Cafe Manager - Waikanae Beach Cafe

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey. Are you an experienced hospitality leader ready to take the reins of one of Gisborne’s most recognisable beachside destinations? Waikanae Beach Café is looking for a capable, energetic and commercially minded Cafe Manager to lead our team, deliver an outstanding customer experience, and help shape the continued success of this iconic local venue. Recently renovated and positioned in a prime beachside location, Waikanae Beach Cafe is a well-known part of the Gisborne community. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a busy hospitality environment, enjoys leading people, and has the operational know-how to run a successful café with confidence. We are looking for a hands-on leader who can bring strong standards, great service, sound financial discipline and a positive team culture to one of Gisborne’s most loved café locations. With support from Nāti Growth/Ngati Porou Fisheries (parent entities) you will be responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of Waikanae Beach Cafe and ensuring the business delivers outstanding outcomes across customer service, team performance, food and beverage quality, compliance, financial performance and operational systems. You’ll oversee all aspects of café operations, including: Leading, motivating and developing the café team Delivering exceptional customer service and maintaining strong brand standards Managing rosters, staffing levels and team performance Driving sales, profitability and cost control Maintaining food and beverage quality, consistency and presentation standards Managing stock, suppliers, POS processes and cash handling Ensuring food safety, health and safety, cleaning and compliance requirements are met Implementing and maintaining effective systems, procedures and checklists Identifying opportunities for business growth, events, promotions and local partnerships Creating a welcoming, professional and high-performing café environment This is a permanent, full-time position based at Waikanae Beach Cafe in Gisborne. To be successful in this role, you’ll bring: Proven experience managing or supervising a busy café, restaurant, hospitality venue or similar customer-facing operation Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, motivate and develop a team A genuine passion for hospitality and delivering great customer experiences Sound understanding of café operations, including rostering, stock control, food safety, service standards, POS systems and cash handling Commercial awareness and the ability to manage costs, labour, margins and sales performance Excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with staff, customers and suppliers High standards of professionalism, presentation, cleanliness and service Event/function coordination, local marketing or business improvement initiatives would be advantageous. Why Join Waikanae Beach Cafe? Waikanae Beach Cafe is an iconic Gisborne destination with a strong local following and an unbeatable beachside setting. This is a great opportunity to lead a recently renovated venue with real potential for growth. We offer: A hands-on leadership role at a stunning beachside workplace Be supported by and a part of the wider Nāti Growth and Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou group EAP and Wellbeing Services. Fully subsidised Medical Health Insurance, Life Insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance. An inclusive and whanau-focused culture, with a positive and friendly team. #J-18808-Ljbffr