Coffeehouse Assistant Manager

Location: Vagabond Coffeehouse – Bolivar, Ohio

Position Type: Full-Time

Training Pay: $13.00/hour + shared tips

Post-Training Pay: $14.25/hour + shared tips

Expected Weekly Hours After Training: 35–45 hours

Vagabond Coffeehouse is a fast-paced, community-focused coffee shop passionate about quality coffee, exceptional customer experiences, creativity, and building a welcoming atmosphere for both guests and staff. We’re looking for a dependable, energetic, leadership-minded Assistant Manager to help oversee daily operations, support team leadership, coordinate catering operations, and help grow our brand through promotions and customer engagement. This is an ideal role for someone who thrives in hospitality, enjoys leadership, loves coffee, and can confidently balance operations, customer service, creativity, and problem-solving.

This position includes a required two-month training period.

During this onboarding and training phase:

• Compensation will be $13.00/hour + shared tips
• Training shifts and hours may be sporadic and vary week-to-week based on business needs and training progress
• The Assistant Manager will train alongside ownership and management to learn Vagabond systems, operations, recipes, standards, catering procedures, leadership expectations, and daily workflows

At the completion of the training period, the employee will transition to $14.25/hour + shared tips, provided they have successfully completed training expectations. If the candidate does not already hold a valid ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, they will be required to complete the ServSafe Food Manager online certification course during the training period.

Pay progression to the full Assistant Manager rate is contingent upon:

• Successful completion of the two-month training period
• Completion of ServSafe Food Manager certification (if needed)
• Demonstrated readiness to independently perform Assistant Manager responsibilities

After successful completion of training—and once Vagabond’s updated operating hours take effect—the Assistant Manager will transition into the standard management scheduling rotation.

The Assistant Manager serves as second-in-command at Vagabond Coffeehouse, working directly alongside the Manager and Owner to ensure smooth daily operations. This role combines leadership, customer service, food and beverage preparation, team accountability, catering coordination, prep management, promotional execution, and operational problem-solving. You’ll be expected to jump in wherever needed—from making drinks during a rush to helping coordinate catering deliveries or stepping in during staffing emergencies.

• Assist in leading daily coffeehouse operations
• Help supervise and support baristas
• Set the tone for professionalism, hospitality, and teamwork
• Lead by example in customer service and operational standards
• Help train new employees
• Enforce company policies and procedures
• Help maintain accountability among team members
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient workspace
• Assist with opening and closing procedures
• Complete and oversee cleaning checklists

• Deliver excellent guest service
• Resolve customer concerns professionally
• Maintain a welcoming and positive environment
• Support promotions, loyalty programs, and guest engagement efforts

Shared responsibility with the Manager:

• Monitor incoming catering orders
• Communicate with customers regarding order details
• Coordinate pickup and delivery logistics
• Organize catering prep
• Help execute catering orders smoothly
• Respond to last-minute business needs

Shared responsibility with the Manager:

• Drink, food, and syrup preparation
• Inventory organization
• Stocking refrigerators and prep stations
• Maintaining prep standards

All employees share responsibility for social media content creation.

The Assistant Manager helps oversee content execution across:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Team expectations:

• 5 Instagram posts weekly
• 5 Facebook posts weekly
• 5 TikTok posts weekly

(Content may be reused across platforms.)

Content may include:

• seasonal drinks
• specials
• behind-the-scenes content
• event promotion
• customer engagement
• catering marketing
• community involvement

Shared responsibility with Manager:

• Monitor equipment condition
• Help troubleshoot issues
• Report maintenance concerns immediately
• Assist in emergency staffing coverage
• Support operational problem-solving

During the training period:

• Hours may vary
• Shift times may be inconsistent
• Scheduling will be based on training needs and business demands

After successful training completion:

The Assistant Manager will assume the standard Week A / Week B management schedule rotation as part of the full-time leadership team.

Expected weekly hours after training:

35–45 hours

Scheduling may shift based on:

• business needs
• catering volume
• staffing changes
• special events
• emergencies
• seasonal demand

Approved hours worked beyond 45 hours/week will be compensated according to overtime laws.

Weekend availability is required.

Preferred candidates will have:

• Previous coffee shop, café, restaurant, or hospitality experience
• Leadership or supervisory experience preferred
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills
• Dependability and flexibility
• Ability to problem solve independently
• Positive attitude and team-first mindset
• Social media comfort/creativity is a plus
• ServSafe Food Manager Certification preferred (or willingness to complete during training)

• Standing for extended periods
• Lifting up to 40 lbs
• Frequent bending, reaching, and movement
• Fast-paced physical work environment

• Creative, community-driven environment
• Leadership growth opportunity
• Ability to gain a raise and promotion upon completing one year with the company.
• Fast-paced and energetic team culture
• Shared tips in addition to hourly pay
• Opportunity to help shape promotions, events, and guest experience

If you love coffee, hospitality, leadership, and creative problem-solving, we’d love to hear from you.

Please send your resume and a brief description of why you would like to join Vagabond to [email protected]. You will be asked to come in for an in-person interview and complete one training day before hiring.