Position Summary

The Sparechair café is a Social Enterprise café where 100% of profits are funnelled to educational programs that support marginalised young adults. The café has a pay it forward program encouraging patrons to purchase a second coffee/drink or meal for someone in need.

The Sparechair cafe operates Monday to Friday 8am to 3pm. The cafe is located in Kew and this position is expected to oversee all café operations including the delivery of the funded training program, one off fee for service workshops, cooking, and the expansion of the catering arm. The generation of revenue is a key focus of this position, and the incumbent will be required to present Management and Board with strategies and options that will address revenue growth.

About You:

• You are passionate about cooking
• You are passionate about teaching people of all ages and all abilities about food and cooking
• You are creative and use your initiative
• You can manage a budget
• You love working with people and can get the best out of your team
• You think on your feet
• You have a positive attitude and like to bring some fun into your workplace

Targets & KPI’s

• In consultation with the EM present a clear and targeted plan to the Board and Management that addresses revenue growth including but not limited to the expansion of the catering and ‘take home meal’ options, identifying operational costs and maintain yearly budgets.
• Taking inventory of café supplies and ordering new stock as required. Taking responsibility for EOFY stocktake.
• Liaising with cafe staff to ensure the food menu remains seasonal, using KNLC grown produce.
• To investigate and implement a roadmap that sees the Sparechair café achieve environmentally sustainable outcomes over the next 2 years
• To ensure the Social Traders Association accreditation standards are maintained
• To liaise with the program Coordinator in order to design and deliver a targeted hospitality ready program
• Meet the funded training program outcomes and organise cooking demonstrations or classes as part of an ongoing community program
• Scheduling and rosters to ensure adequate café coverage
• Provide staff and students with regular feedback on performance, expectations and workplace culture

Essential Tasks

Administration & Management

• Manage all paid staff, students and volunteers
• Oversee the overall operations of the café including but not limited to stock selection and ordering, staff rostering, monitoring COGS, EOFY stocktake, generation of revenue options, reducing the environmental impact of the café, maintaining the Social Traders Accreditation Certificate
• Utilise the POS system to efficiently provide daily reports monitoring income and stock
• Follow up all catering requests as soon as received.
• Maintain and deliver a vibrant and engaging hospitality program
• Complete all administrative tasks relating to training, as directed by the Program Coordinator.
• Ensure that food processes are clearly articulated and implemented by both students and paid staff in line with legislation and aspire to exceed these
• Maintain the Social Traders accreditation
• Apply for a liquor license
• Oversee, implement and practice all safety and OH&S standards.
• Report any safety issues to the Executive Manager immediately.
• Assist the administration staff with providing material for marketing and social media purposes, including actively engaging platforms to increase patronage.

Cooking

• Together with the casual cook prepare and cook meals for the café daily.
• Together with the casual cook prepare and cook meals as part of a take home meals program.
• Introduce simply meals that can be prepared by staff.
• Ensure all café staff are able to prepare simple food staples for patrons.

Hospitality Training

• Devise, implement and review, with the support of the Program Coordinator, a training program that meets the deliverable outcomes.
• Deliver a practical training program that provides efficient, consistent and high-quality skills.
• Manage the training for the Barista, Kitchen hand, and food handling program (including) ensuring students have basic food hygiene and safety practices knowledge
• Review and include reasonable adjustments as necessary to program delivery based on the ability of the cohort.

Catering

• Review the catering menu
• Engage with prospective catering clients with regard to catering requests.
• Look for opportunities to increase the catering business.
• Liaise with the cook regarding any catering requests and menu selection.
• Lead the kitchen staff when filling catering requests.

Please note this position requires you to cook and would ideally suit an allrounder capable of wearing many hats but who equally can delegate as required.

Prior Experience

• Food Handling Certificate (mandatory) and a training qualification - Desirable
• Demonstrated experience in revenue generation.
• Experience in a small hospitality setting, supervising staff
• Experience with back of house functions, including general kitchen hand, food preparation, cooking and catering operations.
• WWC check mandatory and Police Check
• First aid preferred
• Understanding of social enterprise and of community development principles (Desirable)
• Willingness to work with people of all ages and abilities.

Please note this position requires you to cook and would ideally suit an allrounder capable of wearing many hats but who equally can delegate as required.

This position is offered as 20 hours per week cafe and 5 hours hospitality training.

If you are community minded with a positive attitude and happy to work with a casual creative team this might be the position for you.

We are a very small social enterprise focused on future growth. This position has the potential for more hours for the right candidate.

Orientation will be offered in December with an official start date of January 20th 2025.

All applicants are encouraged to contact Barbara on 9853 3126 for a confidential chat before applying.

A Position Description is attached with further details.