Cafe Manager - Dining Services

Full-Time | Dining Services Leader | Yonkers, NY Are you a culinary-minded leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about creating an outstanding retail dining experience? We are seeking an experienced Cafeteria Manager to lead the daily operations of a busy hospital cafeteria and serve as a key member of our Dining Services leadership team. This position is ideal for a hospitality professional who combines culinary creativity with strong operational leadership, financial acumen, and a passion for developing high-performing teams. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by enhancing the dining experience for healthcare employees, physicians, patients, visitors, and guests. What You'll Do As Cafeteria Manager, you will oversee all aspects of the retail dining operation while leading a union team and fostering a culture of hospitality, quality, and accountability. Leadership & Operations Direct the daily operation of the hospital cafeteria, ensuring exceptional food quality, customer service, cleanliness, and operational excellence. Supervise, schedule, coach, and develop a union workforce while promoting teamwork, accountability, and professional growth. Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and train team members in partnership with Human Resources. Provide ongoing coaching, performance evaluations, documentation, and progressive discipline in accordance with company policies and the collective bargaining agreement. Collaborate with Human Resources on employee relations, investigations, and performance management. Culinary & Retail Excellence Develop creative daily, weekly, seasonal, and holiday menu specials that drive customer engagement. Partner with the Executive Chef and kitchen team to introduce new menu offerings and retail concepts. Ensure food presentation, merchandising, freshness, and quality consistently exceed expectations. Continuously evaluate customer preferences and identify opportunities to improve sales and the overall dining experience. Financial & Administrative Management Manage food cost, purchasing, inventory, and waste control. Monitor retail performance and recommend menu, pricing, and merchandising strategies. Oversee the daily operation of the Square POS system, including menu programming, pricing, reporting, and cash accountability. Manage labor scheduling to balance excellent customer service with productivity goals. Collaboration Work closely with culinary leadership, clinical nutrition, Human Resources, and hospital leadership to support department initiatives and organizational goals. Participate in special events, promotions, employee appreciation activities, and hospital functions. Serve as Manager on Duty (MOD) on a rotating basis, including some weekends and alternating holidays , supporting overall Dining Services operations as needed. Qualifications Minimum of 3 years of progressive food service management experience , preferably in healthcare, hospitality, or retail dining. Strong culinary background with a passion for food quality and customer experience. Experience managing retail food service operations. Previous experience supervising union employees strongly preferred. Demonstrated success in scheduling, hiring, coaching, employee development, and performance management. Knowledge of food cost control, inventory management, labor management, and sanitation standards. Experience using Square POS or similar point-of-sale systems preferred. ServSafe Manager Certification preferred. The Ideal Candidate We're looking for someone who is: A hands-on leader who enjoys working alongside their team. Creative and passionate about food, hospitality, and retail dining. Skilled at motivating employees and building a positive workplace culture. Financially minded with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities. Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards for quality and service. An excellent communicator who builds strong relationships with employees, clients, and customers. Why Join Our Team? As part of our Dining Services leadership team, you'll have the opportunity to shape the retail dining experience within a healthcare environment where hospitality truly matters. We value innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, and we invest in leaders who are committed to developing people, delivering exceptional food, and continuously improving operations. If you're ready to lead with creativity, energy, and professionalism, we'd love to hear from you. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.