Cafe Assistant Manager

The Café Assistant Manager works with the Café Manager in overseeing the daily operations of the Umami Café at Portland Japanese Garden, ensuring an exceptional guest experience aligned with the Garden’s mission of inspiring Peace and Harmony. This position combines leadership and administrative responsibilities, including staff support, inventory management, POS troubleshooting, training, and guest relations. As a visible leader in the Café, the Assistant Manager promotes a calm, respectful, and efficient service environment, modeling standards and contributing to a cohesive, high-performing team with a counter service model. This position is based at the primary Garden campus, located at 611 SW Kingston Ave in Portland, Oregon.

Primary Duties

Guest Experience & Service Flow

· Serve as a role model for the Garden’s hospitality values and customer service standards rooted in omotenashi.

· Support and execute smooth service flow, tea and food preparation, and guest interactions.

· Act as Manager on Duty (MOD), overseeing daily operations, opening and closing duties, and real-time problem-solving.

Leadership & Team Development

· Collaborate with the Café Manager to coach and mentor team members through direct observation, feedback, and encouragement.

· In conjunction with the Café Manager, manage the hiring and onboarding of Café staff.

· Actively participate in cross-training and professional development of staff in alignment with Café goals and Garden values.

· Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, and trust while supporting a welcoming and inclusive team environment.

· Build strong working relationships with colleagues, volunteers, and guests.

· Contribute to team communication through pre-shift meetings and Café updates.

Accounting & Administration

· Assist with inventory systems, including ordering, tracking, and receiving tea, food, and operational supplies.

· Perform weekly or biweekly physical inventory counts and reconcile actuals in Lightspeed inventory software.

· In conjunction with the Café Manager and Finance Department, participate in the annual physical inventory count process, including preparation, counting, and reconciliation of discrepancies.

· Support the development and implementation of inventory control procedures in collaboration with the Café Manager.

· Maintain and reconcile inventory records, including tracking inventory movement, inter-department transfers, and waste.

· Investigate and help correct order-entry and reporting discrepancies in coordination with the Café Manager and Finance Department.

· Reconcile purchase orders with invoices and receive orders into Lightspeed POS software.

· Maintain accurate POS operations, including tip pool data, cash handling, and daily reconciliation procedures.

· Maintain petty cash reserves, oversee cash deposits, and assist with daily sales reporting.

· Coordinate with IT support to troubleshoot POS and system issues.

· Coordinate with Facilities and report issues related to café equipment or facilities to the Café Manager and Director of Events & Hospitality.

· Create and supervise adherence to daily staff rotation schedules and workflows, including breaks and housekeeping projects.

· Assist with staff scheduling and management of time-off requests in coordination with the Café Manager.

· Approve staff timecards and resolve timekeeping issues in the Café Manager’s absence.

· Participate in the upkeep of digital tools, timekeeping systems, and back-of-house communications.

· Maintain cleanliness and organization of café, storage, and office spaces.

· Act as Manager on Duty during quarterly Multnomah County health inspections in the absence of the Café Manager.

· Maintain café visual and merchandising standards set by the Café Manager and Director of Events & Hospitality

· Support other departments and special projects as needed.

Customer Relations & Brand Representation

· Respond promptly and professionally to guest feedback and concerns, both on-site and via platforms such as Yelp, in collaboration with management.

· Maintain current knowledge of Garden events, tea , and café offerings to support informed and engaging guest service.

Other Responsibilities

· Familiarize oneself with the organization and the Employee Handbook.

· Get to know fellow staff members, developing trust, establishing credibility, encouraging teamwork, and creating an atmosphere of open, honest, two-way communication .

· Serve as a role model for Garden volunteers, providing support and encouragement to volunteers in their roles across the Garden.

· Maintain a high level of professionalism in manner and appearance.

· Adhere to Garden Dress Code and wear Garden uniform.

Qualifications

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the position, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for this role.

· Minimum 2–3 years of experience in food and beverage operations, with at least 1 year in a supervisory role; counter-service café and inventory management experience preferred.

· Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and inspire a service-focused team.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams.

· Detail-oriented, organized, and effective at multitasking in a fast-paced environment.

· Proficiency with POS systems; familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) a plus.

· Experience working with or supporting union-represented staff preferred, including the ability to follow collective bargaining agreements, apply policies consistently, and collaborate with People & Organizational Culture and management as appropriate.

· Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and inspire a service-focused team

Special Requirements

· This position requires the ability to remain stationary and/or move throughout the café and Garden for extended periods of time.

· Regularly requires standing, walking, bending, and light lifting consistent with a food service environment (generally up to 25 lbs).

· Work is performed primarily indoors in the café and office environment, with occasional work outdoors across the Garden campus.

· Work environment includes frequent interaction with staff, volunteers, and guests in a public-facing setting.

· Noise levels and pace vary depending on visitor volume, seasonal activity, and special events.

· Must successfully complete first aid and food safety training (provided by the Garden).

Compensation & Schedule

· This is a full-time, salaried position starting at $50,000 annually with 40-45 hours per week. Shifts are typically 8 hours (plus ½ hour lunch), scheduled between 7:00am – 7:30pm.

· Benefits:

o health, dental, and vision insurance (premium 100% covered for employees), with partial deductible reimbursement

o 401k plan (after 6 months, with 4% employer match after 1 year)

o flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses

o paid vacation, sick, and holiday time

o free access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Transportation

The Garden is located at 611 SW Kingston Avenue, in Washington Park. Below are the transportation options for staff commuting to the Garden:

Parking: Staff may park in the numbered spaces throughout Washington Park, which require payment. Additionally, staff may request parking permits from Washington Park. The Garden subsidizes a portion of the cost for parking permits; the cost for staff is $75 during the high season (March – September) and $50 during the low season (October – February).

Bus Passes: For staff who take public transit as their primary means of commuting to the Garden, we provide paid bus passes. Full-time staff receive a monthly TriMet pass, and part-time staff receive daily passes, based on their work schedule.

Transportation Stipend: Staff who take any form of alternative transit to get to work qualify for a $5 daily stipend. This includes taking public transit, walking, biking, carpooling, or getting dropped off. The only staff who do not qualify for the stipend are those who are receiving a bus pass through the Garden.

Applications

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three work-related references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please no phone calls or hand delivered applications. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

All submitted applications will be held in confidence.