Cafe Lead - Menlo Park Cafe

Saint Frank Coffee
  • Menlo Park, CA
  • $31
1 day ago

Job Description

ABOUT SAINT FRANK COFFEE 

Come work with a company with a big heart and even bigger ambitions to make everyday extraordinary through relationship coffee. Our work touches the entire living stream of coffee, from the producers we partner with at origin to the guests we serve in our cafés, at home, and through our wholesale partners.

At Saint Frank, we ground practical skills in aspirational goals, guided by the twin beliefs that everything matters and everything is connected. We believe exceptional coffee begins with meaningful relationships, careful attention to detail, and a commitment to elevating everyone we encounter.

Whether you're a barista, roaster, production team member, or café leader, every role contributes to a shared purpose. Together, we create opportunities for one another to grow professionally and personally while building a coffee community rooted in hospitality, curiosity, and connection. 


ROLE OVERVIEW

The Café Lead is more than an operational leader, they are a steward of the Saint Frank experience. This role is for someone who is passionate about hospitality, relationship coffee, and developing people.

Partnering closely with the Retail General Manager, the Café Lead helps cultivate a café where exceptional hospitality, operational excellence, and meaningful relationships come together every day. Through coaching, thoughtful leadership, and attention to the details that matter, the Café Lead helps create an environment where both our team and our guests feel welcomed, cared for, and inspired.

*This position is for our cafe located at 1018 Alma St. Menlo Park, CA 94025*


WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Success in this role means balancing strong operational execution with thoughtful leadership while continually investing in the growth of the team, the café, and our community.

The Café Lead is responsible for creating an environment where our people thrive, our guests feel genuinely cared for, and the Saint Frank experience is lived with consistency every day.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Lead & Develop the Team

The Café Lead creates an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and inspired to do their best work.
Responsibilities include:

  • Partner with the Retail General Manager in hiring and onboarding new team members.
  • Coach, mentor, and develop Baristas, Shift Leads, and Quality Control Leads.
  • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, coaching conversations, and performance feedback.
  • Foster accountability while creating a culture built on humility, trust, curiosity, and continuous learning.
  • Identify and develop future leaders.
  • Support team morale while maintaining clear expectations and consistent follow-through.

2. Lead Daily Café Operations

Ensure the café operates smoothly while providing an exceptional experience for guests and employees alike.
Responsibilities include:

  • Coordinate staffing and scheduling based on business needs.
  • Manage staffing adjustments, call-outs, and emergency coverage.
  • Review payroll-related items including timecards, tip administration, and time off requests.
  • Maintain personnel documentation and operational records.
  • Support operational decision-making and continuous improvement.
  • Partner closely with the Retail General Manager to achieve café goals.

3. Champion Hospitality & Coffee Quality

Lead by example, ensuring every guest experiences the warmth, intentionality, and excellence that define Saint Frank.
Responsibilities include:

  • Model exceptional hospitality and coffee service.
  • Maintain daily standards for beverage quality, cleanliness, and presentation.
  • Partner with the Coffee Educator and Quality Control team to uphold quality standards.
  • Coach team members in real time to strengthen hospitality and coffee preparation.
  • Lead training, shadow shifts, and ongoing development opportunities.
  • Reinforce the belief that everything matters, from the guest experience to the smallest operational details.

4. Steward the Café

Care for the café as a steward of the space, ensuring it remains welcoming, organized, safe, and operating at a high level.
Responsibilities include:

  • Oversee facilities, equipment, and maintenance needs.
  • Manage vendor relationships and operational ordering.
  • Monitor inventory, café organization, and supply levels.
  • Maintain cash handling and operational compliance.
  • Uphold food safety, sanitation, and health department standards.
  • Ensure the café reflects the excellence and care expected of Saint Frank.

