Cafe Assistant Manager

Portland Japanese Garden – a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Portland, Oregon – is hiring for a Café Assistant Manager. Café Assistant Manager works with the Café Manager and Café Assistant Manager in overseeing the daily operations of the Umami Cafe at Portland Japanese Garden, ensuring an exceptional guest experience aligned with the Garden’s mission of inspiring Peace and Harmony. This position combines leadership and administrative responsibilities, including staff support, inventory management, POS troubleshooting, training, and guest relations. As a visible leader in the café, the Assistant Manager promotes a calm, respectful, and efficient service environment, modeling standards and contributing to a cohesive, high-performing team with a counter service model. This position is based at the primary Garden campus, located at 611 SW Kingston Ave.in Portland, Oregon.

Primary Duties

Guest Experience & Service Flow

• Serve as a role model for the Garden’s hospitality values and customer service standards rooted in Omotenashi.
• Support and execute smooth service flow, tea and food preparation, guest interactions, and seating logistics.
• Act as Manager on Duty (MOD), overseeing daily operations, opening and closing duties, and real-time problem-solving.

Leadership & Team Development

• Collaborate with the Café Manager and Assistant Manager to coach and mentor team members through direct observation, feedback, and encouragement.
• Actively participate in onboarding, cross-training, and development of staff in alignment with café goals and Garden values.
• Facilitate a culture of accountability, professionalism, and trust while supporting a welcoming and inclusive team environment.
• Build strong working relationships with colleagues, volunteers, and guests.
• Contribute to team communication through pre-shift meetings and café updates.

Accounting & Administration

• Oversee inventory systems: assist with ordering, tracking, and receiving tea, food, and operational supplies.
• In conjunction with Cafe Manager and Finance Department, participate in the annual physical inventory count process including preparation, counting, and rectifying any discrepancies.
• Responsible for developing and implementing inventory control procedures, working closely with Cafe Manager.
• Maintain and reconcile inventory records, including tracking all inventory movement and locations, inter-department transfers, and waste.
• Responsible for investigating and correcting order-entry and reporting discrepancies, working closely with Café manager and Finance department.
• In conjunction with the Café Manager and Café Assistant Manager, reconcile purchase orders with invoices, and receive orders into point-of-sale software (Lightspeed).
• Maintain accurate POS operations, tip pool data, cash handling, and daily reconciliation procedures.
• Maintain petty cash reserve, oversee cash deposits, and assist with maintaining daily sales data.
• Coordinate with the IT support team to troubleshoot POS and system issues.
• Create and supervise adherence to daily staff rotation schedule and workflow including breaks and housekeeping projects.
• Participate in the upkeep of digital tools, timekeeping systems, and back-of-house communications.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of café, storage spaces, and office.
• Act as manager-on-duty in absence of café manager for quarterly Multnomah County health inspections.
• Maintain café visual standards set by Café Manager.
• Support other departments and special projects as needed.

Customer Relations & Brand Representation

• Respond in a timely manner to guest feedback and concerns on-site and via platforms such as Yelp, in collaboration with management.
• Maintain current knowledge of Garden events, Japanese green tea, and café offerings to support informed and engaging guest service.

Other Responsibilities

• Familiarize oneself with the organization and the Employee Handbook.
• Get to know fellow staff members, developing trust, establishing credibility, encouraging teamwork, and creating an atmosphere of open, honest, two-way communication .
• Serve as a role model for Garden volunteers, providing support and encouragement to volunteers in their roles across the Garden.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism in manner and appearance.
• Adhere to Garden Dress Code and wear Garden uniform.

Qualifications

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the position, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for this role.

• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in food and beverage, with at least 1 year in a supervisory role; inventory management and café counter service experience preferred.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a service-focused team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and effective at multitasking in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient with POS systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) a plus.
• Experience managing unionized teams is preferred.

Special Requirements

• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.
• Must be able to stand and move about the café and Garden campus for extended periods.
• Must successfully complete first aid and food safety training (provided by the Garden).

Compensation & Schedule

• Wage: $50,000 - $55,000/year
• This is a full-time, salaried position with 40-45 hours per week. Shifts are typically 8 hours (plus ½ hour lunch), scheduled between 7:00am – 7:30pm, with days off being Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday.
• Benefits:
  • health, dental, and vision insurance (premium 100% covered for employees), with partial deductible reimbursement
  • 401k plan (after 6 months, with 4% employer match after 1 year)
  • flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
  • paid time off:
    • vacation: 2 weeks per calendar year to start, with regular increases
    • wellness: 10 days per calendar year
    • holidays: 10 holidays per year
  • free access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Transportation

The Garden is located at 611 SW Kingston Avenue, in Washington Park. Below are the transportation options for staff commuting to the Garden:

• Parking: Staff may park in the numbered spaces throughout Washington Park, which require payment. The cost is $8/day, or staff may request parking permits from Washington Park. The Garden subsidizes a portion of the cost for parking permits; the cost for staff is $75 during the high season (March – September) and $50 during the low season (October – February).
• Bus Passes: For staff who take public transit as their primary means of commuting to the Garden, we provide paid bus passes. Full-time staff receive a monthly TriMet pass, and part-time staff receive daily passes, based on their work schedule.
• Transportation Stipend: Staff who take any form of alternative transit to get to work qualify for a $5 daily stipend. This includes taking public transit, walking, biking, carpooling, or getting dropped off. The only staff who do not qualify for the stipend are those who are receiving a bus pass through the Garden.

Applications

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three work-related references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please no phone calls or hand delivered applications. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

All submitted applications will be held in confidence.