Job Title: Hospitality Manager
Start Date: On or before Monday 15th June 2026
Salary: £28,000 – £31,500 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week
Responsible to: Head of Fundraising & Engagement
About Vauxhall City Farm
Vauxhall City Farm is a registered charity governed by a board of Trustees and regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
We deliver our mission through a range of educational, horticultural and recreational workshops, volunteering, tours and many visitor experiences of an urban farm.
Our aims are to:
- Support children and disadvantaged people to boost their confidence and aspirations via the development of personal, social, life and practical skills
- Promote emotional, mental, social and physical health and well-being
- Develop environmental awareness and action
- Strengthen community cohesion
- Create enjoyment and recreational opportunities for those from our local and wider communities
About the role
The Hospitality Manager at VCF is responsible for overall daily café operations and delivering venue bookings. This role combines day to day operational leadership with longer term planning and performance management. You will take ownership of service standards, team development, and commercial performance, ensuring the café operates efficiently while delivering a consistently high-quality visitor experience. You will also play a key role in developing catering and events, supporting income generation, and embedding sustainable practices across the operation.
Job Description
Leadership and team management:
● Lead the hospitality team across service and events, working Front of House alongside team members
● Prepare simple dishes for the café and event bookings
● Set clear expectations and manage performance effectively
● Deliver fair and transparent feedback to develop the team
● Recruit, train, and retain high performing team members, building a strong and reliable team
● Create rotas that balance service needs with labour costs
● Foster a positive and collaborative working environment
Operations and service delivery:
● Take full responsibility for the daily running of the café
● Curate and modify menus
● Ensure smooth, efficient service during the busy periods
● Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, cleanliness, and presentation
● Maintain and develop new relations with suppliers
● Oversee controlling and ordering stock for the café, gift shop, and events
● Minimise and mitigate waste produced through daily operations
● Provide any additional administrative support to the Head of Fundraising & Engagement Visitor Experience
● Create a warm, welcome, inclusive, and memorable environment for both customers and staff
● Handle customer feedback swiftly, resolving issues confidentially
● Continuously improve the cafe offerings and service experience
● Maintain a clean and hygienic environment at all times Catering and events
● Lead delivery of catering for events, parties and private bookings
● Collaborate with department managers and clients to plan and execute both internal and external events
● Develop and pitch events or promotions that would be a great fit for The Farm
● Identify opportunities to grow catering and event revenue
● Work with the fundraising team on ideas for use of the café for community benefit Commercial and financial management
● Manage budgets in collaboration with senior management
● Monitor and report sales, labour, and stock to ensure financial targets are met
● Operationalise data and reports to improve performance and efficiency
● Identify opportunities to increase revenue and mitigate waste Compliance and safety
● Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health and safety regulations
● Maintain accurate and up to date compliance records for the venue
● Where appropriate, brief staff and customers of site rules, regulations, restrictions, and procedures
● Ensure all machinery and equipment is serviced and fit for use
● Maintain up to date training and certification across the team
● Follow safeguarding and DBS requirements
● Monitor, report, and escalate issues where appropriate
● Maintain accurate and up to date compliance records for the venue Sustainability and values
● Support and promote sustainable and ethical practices in the café
● Ensure our offerings reflect The Farm’s values and ethos
● Contribute the wider mission of the organisation
Additional Responsibilities:
● To contribute to the wider operational and strategic objectives of the organisation
● To support cross-departmental working and organisational initiatives
● To participate in meetings, training, and development as required
● To undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as directed by senior management
Role Requirements
Essential:
● Minimum level 3 food hygiene and safety certification
● Personal License holder
● 2-3 years’ experience managing or supervising cafes or restaurants
● Good numeracy, literacy, and IT skills
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
● Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate a team
● Ability to work independently and use initiative.
● Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
● Strong understanding of compliance requirements e.g. COSHH, HACCP, allergens etc
● Experience managing supplier relations and ordering schedules
● Commercial awareness regarding costs and performance
● Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage workloads and maintain accurate records.
● Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role.
Desirable:
● Experience operating Square POS
● Qualified first aider
● Experience working with SEN or vulnerable communities
● Experience of working in a community/ urban farm
Additional Information
This role involves contact with vulnerable individuals and requires an enhanced DBS check Duties may reasonably change in line with the needs of the farm
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Vauxhall City Farm is committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply
How to Apply
Please upload your CV and a cover letter on of no more than 2-sides of A4 on the Charity Job website explaining how you meet the essential criteria on this application, and answering the following 3 questions:
1. What are your three favourite things about working in hospitality and why?
2. What things do you think distinguish a good manager from a great manager?
3. What would working at The Farm mean to you?
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Friday 8th May at 12pm (we reserve the right to close to applications early).
INTERVIEW DATE: Tuesday 19th May 2026
START DATE: On or before Monday 15th June 2026
