Assistant Café Manager

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts. Meijer Gardens is ranked among the 100 most visited art institutions in the world. The organization embraces the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. Meijer Gardens' commitment is to create a legacy of lifelong learning, enjoyment, and a rich cultural experience for generations to come. 

Department: Café                                     

Supervisor: Café Manager                                                

Pay Type: Full-Time, Hourly, Non-exempt

Position Summary: Assist with managing Cafe food production, guest services and staff through use of the organization’s Guiding Principles. Ensure all functions run smoothly from origination to execution delivering a quality guest experience. Sell, coordinate, manage and produce hands on food service. Work independently as well as with effective direction from manager to support other staff members, volunteers, and vendors. 

Essential Functions

Assist with coordinating, organizing, implementing, and managing Café services and production.

• Ensure coverage for food production and dining room service.

• Ensure quality of products and services throughout distribution

• Assist with menu creation, development, and implementation.

• Oversee vendor services and guests’ activities.

• Provide administrative support for daily communications and train others to do the same.

• Coordinate files and maintain information by verifying all details for special reservations i.e., tour lunches, Member events and special holiday hours.

Assist with maintaining Café inventory.

• Place orders for products. 

• Document inventory waste and assist with month end inventory counts.

• Maintain organized inventory items using sheet-to-shelf inventory system.

• Maintain accurate order guides with updated vendor information.

Assist with delegating staff responsibilities and monitoring performance. 

• Schedule, monitor and document staff hours and daily responsibilities.

• Interview, hire, train, and monitor performance standards; assist with annual reviews.

• Function as a liaison and share and distribute relevant information to the Café team.

• Maintain a positive team approach and professional customer service by working in both the front of the house and back of house, lead by example.

Assist with monitoring and maintaining cleanliness and general organization of cafe and equipment.

• Report and submit work orders to Facility Maintenance and copy Café Manager.

• Maintain all Health Department Standards

• Ensure daily set-up, clean-up and sanitation of all food and beverage areas. 

Coordinate and document food and beverage accounting information and updating POS System.

• Collect payments, fill out paperwork and process cash, checks and credit cards.

• Secure cash for all registers and assign responsibility to staff by register.

• Oversee accurate balancing of registers and monitor variances, and if variances occur, determine cause, and follow up with Café Manager and accounting dept.

• Monitor daily sales and product mix reports and record information on daily sales log.

• Assist with providing the Accounting Department month end sales reports in absence of Café Manager.

• Update and maintain accurate cost and pricing in POS system.

Education and / or Qualifications preferred:

• Experience:

Three years supervisory / management experience in the restaurant industry and customer service  

Able to work a mixed schedule including weekdays, weekends, nights, and holidays.

• Skills/Knowledge/Licenses:
  • Serv Safe Certified
  • Proficient in computer skills including Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, Outlook, POS systems, and ordering platforms.
  • Personable, motivated, productive with leadership abilities
  • Skilled in establishing priorities and managing workloads but able to follow directions.

Organizational Expectations

• Embrace Meijer Gardens’ mission to promote the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
• Embrace the organization’s non-profit status and commitment to serving and treating the public with dignity and working with a broad and diverse group of employees, volunteers, members, and guests in a respectful and professional manner.

Working Conditions: Basic mobility is expected in offices, grounds, and exhibition areas. Ability to observe details at close range and communicate information accurately with others. Engage in occasional object manipulation with or without assistance, and efficiently navigate the workspace to access essential resources. Ability to regularly move up to 20 pounds, frequently up to 50 pounds, and occasionally move 100+ pounds (i.e., load, unload, and move supplies, medium to heavy weight tools, and equipment). Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder. This job operates in a professional indoor office environment, across grounds, and exhibition areas. Occasionally, may be required to work outdoors under inclement weather conditions.

As part of our onboarding process, all new hires are required to complete our background check.Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.