What are the responsibilities and job description for the Café and Cafeteria Manager position at College of Eastern Idaho?
Job Summary
The Café and Cafeteria Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the College of Eastern Idaho’s campus café, cafeteria, and catering services, including food preparation, budgeting, customer service, staffing, inventory, sanitation, cash handling, daily balancing, compliance with applicable food safety standards, and other duties as assigned. This position will be located at both CEI’s Main Campus and Workforce Training Campus. This position supports a welcoming and efficient dining experience for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors while maintaining high standards for quality, cleanliness, safety, and service.
What We Offer
Benefits
At the College of Eastern Idaho, we're dedicated to providing open access to affordable, high-quality education that meets the needs of our students, regional employers, and the community. To support our dedicated faculty and staff, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for qualifying employees:
Typical Job Functions
Physical Demands And Work Environment
This role requires regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting throughout the workday. Duties include carrying supplies, stocking inventory, operating kitchen and café equipment, and performing gross and fine motor tasks involving frequent use of hands. The position may require lifting or moving items up to 30–50 pounds, such as product boxes, small equipment, or bulk ingredients. Extended periods of standing are typical during peak service hours, along with occasional kneeling, stooping, or reaching overhead to access storage areas.
Work Environment: Work is performed indoors in a café setting with exposure to food preparation equipment, hot surfaces, refrigeration units, and cleaning agents. Employees may experience occasional temperature changes due to kitchen heat, open doors, or equipment operation. Noise levels can vary depending on customer volume and equipment use.
Background Investigations
Employment at College of Eastern Idaho will be contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation and may require a credit and/or motor vehicle background investigation depending on the position. Please refer to Policy 225: Background Checks.
EOE/ADA - Hiring is done without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. In addition, preference may be given to qualified veterans under state and federal laws and regulations.
Link to Annual Security Report for CEI:?https://www.cei.edu/students-right-know
College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) offers full-time employees a generous benefit package. For information about our medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance benefits please visit the Office of Group Insurance. Positions classified as exempt are offered retirement benefits administered through Fidelity. Information may be found at https://boardofed.idaho.gov/resources/optional-retirement-plan-transition-to-fidelity-as-sole-retirement-plan-provider/.
Additional benefits include vacation, sick, and holiday leave; tuition benefits; and a selection of voluntary benefits.
The Café and Cafeteria Manager is responsible for the daily operations of the College of Eastern Idaho’s campus café, cafeteria, and catering services, including food preparation, budgeting, customer service, staffing, inventory, sanitation, cash handling, daily balancing, compliance with applicable food safety standards, and other duties as assigned. This position will be located at both CEI’s Main Campus and Workforce Training Campus. This position supports a welcoming and efficient dining experience for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors while maintaining high standards for quality, cleanliness, safety, and service.
What We Offer
Benefits
At the College of Eastern Idaho, we're dedicated to providing open access to affordable, high-quality education that meets the needs of our students, regional employers, and the community. To support our dedicated faculty and staff, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for qualifying employees:
- Affordable Health Plans: With three medical plan options, you can select healthcare coverage that best meets your needs. See rates here.
- Supporting Work-Life Balance: Earn sick leave with no accrual limit starting day one. Staff accrue vacation leave starting at 15 days a year with a tiered system (Faculty excluded from vacation leave).
- Retirement Savings: Faculty and exempt staff are enrolled in the Fidelity 401 (a)plan. Non-exempt or vested employees are enrolled in the PERSI base plan. View contribution rates here.
- Life Insurance: no-cost coverage for you and your dependents with the option to add more.
- Educational Savings: Significant tuition fee discounts for qualifying employees and their dependents.
- Exclusive Discounts: Enjoy local discounts on cell plans, movie tickets, gyms, and more.
Typical Job Functions
- Oversee daily operations of the café, cafeteria, and campus catering, ensuring timely, efficient, and friendly service.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate food service employees and student workers.
- Coordinate food preparation, service, and replenishment to meet campus needs throughout operating hours.
- Ensure all food is prepared, handled, stored, and served in accordance with health, safety, and sanitation requirements.
- Monitor food quality, presentation, portion control, and service standards.
- Maintain accurate inventory of food, beverages, supplies, and equipment; place orders as needed and control waste.
- Receive, inspect, and store deliveries following proper food safety and purchasing procedures.
- Operate and oversee point-of-sale transactions, cash handling, deposits, and related records.
- Respond professionally to customer questions, concerns, and feedback.
- Maintain clean, organized, and safe kitchen, service, dining, storage, and equipment areas.
- Assist with menu planning, daily specials, pricing recommendations, and campus catering or special event support as assigned.
- Ensure compliance with college policies, departmental procedures, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
- Prepare reports, maintain records, and communicate operational needs to the appropriate administrator.
- Promote a positive, inclusive, and service-oriented environment for employees and customers.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Two years of previous supervisory experience in a café, cafeteria, restaurant, catering, or higher education food service environment.
- Experience with point-of-sale systems, balancing, budgeting, purchasing, menu planning, and cost control.
- Experience providing customer service in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to supervise staff, organize workflow, and prioritize competing tasks.
- Knowledge of basic food preparation, sanitation, inventory control, and cash handling practices.
- Current ServSafe Manager certification or ability to obtain and maintain ServSafe Manager certification within the timeframe established by the College.
- Ability to work legally in the State of Idaho and meet College employment requirements.
- Ability to repetitively lift 50 pounds.
- Able to work 8 hours on your feet.
- Active Idaho Driver’s License.
- Incumbent must reside in Idaho (Currently, CEI doesn’t sponsor Visas)
- Associate’s degree in culinary arts, hospitality, business management, or related field.
- 5 Years of Supervisory experience in a café, cafeteria, restaurant, hospitality, business, management, or a related field.
- Current ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent food safety certification.
- Bilingual ( Spanish)
Physical Demands And Work Environment
This role requires regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting throughout the workday. Duties include carrying supplies, stocking inventory, operating kitchen and café equipment, and performing gross and fine motor tasks involving frequent use of hands. The position may require lifting or moving items up to 30–50 pounds, such as product boxes, small equipment, or bulk ingredients. Extended periods of standing are typical during peak service hours, along with occasional kneeling, stooping, or reaching overhead to access storage areas.
Work Environment: Work is performed indoors in a café setting with exposure to food preparation equipment, hot surfaces, refrigeration units, and cleaning agents. Employees may experience occasional temperature changes due to kitchen heat, open doors, or equipment operation. Noise levels can vary depending on customer volume and equipment use.
Background Investigations
Employment at College of Eastern Idaho will be contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation and may require a credit and/or motor vehicle background investigation depending on the position. Please refer to Policy 225: Background Checks.
EOE/ADA - Hiring is done without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. In addition, preference may be given to qualified veterans under state and federal laws and regulations.
Link to Annual Security Report for CEI:?https://www.cei.edu/students-right-know
College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) offers full-time employees a generous benefit package. For information about our medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance benefits please visit the Office of Group Insurance. Positions classified as exempt are offered retirement benefits administered through Fidelity. Information may be found at https://boardofed.idaho.gov/resources/optional-retirement-plan-transition-to-fidelity-as-sole-retirement-plan-provider/.
Additional benefits include vacation, sick, and holiday leave; tuition benefits; and a selection of voluntary benefits.