Coffee Shop Manager

Sunderland City Centre

Buy a coffee. Be part of the story.

A small coffee shop with a big purpose

We are looking for a warm, capable and hands-on Coffee Shop Manager to lead the everyday running of our community coffee shop.
This is cosy, atmospheric and welcoming venue, supported by a close-knit team of baristas.

It is open to everyone and exists to serve excellent coffee, create human connection and generate profits that help fund services supporting men’s mental health.

Every coffee sold contributes to that purpose.
Buy a coffee. Be part of the story.

About the role
As Coffee Shop Manager, you will be at the heart of the coffee shop welcoming customers, working alongside the baristas and making sure each day runs smoothly.

Alongside the MD, you will take responsibility for the team, service, coffee quality, stock, rotas, cleanliness and daily financial controls.

You will create a calm and friendly atmosphere where customers want to return and where the team feels supported to do its best work.

This is a practical, hands-on role. You will spend much of your time working alongside the team, serving customers and maintaining standards rather than managing from an office.

What you will do?
You will:
• Manage the day-to-day running of the coffee shop.
• Lead, support and organise a small team of baristas.
• Prepare and serve drinks when needed, particularly during busy periods.
• Create rotas and ensure shifts are appropriately covered.
• Maintain consistently exceptional standards of coffee, food, service and presentation.
• Offer every customer a friendly, personal and professional welcome.
• Manage stock levels, place orders and maintain good supplier relationships.
• Monitor waste, cash, sales and everyday operating costs.
• Complete opening, closing, cashing-up and daily safety checks.
• Ensure food hygiene, allergen, cleaning, health and safety and fire-safety requirements are followed.
• Respond positively to customer feedback and resolve concerns appropriately.
• Help promote the coffee shop through local events, partnerships and social media activity.
• Share simple sales and performance updates with the business’s leadership team.
• Help the team understand how the success of the coffee shop supports the businesses’s wider mission.

Coffee with a purpose

The coffee shop will be open to the public while also providing a welcoming meeting place, which provides the space and revenue necessary deliver the work that supports their male suicide prevention services.

You will not be expected to provide counselling or act as a mental-health professional. Your role is to offer a warm welcome, maintain appropriate boundaries and signpost to the appropriate resources if someone needs additional support.

You will be expected to complete Level 2 mental-health awareness and safeguarding training, which will be arranged by us.

We are looking for someone who believes in the mission and purpose of the business but most importantly loves coffee!

About you
You may already be working as a Cafe Manager, Coffee Shop Manager, Assistant Manager or experienced Cafe Supervisor who is ready to take responsibility for a small venue.

We are looking for someone who has:
• Experience working in a cafe, coffee shop or similar hospitality environment.
• Previous responsibility for supervising people or managing shifts.
• Excellent practical barista skills and a genuine Passion for quality coffee.
• A warm, approachable and customer-focused manner.
• The confidence to lead a small team while remaining part of it.
• Experience managing rotas, stock, cash and daily operating procedures.
• A good understanding of food hygiene, allergens and safe working practices.
• Basic commercial awareness and an understanding of sales, costs and waste.
• A calm, organised and dependable approach.
• Empathy, good judgement and appropriate professional boundaries.
• A genuine connection with the purpose of the coffee shop.

You do not need to come from a charity or mental-health background. We are primarily looking for a strong hospitality person who cares about people and wants their work to contribute to something meaningful.

What we can offer
• The opportunity to lead a small, friendly coffee shop with a clear social purpose.
• A supportive working relationship with the businesses’s wider team.
• Mental-health awareness, safeguarding and role-specific training.
• The chance to shape the customer experience and day-to-day culture of the coffee shop.
• The satisfaction of knowing that the success of the coffee shop helps fund support for men’s mental health.

How to apply
Please send your CV and a short statement telling us:
1. About your cafe, coffee or hospitality experience.
2. How you have supported a team and maintained excellent service standards.
3. Why you would like to manage a coffee shop with a social purpose.

Every customer will come through the door for their own reason. Some will come for excellent coffee. Some will come for company. Some may simply need a welcoming place to pause.
Your role will be to make sure they all feel welcome.

Buy a coffee. Be part of the story.