Café Manager — Tropical Smoothie Café
At Tropical Smoothie Café, we inspire a healthier lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies with a bit of tropical fun! We're looking for a megastar who embraces our belief that when you eat better, you feel better — someone with a fun, outgoing personality who welcomes every customer like family. Our team is built on four core values: Solid Relationships, Playing to Win, Creative Spirit, and Living Better. If you've got Tropitude (that's our mojo — positive energy that makes every shift better), we want you on our team!
As the brand ambassador for our café located at 9020 Albemarle Rd Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28227, the Café Manager wears the "owner's hat" — leading day-to-day operations, developing a crew that delivers unparalleled hospitality, and driving profitability through smart, hands-on management. This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves coaching people up, and takes real pride in running a tight, welcoming café.
What You'll Do:
- Lead front-of-house and back-of-house operations, staying hands-on in every station
- Recruit, hire, train, and develop Crew Members and Shift Leaders to keep the café fully and appropriately staffed
- Coach and lead your team during every shift, upholding brand standards for hospitality, quality, and speed of service
- Monitor sales growth and cost control against budget and historical performance to hit profit goals
- Manage labor, inventory, and par levels to meet staffing needs and sales strategy
- Execute marketing and promotional programs, and build café sales by cultivating relationships in the local business community
- Maintain all sanitation, safety, and appearance standards, ensuring ServSafe compliance and proper food handling
- Ensure equipment is in working order to keep the café running smoothly
- Create a professional, consistent, and welcoming image for the café and crew
- Jump in wherever needed — no task is beneath the owner's hat!
What We're Looking For:
- Minimum 3 years of managerial experience in restaurant or fast-casual settings
- A track record of recruiting, hiring, training, and developing great teams
- Experience growing sales and delivering excellent customer service
- Proven ability to manage cost of goods and labor, with strong P&L and budget skills
- Confidence driving operational excellence on both sides of the house
- A self-starter who can navigate ambiguity, make solid decisions, and problem-solve on the fly
- Basic computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- ServSafe Certification preferred
- Legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Physical Requirements:
- Continuous standing and walking throughout each shift
- Ability to bend, lift, and carry up to 25 lbs (stocking, ice, trash, etc.)
- Comfortable with constant face-to-face interaction in a fast-paced environment
- Able to multi-task and stay positive under pressure
Working Conditions:
- Expect a ~50-hour work week based on business needs
- Some early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, with opening/closing responsibilities
- A fun, fast-paced, upbeat environment — and no fryers!
- Comfortable with a high level of change and always leading with our core values
Supplemental pay
- Bonus pay