What are the responsibilities and job description for the General Manager-Cafe O Play position at Urban Sprouts Child Development Center?
About Café O’Play
Café O’Play is a new, mission-driven café opening in Spring 2026 as an extension of Urban Sprouts Child Development Center, a nonprofit organization rooted in community, care, and education.
More than a coffee shop, Café O’Play will be a welcoming neighborhood gathering space—a place where high-quality coffee, thoughtfully prepared food, and warm hospitality come together in a family-friendly environment. Designed to support caregivers, educators, families, and community members, Café O’Play will reflect Urban Sprouts’ values of connection, creativity, and intentionality.
The Cafe will be unique because it is part of a larger nonprofit, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center. We want the spirit of Urban Sprouts to shine through. That spirit emphasizes joy and play and we want our cafe to be a play-forward community gathering space. During the day, the cafe will operate like a more typical specialty coffee shop and cafe. In the afternoons and evenings, it will house separate programs, an afterschool tutoring program and a program that fights food insecurity by providing meals at no cost to children and families in need (these program will be run separately from the cafe but the GM should have a collaborative spirit and a heart for nonprofit work and community wellbeing since we are a cohesive team).
The café will balance exceptional specialty coffee standards with accessibility and a joyful atmosphere—creating a space where people feel cared for, staff feel empowered, and community relationships can grow.
Position Summary
The General Manager of Café O’Play will play a foundational role in bringing this new café to life. This position blends hospitality leadership, operational excellence, and community-building, with a strong emphasis on people—both guests and team members.
The General Manager will be responsible for building and leading the café team, establishing systems and culture from the ground up, and ensuring consistently high standards of coffee quality, service, and guest experience. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in both hands-on leadership and strategic planning, and who is excited to help shape a new concept from its earliest days.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Hire, onboard, train, and manage all café employees
- Create and foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture
- Develop and maintain training materials, including:
- Employee handbook
- Training manual
- Conduct bi-annual (or at minimum, annual) performance reviews
- Lead by example on the floor when needed, including opening, closing, or shift coverage
Operations & Administration
- Create weekly staff schedules at least two weeks in advance
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels during all operating hours
- Place and manage weekly vendor orders
- Submit bi-weekly payroll accurately and on time
- Track, manage, and report monthly inventory
- Monitor sales, labor, and key performance metrics
- Maintain POS backend programming and menu updates
Menu, Quality & Guest Experience
- Develop new menu items and recipes aligned with the café’s vision
- Ensure consistent, high-quality coffee and food standards
- Maintain a strong focus on hospitality and guest satisfaction
- Address guest feedback and resolve concerns professionally and thoughtfully
Facilities & Compliance
- Ensure all equipment and facilities are clean, safe, and in proper working condition
- Coordinate maintenance and repairs as needed
- Maintain a current state-issued SERVSafe Manager Certification
Marketing & Brand Collaboration
- Collaborate with Urban Sprouts leadership and marketing partners to shape:
- Brand voice and messaging
- Visual identity and guest experience
- Promotions and community engagement efforts
Qualifications & Experience
- Passion for specialty coffee and the ability to inspire that passion in others
- Strong desire to serve others and lead with hospitality
- Proven experience in hospitality management
- Experience managing a specialty coffee shop with food service or a restaurant
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities
- Comfort with POS systems, Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and related tools
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Organized, proactive, and detail-oriented
Reporting Relationships
- Reports To: The Director of Storytelling & Engagement will serve as the direct point of contact and act as a liaison between Café O Play and the center. If the direct supervisor is unavailable, the Chief of Strategy and Institutional Advancement and the Chief Operations Officer will serve as secondary points of contact for additional support.
- Supervises: All Café O’Play staff
Benefits
- Consistent schedule
- Paid onboarding and training period prior to opening
- Opportunities to help build and shape a new café from the ground up
- Supportive, mission-driven nonprofit work environment
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- 75% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance
- After one year of employment, coverage increases to 90%
- Paid holidays
- Two paid mental health days
- One week of paid vacation/sick time