5. Build Culture & Community

Leadership extends beyond operations.
Responsibilities include:

  • Foster meaningful relationships with teammates, guests, producers, and our broader community.
  • Facilitate café meetings, leadership meetings, and team gatherings.
  • Plan team-building opportunities throughout the year.
  • Communicate consistently and thoughtfully with the team.
  • Participate in company events including Origin Nights, Babette's Feast, Café Lead Retreats, and other leadership initiatives.
  • Embody and strengthen Saint Frank's mission, philosophy, and values every day.

EXPERIENCE

  • Leadership experience in specialty coffee, hospitality, restaurant, or retail operations preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and support others.
  • Strong understanding of hospitality, café operations, and food safety standards.
  • Comfortable balancing leadership responsibilities with hands-on operational work.
  • General computer proficiency and administrative organization.


LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

We're looking for someone who:

  • Leads with humility, consistency, and care.
  • Takes ownership and follows through.
  • Communicates thoughtfully and respectfully.
  • Balances operational excellence with genuine hospitality.
  • Notice details because they believe everything matters.
  • Builds meaningful relationships with teammates and guests.
  • Remains calm under pressure while helping others feel confident and supported.
  • Demonstrates curiosity, initiative, and a desire to continually learn and grow.
  • Learns, understands, embodies, and helps instill Saint Frank's mission, philosophy, and values every day.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

  • Competitive hourly compensation: $31.00 per hour + floor coverage tips
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits for eligible full-time employees
  • Paid time off, unpaid time off, and sick leave in accordance with San Francisco OLSE requirements
  • One complimentary bag of coffee each week
  • Merchandise discounts
  • $30 monthly phone allowance
  • Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development as Saint Frank continues to grow
  • A supportive, respectful culture where your growth matters as much as the work you do

SCHEDULE & AVAILABILITY

This is a full-time leadership position.

The Café Lead typically works early morning through afternoon shifts based on business needs.

This role requires:

  • Full-time availability.
  • Availability to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays.
  • Flexibility to adjust schedules to support staffing and operational needs.
  • Readiness to assist with call-outs, shift coverage, and day-of operational challenges as they arise.


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Ability to stand and move throughout the café for up to eight hours per shift.
  • Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to perform repetitive tasks, including preparing espresso beverages by hand.
  • Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
  • Ability to bend, reach, kneel, squat, climb stairs, and perform other physical tasks required in a café environment.

WHY SAINT FRANK?

At Saint Frank, we're building much more than a coffee company.

We're building meaningful relationships, with our producers, our teammates, our guests, and our community. We believe that exceptional coffee and exceptional hospitality have the power to elevate everyday life.

If you're excited by thoughtful work, meaningful relationships, continual learning, and the opportunity to grow alongside a passionate team, we'd love to hear from you.

Saint Frank Coffee is an equal opportunity employer.


Numbers & Facts

LocationMenlo Park, CA
Salary$31

Skills

  • Beveragesunmatched
  • Coachingunmatched
  • Computer Skillsunmatched
  • Continuous Improvementunmatched
  • Decision Supportunmatched
  • Detail Orientedunmatched
  • Documentationunmatched
  • Equipment Maintenance/Repairunmatched
  • Espresso Makingunmatched
  • Facilities Managementunmatched
  • Facilities and Maintenanceunmatched
  • Follow Throughunmatched
  • Food Safetyunmatched
  • Health Departmentunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Lift/Move 50 Poundsunmatched
  • Mentoringunmatched
  • Onboardingunmatched
  • Operational Supportunmatched
  • Operationsunmatched
  • Organizational Skillsunmatched
  • Philosophyunmatched
  • Physical Demandsunmatched
  • Quality Controlunmatched
  • Quality Metricsunmatched
  • Restaurantunmatched
  • Retail Managementunmatched
  • Retail Operationsunmatched
  • Safety/Work Safetyunmatched
  • Sanitationunmatched
  • Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)unmatched
  • Thought Leadershipunmatched
  • Training/Teachingunmatched
  • Vendor/Supplier Relationsunmatched
  • Wholesale Industryunmatched

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