What are the responsibilities and job description for the STORE MANAGER | HOSPITALITY LEADER & TEAM BUILDER position at FIVE LAKES COFFEE, INC.?
STORE MANAGER // HOSPITALITY LEADER & TEAM BUILDER // Kendallville, IN
Build the team. Lead the floor. Strengthen the Store.
Five Lakes Coffee is looking for a Store Manager who wants meaningful responsibility - not only a management title. This is a people-building, floor-leading hospitality job with responsibility for the health of the complete coffee house.
About Five Lakes
Five Lakes Coffee is a family-owned coffee company serving communities in Michigan and Indiana. Our LAKES values are to love and value people, act with integrity, keep it simple, exceed expectations, and show gratitude. Our work is faith-informed and grounded in stewardship, respect, meaningful work, and practical care for people.
What unconditional hospitality means here
We care for the person in front of us whether the moment is easy or difficult. We expect dependable service for everyone and personal hospitality for the individual. That means noticing, listening, staying curious, and helping guests and team members feel valued without keeping score.
What this job really is
You will build the team, work on the floor, lead busy periods, coach employees, solve staffing problems, protect standards, understand the basic numbers, and prepare the store for tomorrow instead of merely surviving today.
We can teach coffee, recipes, and Five Lakes systems. We need a leader who already brings character, ownership, humility, urgency, hospitality, and the courage to coach people.
You will | What it means |
Build the team | Recruit, hire, train, recognize, coach, and develop dependable shift leaders. |
Lead the floor | See the whole store, set priorities, help where needed, and protect warmth during pressure. |
Protect the standard | Keep drinks accurate, the store clean, routines clear, and problems addressed. |
Care for the business | Build useful schedules, use labor responsibly, reduce waste, and understand store results. |
Live the culture | Treat guests and employees with dignity, tell the truth, show gratitude, and follow through. |
The honest reality
Most weeks average about 45 hours. Vacancies, call-offs, training, seasonal demand, or store recovery can create weeks near 60 hours. Early mornings, weekends, and changing needs are part of the job. Extended weeks should not become permanent; a successful manager builds staffing, leaders, routines, and support that return the store to a healthier condition.
You may thrive here if you
• Enjoy developing people.
• Can be kind and clear at the same time.
• Want to lead an active store, not sit in an office.
• Will clean, stock, serve, make drinks, and work beside the team.
• Stay calm and present when the store is busy or short-staffed.
• Take feedback, tell the truth, and follow through.
This is probably not the right role if you
• Mainly want to focus on coffee craft.
• Avoid difficult employee conversations.
• Want authority without responsibility for results.
• Need perfect staffing before you can lead.
• Believe store work is beneath a manager.
• Prefer doing everything yourself instead of developing other leaders.
Pay & Perks
Base Pay: $20-$25 per hour
Free shift drink or coffee
40% off apparel and store products
Matching 401K after 90 days (for team members 21 )
Training: 8-12 weeks for an experienced external manager
Apply with a resume and short answers to: (1) What team have you directly led? (2) Tell us about a staffing or coaching problem you personally solved. (3) Why does a working Store Manager role appeal to you?
Salary : $20 - $25