shortlisting will be complete by 15th January, due to current circumstances and pressure on the Storehouse during Tier 4 we’re sadly unable to notify those who are unsuccessful or provide feedback.
COVID-19 disclaimer
The full time hours offered for this post are dependent on the latest COVID-19 operating guidelines for the hospitality sector, issued by the Scottish Government. With this in mind there is a chance that the successful candidate will begin the role on reduced hours until we can operate the cafe at full capacity and payment of salary will be adjusted accordingly. We hope to have a better understanding of how new restrictions will affect how the cafe operates by the time we complete shortlisting on 15th January. The uncertainty caused by the covid pandemic affects all of us and we would be interested to discuss how best to structure the working arrangements so that we come up with a solution which is fair to both parties.