Café Manager

Contact details

For further information please download the JD or contact Max Smith, Head of Commercial; or Eleanor Cherry, Operations Manager for more details.

Closing date Thursday 26th August 2026.

Term: Full-time 37 hours a week, including weekend work.

We offer attractive benefits:

• Generous annual leave of 33 days per year inclusive of 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Free Meal on Shift
• 5% Employer pension contributions
• Group Life Assurance 2 x salary
• Health Cash plan and well being services with Westfield Health
• Sick Pay
• 2 volunteering days per year (pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Herefordshire Wildlife Trust work wear
• Staff discounts at our visitor centre

This post is part of our catering operation at Queenswood Arboretum & Country Park.

Main Job Purpose: 

This post is part of our catering operation at Queenswood Arboretum & Country Park. We will deliver the highest of standards to help ensure that visitors have a fantastic experience. 
As the Café Team Manager you will work closely with the Head of Commercial to:

• Manage and oversee the daily operations of the HWT Queenswood Cafe blending operational excellence with creativity and customer focus to ensure the cafe is welcoming and profitable.
• Promote income generation and drive business growth of the Cafe
  Ensure best-in-class customer service
• Lead and manage an engaged Café team

Term: Perm/Full time/37hr weekReports to:  Head of Commercial

Location:Queenswood Country Park although on rare occasions you may be asked to support at our other locations in the local area (with travel expenses covered).Management Responsibility:Café Team: Cook, Café Team leader, Café assistantsLiaison with: Head of Commercial, Cafe Staff, Suppliers and the general Public

Key Responsibilities:

Effectively managing the day-to-day operation of the busy Café at Queenswood Arboretum and Country Park.

Staff Management

• Manage a team of Café Assistants both full and part time, recruiting, training, and supervising staff.
• Lead an engaged team of Café Assistants on a day-to-day basis, whilst also considering individual team members’ development journeys with the Trust
• Organise and maintain the Café staff rota to ensure adequate cover through a mix of permanent and sessional resources, accommodating demand and seasonal variations
• Role model excellent communication within the team and promote team working

Financial and Budgetary Responsibilities

• Manage café income and expenditure against agreed budgets.
• Manage café financial systems, including stock ordering, cashing up each day and adding stock to back office till system
• Manage stock effectively and undertaking regular stock takes
• Assist the Commercial Manager in managing cost effectiveness of the Café by increasing sales and reducing cost of sales to deliver realistic and profitable financial performance

Compliance of H&S standards

• Ensure that the Café and kitchen areas are maintained to a high standard ensuring compliance with health, safety and hygiene legislation and guidelines and the site risk assessments
• Ensure that all health and safety obligations are met in all aspects of the role.

Customer Service

• To act as customer champion, promoting a best-in-class level of customer service to ensure that visitors receive a highly valued customer experience at Queenswood
• Represent the Trust in a professional manner and to always act in a manner which will only enhance its reputation
• Be an active public face of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, promoting a positive image of the Trust in person and through social media to all its visitors

Menu and Product development

• Create a vibrant offer for the Café to promote increased use and turnover, and to maximise its profit.
• Where possible, set a Menu that utilises local suppliers that adheres to ‘Herefordshire Wildlife Trusts’ purchasing guidelines.
• Ensure food within the Café is prepared to a high standard and considers a range of dietary needs.

Measurements Of Success

• Maintain a hygiene rating of Level 5
• Low wastage and good stock management
• Achieve budgeted profit (income over expenditure)
• Increased levels of income generation
• Visitor satisfaction surveys

Other Duties

• Undertake Health and Safety duties commensurate with the post and as detailed in the Trust's Health and Safety policy;
• Comply with all other organisational policies and relevant legislation e.g. Equal Opportunities – it being the responsibility of the post holder to make themselves aware of such items
• Take advantage of formal and informal opportunities for personal and professional development, participate in appropriate training activities in consultation with your line manager
• Cascade relevant skills and knowledge to relevant staff and volunteers 
  Act as an ambassador for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, constructing and maintaining positive relationships with volunteers, visitors and other organisations
• Contribute to external and internal communications, media and events as required.
• Actively encourage those you with whom you come into professional contact to become members of HWT (all staff are regarded as membership recruiters)
• Undertake any other work that might be deemed necessary by HWT commensurate with the level of responsibility of this post. Work with the broader HWT team on any other activities that match your skills and abilities as agreed with your line-manager.

JD Cafe Manager

• JD Cafe Manager Final 06-08-2026.pdf(237.35 KB)

Ex offenders Recruitment policy

• Recruitment ex offenders(114.51 KB)