We are looking for an experienced and passionate Head Barista & Café Operations Manager to lead the daily operations of our premium coffee concept located in Publika, Kuala Lumpur
This role combines strong specialty coffee expertise with effective café management, team leadership and financial performance management
The ideal candidate should be passionate about coffee, confident in managing people, commercially aware and capable of delivering an exceptional customer experience while maintaining a profitable operation
Key Responsibilities
1. Coffee Quality & Beverage Excellence
- Oversee coffee preparation and maintain consistent beverage quality
- Manage espresso calibration, grinder settings, extraction standards and beverage recipes
- Maintain professional standards in coffee presentation, latte art and service
- Conduct regular coffee quality checks and barista training
- Assist in beverage development, coffee tasting and new menu testing
2. Café Operations Management
- Manage and supervise daily café operations
- Ensure smooth opening and closing procedures
- Maintain operational efficiency, cleanliness, hygiene and service standards
- Oversee coffee equipment maintenance and operational readiness
- Develop and implement practical operational SOPs
3. Team Leadership, Recruitment & Staff Management
- Lead, supervise, coach and develop the café team
- Manage staff scheduling, attendance, manpower planning and daily task assignments
- Identify staffing requirements and conduct recruitment and hiring when necessary, subject to management approval
- Conduct interviews, evaluate candidates and coordinate onboarding for new employees
- Monitor staff performance, productivity, discipline and retention
- Conduct regular staff training and performance evaluations
- Build a positive, professional and accountable working environment
4. Sales, Profit & Loss (P&L) Management
- Monitor daily, weekly and monthly sales performance against approved targets
- Review outlet Profit & Loss (P&L) statements and identify opportunities to improve profitability
- Monitor Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), labour costs, operating expenses and profit margins
- Analyse financial performance and recommend corrective actions to improve cost efficiency
- Manage controllable operating expenses within approved budgets
- Identify opportunities to increase revenue, average transaction value and operational efficiency
- Prepare regular sales, cost and performance reports for management
5. Inventory & Cost Control
- Manage ingredient inventory, stock ordering and supplier coordination
- Monitor beverage costs, stock usage and wastage
- Conduct regular stock counts and maintain accurate inventory records
- Ensure efficient stock management without compromising product quality
6. Customer Experience & Service Standards
- Deliver exceptional customer service and hospitality
- Maintain a premium and welcoming café environment
- Handle customer feedback and resolve service issues professionally
- Ensure consistent service quality across all operating shifts
Job Requirements
- Minimum 4 years of experience in the café or coffee industry
- At least 2 years of experience in a supervisory or management position
- Strong knowledge of specialty coffee, espresso preparation, calibration and latte art
- Proven experience in staff recruitment, training, scheduling and team management
- Good understanding of outlet P&L, COGS, labour costs, inventory and operational budgets
- Ability to analyse sales performance and implement cost improvement strategies
- Strong leadership, communication and problem solving skills
- Fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia
- Able to work flexible shifts, including weekends and public holidays
- Experience in premium specialty coffee cafés is highly preferred
What We Are Looking For
We want someone who is more than just a great barista
We are looking for a hands on leader who understands coffee, takes ownership of daily operations, builds strong teams and knows how to manage costs and profitability
Someone who can maintain exceptional coffee standards while ensuring the café operates efficiently, delivers strong sales performance and provides an outstanding customer experience
What We Offer
- Competitive basic salary based on experience
- Performance based incentives subject to KPI achievement
- EPF, SOCSO and EIS contributions
- Professional working environment
- Opportunity to contribute to beverage innovation and café operations
- Career development opportunities based on performance
Pay: RM4,000.00 - RM5,500.00 per month
Benefits:
- Opportunities for promotion
- Professional development
Work Location: In person