Full-Time, Permanent , $73,500 - $75,000 per annum
Nine Yards is a much-loved neighbourhood café in the heart of South Melbourne, and part of the Gatherd Hospitality Group — a family of five venues united by a shared love of great food, genuine hospitality, and community.
You know that feeling when you walk into a place and it just — works? The coffee is perfect, the team is in sync, the regulars are greeted by name, and every new guest feels like they’ve been coming for years. That doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens because of the person running the room. And that person is you.
This isn’t a title for someone who hides behind a spreadsheet. Our Café Manager is present, hands-on, and deeply connected to both the team and the guest experience.
You’re the first face, the last smile, and every decision in between. You turn a full house into a seamless service. You turn a complaint into a reason someone comes back. You turn a good team into a great one.
- Set the energy of the venue — when you’re on, the whole room feels it
- Lead, coach, and inspire the front-of-house team through daily service and beyond
- Remember names. Not just regulars — new guests too. You’re wired to make people feel noticed
- Manage rosters, staffing levels, and scheduling to keep the team strong and the budget on track
- Oversee stock management, ordering, and supplier relationships
- Drive revenue through genuine upselling and an outstanding guest experience
- Turn problems into loyalty — a complaint in your hands becomes a reason to come back
- Open and close the venue and own the operational rhythm from first coffee to last cover
- Uphold food safety, WHS, and all workplace compliance standards
Let’s be honest: some of what we’re looking for can’t be taught. You either have it or you don’t.
You’re a natural leader. Staff follow your energy. You lift the team without needing to assert authority to do it.
You’re genuinely warm. Not “customer service voice” warm. Actually warm. The kind of person who makes a room feel lighter.
You’re unforgettable. Guests meet you once and feel like they’ve known you for years. Regulars come back for you as much as the coffee.
You’re organised under chaos. Saturday morning, 200 covers, a full waitlist — and you’re calm, smiling, and making it work.
You’re emotionally intelligent. You read a room. You know when a guest needs space and when they need attention. You de-escalate before things become a problem.
You’re commercially minded. You understand that a great guest experience and a profitable venue go hand in hand, and you drive both.
Your memory is your superpower. Names, faces, orders, preferences — you file it all away and pull it out at exactly the right moment.
Role: Cafe Manager
Venue: Nine Yards, 228–230 Dorcas St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: $73,500 - $75,000 per annum
Hours: Daytime shifts
Weekends & Public Holidays: Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday work is compulsory in this position
- Proven experience in a café or restaurant management role
- A track record of leading high-performing front-of-house teams
- Strong coffee knowledge and an appreciation for exceptional hospitality
- Experience with rostering, labour cost management, and stock control
- RSA Certificate (current)
- Food Handler Certificate (or willing to obtain within 30 days)
- Solid understanding of food safety and WHS requirements
- Full working rights in Australia
- A community, not just a workplace — our regulars will become your people
- Daytime hours — no midnight closes, you get your evenings back
- A genuine career path within a growing hospitality group across five Melbourne venues
- A team that has your back — from the kitchen to head office
- Investment in your growth — training, development, and qualifications
When applying, please include:
1. A time you turned a difficult guest situation into a reason they came back
2. How many regular customers you know by name right now — honestly
3. What makes a café feel like home?
