Deputy Cafe Manager

Deputy Café Manager

Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre – Hornbeam Café, Harrogate

We are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

The Benefits

We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives, offices within walking distance of Hornbeam Park train station, free onsite parking and a whole lot more.

We've got a strong set of values that inform everything we do and we're looking for people who are aligned with these. As our Deputy Café Manager, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

The Role

Reporting to the Café Manager, the Deputy Café Manager plays a vital role in leading and motivating a dedicated team of volunteers to drive fundraising efforts that fuel the charity's ambitious mission to save 2,000 lives each year across Yorkshire. As a leading funder of cancer research in the region, the charity has a track record of supporting pioneering projects and clinical trials that prevent cancer and improve survival.

As Deputy Café Manager you will champion the charity's reputation as a trusted, professional organisation that operates with integrity and credibility. You will also deliver exceptional customer experiences, ensuring every volunteer and customer understands the powerful impact their support has on the people of Yorkshire.

Specifically, you will:

Operational duties

• Play an active part in running our Café in Harrogate, supporting the Café Manager in implementing processes and ways of working.
• Support the Café Manager to maximise the income and profit of the Café through active stock management, replenishment, and rotation.
• Manage the efficient and effective day-to-day operation of the Café in the absence of the Café Manager.
• Maintain an up-to-date awareness of developments within the café/food service industry and recommend appropriate changes to the delivery of café services and products to the Café Manager.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of product ingredients and support the Café Manager to coach volunteers and develop their product knowledge with regards to allergens.

People management

• Manage a team of well-trained volunteers and staff and take every effort to create a happy Café environment.
• Ensure there are sufficient volunteers and staff to support the effective operation of the Café during all opening hours.
• Support the Café Manager to ensure that all charity policies, cafe standards and operating procedures are communicated effectively to all staff and volunteers and are maintained and followed in a consistent manner. This includes Food Safety, Allergens, Health and Safety and Trading Standards.

Financial procedures

• Support the Café Manager to ensure accurate accounting and handling of stock.
• Maximising profitability through driving sales and managing and controlling costs, stock, and margins effectively.
• Prepare and complete all Café administration in the absence of the Café Manager including cash handling and banking functions to the highest standard, accurately and on time, always adhering to charity policy and procedures.

Customer service

• Develop and coach a team of volunteers and staff to deliver an outstanding customer experience.
• Create a welcoming professional atmosphere and deliver high standards of customer service for all customers and supporters.
• Manage complaints effectively and efficiently, escalating to the Café Manager or Centre Manager where they cannot be resolved at a local level.

Other duties

• Be trained as a First Aider and Fire Marshal.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• To have a Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene Certification
• To have experience of managing people/volunteers including recruitment and development.
• To have a proven track record in hospitality or catering.
• To have a Basic understanding of Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• To be highly organised with good time management skills.
• To be able to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• To have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• To have the ability to motivate self and others.
• To be resilient and adaptable to change.
• A willingness to complete our pre-employment checks (to be undertaken once the role is offered and accepted) which include:
• A check on your employment history by seeking two references
• A check on your eligibility to work in the UK as per the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006
• A check on your professional qualification(s)
• A children's workforce enhanced DBS check with barred list due to the possible requirement to supervise volunteers under the age of 18.

Application

Before applying, please visit our Careers Page to view the full role profile and find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To apply please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People, before
26 November 2025.
Please read our
privacy notice
before applying.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer. We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual's circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us via our website.

Please click on the apply button to access and view the full role profile.