Description:
We're reimagining the way Australians live, work, and play. We own and manage some of the most recognisable and loved retail destinations across Australia.
We’re evolving our portfolio into destinations that offer a broad selection of retail, residential, and office spaces. Through our diverse portfolio, data-led decision-making, and nationwide development pipeline, we do things differently.
We are Vicinity.
Role purpose
The Café Lead plays a pivotal role in overseeing the seamless operation of The Loop Café. This includes managing day-to-day activities, handling basic administrative tasks, skillfully preparing high-quality beverages and food, and coordinating catering services for meeting rooms and the wider business. Success in this role demands exceptional customer service, a deep passion for coffee, and a commitment to maintaining a clean, inviting, and vibrant café atmosphere.Please note this is a 12month fixed term contract ending on the 21st April 2026
Key Accountabilities
Customer Service
- Provide excellent customer service by greeting customers, taking orders, and answering inquiries about menu items.
- Meet reasonable customer requirements, i.e. dietary, allergy and late lunch reserving service.
- Address customer complaints and feedback professionally and effectively.
Operations Management
- Oversee all café operations, including food and beverage preparation, inventory management, and customer service.
- Set up and pack down the café for the day.
- Ensure the café meets health and safety regulations and maintains all the food safety records on site.
- Keep café in high clean standard and well organisation.
- Collaborate with the business and suppliers arrange catering for meetings, training and events ensuring a variety of high-quality food and beverage options.
- Manage roster for r support staff from agency
- Training Catering & Café Attendant or support staff from agency including coffee skills, café food preparation, and the way we serve the meeting rooms.
- 100% on-site requirement to perform role.
- Identify and execute ongoing continuous improvement.
Food & Beverage Preparation
- Prepare and serve a variety of coffee, other beverages, and café food to order.
- Operate coffee machines, grinders, juggler, toast griller and other equipment safely and efficiently.
- Order catering on for meetings, training and events
- Assist in the preparation and heating of food items for catering service
- Ensure all food items are presented attractively and meet quality standards.
Inventory & Supply Management
- Prepare and serve a variety of coffee, other beverages, and café food to order.
- Operate coffee machines, grinders, juggler, toast griller and other equipment safely and efficiently.
- Order catering on for meetings, training and events
- Assist in the preparation and heating of food items for catering service
- Ensure all food items are presented attractively and meet quality standards.
Financial Management
- Monitor café financial performance, including sales, expenses, and profitability.
- Manage the café budget, control costs, and ensure efficient use of resources.
- Monitor food wastage and adjust order by weekly foresee.
- Process invoices and reconcile corporate card expenses in a timely manner
- Manage timesheet for support staff.
Team Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with other team members to ensure smooth café operations.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Collaborate and contribute ideas with Workplace Services team for Vicinity events.
Key Role Relationships
- Café and Catering Attendant
- Concierge Team
- The Oracle Team
- Corporate Administration Team
- Executive Assistants
- P&OD Learning & Development Team
Experience & Capabilities
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE (what you have done)
- Previous experience as a café attendant, head barista or in a similar role within a café or coffee shop is preferred.
- Great knowledge of coffee preparation techniques and equipment.
- Experience in handling customer interactions, resolving complaints, and providing service recovery.
- Experience in training staff, managing roaster, ordering stocks and supplies, food preparation and basic accounting skills.
- Familiarity with operating point-of-sale (POS) systems and handling transactions.
CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE (what you need to know)
- A certificate and high level of knowledge in food hygiene and safety standards.
- Understanding of effective customer service techniques and service recovery methods.
- Knowledge of how to create a welcoming atmosphere and enhance the customer experience.
CAPABILITIES (what you can do)
- Strong customer service skills with a friendly and approachable demeanour.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
- Good time management and organisational skills.
- Maintain high cleaning standards and attention to detail.
- Ability to follow instructions and work both independently and as part of a team.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES (who you are)
You consistently demonstrate and role model the behaviours that bring the Vicinity values to life:
Respect:
- We listen to and acknowledge each other's views
- We have difficult conversations with care
Integrity:
- We back our words with the right actions
- We do the right thing, no matter the situation
Customer Focus:
- We nurture a genuine connection with our customers
- We consider customer needs when making decisions
Collaboration:
- We invite the right people to the table
- We balance consensus with decisive actions
Excellence:
- We always strive to improve
- We share our challenges and celebrate the wins
Why Vicinity?
Our benefits program focuses on creating an awesome place to work in which our people are rewarded and recognised. This includes:
- Flexible working options
- Birthday leave & purchased additional leave
- $1,000 worth of VCX securities rewarded for eligible team members
- Internal mentoring program
- Generous Parental Leave
We live and work by our values of Respect, Integrity, Customer Focus, Collaboration and Excellence. They are the foundation to everything we do and provide us a north star with which we can shape meaningful places where communities connect.
At Vicinity we embrace and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment where we attract, retain and develop our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
Our people and our Employee Advocacy Groups (Gender Balance, Cultural Diversity, Disability & Access and Pride & Allies) actively build community and provide allyship within Vicinity. If you’d like to speak to someone to understand what it’s like firsthand to work here, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition team.
We are aware of current limitations with our website accessibility and are working towards improving this. Should you experience any issues accessing information in this job advertisement or the application form, and require this in an alternate format, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team. Similarly, if you would like to discuss workplace accessibility, any reasonable adjustments we can make to better support you during the recruitment process, or your potential future role please reach out to our Talent Acquisition team:
Email: talent.acquisition@vicinity.com.au
Phone: +61 3 7001 4000 (request to speak to our Talent Acquisition team)
Note: To be eligible to apply for this position, you must have existing, relevant Australian work rights. At the later stages of the recruitment process the shortlisted candidate/candidates will be required to undergo a Criminal History Background/Police Check as a mandatory part of the process. Additional qualification checks may also be required dependant on role and level.