What are the responsibilities and job description for the General Manager, Cafe position at Vale Concepts?
General Manager — Café | South Lake Union, Seattle, WA
We’re looking for a hands-on, entrepreneurial General Manager to lead our café in the heart of South Lake Union. You’ll manage a tight-knit team of 6 baristas and be right there on bar when needed—leading by example, solving problems on the fly, and elevating both team performance and guest experience.
Who You Are: You bring an owner’s mentality to everything you do. You care deeply about quality, consistency, and systems—but you’re just as excited to come up with a new seasonal drink as you are to refine a closing checklist. You think strategically about staffing and sales goals, and you’re energized by the opportunity to help grow our business through corporate catering, creative marketing promotions, and high operational standards.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead and manage all café operations, including hiring, scheduling, training, and development of a 6-person barista team
- Uphold and evolve systems that ensure consistency, cleanliness, and efficiency
- Jump behind the bar to support during rushes or gaps—serving world-class coffee with warmth and speed
- Collaborate with leadership on drink development, marketing ideas, and local partnerships
- Implement and scale a business catering program tailored to our neighborhood and clientele
- Monitor costs, margins, and performance metrics to hit business goals
- Create a culture of accountability, care, and pride in the café’s performance
- You’ll report directly to our Director of Operations & Drink Experience, a CIA- and Alinea-trained chef
What You Bring:
- 3 years of experience in café or restaurant management roles
- Barista experience and comfort working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
- Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage a team
- Strong problem-solving skills and a bias toward action
- A love of hospitality and a high bar for both quality and process
- Experience with inventory, scheduling, and cost control systems
Location: This position is full-time and based on-site in South Lake Union, Seattle, WA.
Compensation: We offer a competitive salary (DOE), healthcare benefits, PTO, free coffee, and a meaningful role in shaping our coffee brand’s success and culture.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid training
Shift:
- Day shift
Location:
- Seattle, WA 98121 (Preferred)
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Seattle, WA 98121 (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $75,000 - $85,000