About the Role: Responsibilities, Skills, and Requirements
Ever found yourself mentally rearranging a coffee shop’s floor plan while sipping your morning espresso? If so, you might just be the café manager we’re looking for. In the heart of Al Zahir, we’re seeking a seasoned manager to lead our bustling café—someone who thrives on providing warm, memorable customer experiences while skillfully steering daily operations. If you have a knack for building team spirit and know that “the little things” (like a perfectly timed smile or a spotless counter) matter just as much as sales figures, you’ll feel right at home here.
About Us
We’re not just your average hangout—we’re a close-knit community hub where regulars are greeted by name, and new faces quickly become familiar. Our team is small but mighty, passionate about good coffee and even better conversation. We believe in the energy of Al Zahir and aim to create a space that reflects its vibrancy and hospitality. Our decision-making is collaborative, and hearing honest feedback is kind of our thing (especially on Friday mornings over pastries).
What You’ll Be Doing
- Overseeing the café’s daily operations with a sharp eye and caring touch, from opening rush to evening close.
- Creating, tweaking, and posting weekly staff schedules to ensure smooth shifts and happy team members.
- Actively monitoring team performance, offering constructive feedback, and identifying opportunities for growth or further training.
- Taking ownership of sales tracking—monitoring trends and identifying opportunities to grow revenue and customer loyalty.
- Ensuring every guest receives attentive, personal service and leaves with a smile.
- Maintaining inventory—making sure shelves and fridges are stocked, and supplies are never running low.
- Helping set and maintain high standards for cleanliness, safety, and presentation in every corner of the café.
- Rolling up your sleeves during peak hours to support staff—whether that’s brewing, serving, or handling tricky situations with customers or suppliers.
- Bringing fresh ideas for promotions, décor, or community events to keep things lively and customers coming back.
What You’ll Bring
Must-Haves:
- Previous experience managing (or assistant-managing) a café, restaurant, or hospitality venue.
- A genuine passion for people—both customers and your team.
- Strong organizational and multitasking skills (think: juggling coffee orders and schedule changes with a smile).
- Confident problem-solving abilities and a knack for keeping calm, even during the lunch rush.
- Excellent communication skills, with a comfortable mix of professionalism and warmth.
- Basic budgeting and sales analysis know-how.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Certification or training related to food safety and/or health regulations.
- Experience with POS systems and digital scheduling tools.
- A flair for social media or local marketing.
- Fluent Arabic or English (Bonus points if you can chat with customers in both).
Not sure you tick every box? We’d still love to hear from you.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses—your hard work won’t go unnoticed.
- Flexible scheduling (we respect your personal time, and yes, trading shifts is easy).
- Staff meals and, of course, delicious free coffee.
- Support for professional development—think workshops, training sessions, and space to try new ideas.
- A tight-knit, supportive team where everyone’s voice matters.
- Opportunities to take part in community events and build real connections in Al Zahir.
- Modern, welcoming space—and a culture that values laughter, learning, and great playlists.
We’re big believers that cafés are built around people—so whether you have big dreams for our latte art or want to lead the best team in the neighborhood, this could be your place.
Common Interview Questions and Tips
To help you prepare and feel confident, here are some questions you might encounter during the interview process for this role.
- Tell us about a time you managed a busy shift—how did you prioritize tasks and keep both customers and staff happy during peak hours?
- What strategies have you used in the past to track sales trends and boost revenue in a hospitality setting?
- How do you approach creating staff schedules to balance both operational needs and individual staff preferences?
- Give an example of how you’ve handled a tricky situation with an unhappy customer or a supply issue—what was your approach and what did you learn from it?
- Can you walk us through your process for maintaining high standards of cleanliness and safety in a café or restaurant environment?
- How have you motivated your team to consistently deliver attentive, personal service, even on particularly hectic days?
- Describe a promotional idea or community event you’ve spearheaded that brought in new regulars or built customer loyalty.
- When providing feedback or guidance, how do you ensure it’s both constructive and encourages team members’ growth?
- Have you worked with POS systems or digital scheduling tools before? If so, which ones, and how did they improve daily operations?
- How would you bring your own energy or style to help our café fit into the Al Zahir community?
- Collaboration is important here—can you share how you’ve worked with your team to solve a problem or make a group decision?
- How do you maintain a positive atmosphere in the workplace, especially during stressful times?
- If you notice a team member is struggling with their role, what steps would you take to support them?
- What attracts you most to working in a close-knit, community-focused café like ours, and how would you contribute to our welcoming culture?