Assistant Cafe Manager

Presse Books - Coffee, Books + Rooftop Garden

Presse Books is a new coffee and bookshop from arts organisation Forma, opening soon at our cultural hub FormaHQ (https://forma.org.uk/formahq/). The building, which has won multiple awards for its approach to environmental sustainability, is home to Forma’s offices, 5 artist studios, a large rooftop garden and an events space.

Forma is a contemporary arts organisation that champions ideas and artists who address the social and political questions of our times. Through a discursive process, we nurture artists’ creative vision and grow their ambition in order to develop collaborative projects that are career defining and lead to new major opportunities around the world. We pride ourselves in being an organisation that artists want to work with.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about creating a positive environment and experienced in speciality coffee but who wants to grow with us and help establish the coffee and retail space within the context of the arts organisation and our creative community. Day-to-day you’ll be selling high quality coffee and books on art, architecture and politics for customers to enjoy in the rooftop garden. There’s also room for you to expand your role and make the space your own over time; test out events like book launches and gigs, expand the menu, have a go at gardening or even get involved in our community-facing projects.

You will work closely with our Deputy Director and be further supported by the rest of the Forma team however we expect you to take initiative and work independently towards the daily smooth running of the cafe including any additional staff hired.

The Role

• Creating a warm and welcoming environment for our customers
• Making great coffee and selling books
• Maintaining our coffee standards with support from Assembly Roastery
• Being responsible for cafe stock management and ordering, including communicating with our suppliers and receiving deliveries
• Maintaining a clean shop and maintaining HSE documentation
• Evolving our small progressive menu
• Input into marketing and promotions
• Training new staff and managing a staff rota
• Opening and closing the public entrance to our award winning garden

What’s on offer?

• Opportunity to establish and grow an exciting new retail space within the context of our creative community, developing skills and gaining hands on experience of retail management
• Further training at Assembly Roastary
• Sales and performance-related bonuses
• 28 days holiday pro rata and pension scheme
• Early starts, early finishes

Must haves

• Be polite and friendly
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in specialty coffee
• Be able to dial in a coffee machine and weigh shots correctly
• Basic knowledge of coffee machines and grinder maintenance
• Happy working alongside baristas providing teaching and mentorship

Like to have

• An interest in visual art and/or experience of working in the cultural sector
• An interest in gardening, horticulture and sustainability

NB: Please note that as this is a new venture we ask that no holidays are taken in the first 2 months of opening.

If you would like to discuss the role or visit FormaHQ in advance of applying then please get in touch with Caroline Heron on [email protected] or call 07769977216.