Coffee Manager

Description

JOB TITLE: 

Coffee Manager 

EFFECTIVE DATE: 

06/12/2025

DEPARTMENT: 

Hospitality and  

Customer Experience 

FLSA STATUS: 

Nonexempt 

REPORTS TO: 

HCE Manager 

TYPE: 

Full-Time 

WHO ARE WE? 

The Woodstock Farmers’ Market is the area’s premier year-round, fresh food-focused grocery store. We are committed to creating and selling the best products sourced locally and globally, ethically, and sustainably. We hire only the most service-oriented people who appreciate a fun, fair, drama-free workplace, and share our CORE VALUES: 

• Come with an empty cup: have humility 
• Sit at the table together: be collaborative 
• Do the right thing—always: be honest, accountable and have integrity 
• Always hungry: relentlessly get stuff done 
• Fish Cakes: think outside the box to creatively solve problems 
• Bright side: always be positive 

IN SUMMARY 

The Coffee department is one of the major hospitality and service areas of the Market.  The Coffee manager ensures that all guests receive our brand of extra-mile service by working side by side with our team of baristas.  Their primary objective is to prepare excellent crafted beverages in a quick and friendly manner. Their secondary objective is to use merchandising, careful ordering, product research, and their creative touch to make the coffee department a profitable and sustainable part of our product lineup. They also provide a backup presence at the remainder of the service counter when necessary. 

THE FIVE ROLES 

Each member of our team is tasked with a number of responsibilities, but each fall under five major roles for which they are asked to be accountable: 

1. LMA: Leads, Manages, and holds the team Accountable for executing extra-mile service in all its various forms; from customer interaction to cleanliness to internal service to the team. This includes scheduling, employee management, and maintaining Market standards.  
2. Ensuring quality: Serving guests fresh drip brew coffee and tea, and expertly made espresso drinks with attention to both detail and speed following the WFM recipes.  
3. Maintaining inventory: Carefully manages the right amount of all ingredients (including coffee beans and milks), places orders, and makes brewing decisions based on both freshness and inventory levels. Is responsible for the financial performance of the coffee department. 
4. Training: Shares their knowledge openly with teammates daily.  Keeps the team up to date on new recipes, procedures, and trends.  Steps in with kindness and gives direction away from shortcuts and lesser-quality practices.  
5. Assists HCE Manager: understands all roles in neighboring departments at the service counter, pinch-hitting for other leaders in their absence.  Keeps the “whole store” mentality front and center (rather than making the coffee department their single focus). 

Keep in mind that these five roles describe the general nature and level of work performed in your job.  They should not be construed as an exhaustive listing of all job duties and responsibilities by employees so classified. 

OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES 

While the Coffee Manager certainly leads their respective area, they should expect overlap in others. They are counted on to maintain a working relationship with the top managers in all departments who will be, in effect, running the store day to day and will all have to share and wear different hats from time to time.  

These top managers will be, in effect, running the store day to day.  Collaboration is a cornerstone of the WFM way, and all managers are expected to work together to solve issues and make decisions.  

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED 

BE CALM UNDER PRESSURE  

Make great food fast and/or place orders with vendors effectively and efficiently | Focus on the issue at hand | Provide staff and guests with great service | Make multiple decisions in the heat of the moment | Resolve conflicts with diplomacy  

BE COLLABORATIVE  

Appreciate other’s ideas | Enjoy listening and engaging with others in order to make final decisions | Put team before self | Work successfully within a team | Must understand the total Market picture: Service is what we do and without great service we are nothing |Must work directly in step and harmony with guest's desire and directly with store staff and supervisor.???  

BE FAST  

Quick thinking in a fast-paced environment |Love a high-volume buzzing work environment  

BE A STRONG COMMUNICATOR  

Listen more, talk less | Seek first to understand | Clearly articulate and set directions | Catch others “doing it right” | Give positive and constructive feedback | Turn difficult conversations into a “win” for the Market  

BE ORGANIZED AND DETAIL ORIENTED  

Prioritize projects and keep them moving forward | Make small things count | Catch errors and/or mistakes early on | Triple check your work | Observe, ask questions  

BE AN OUTSTANDING MODEL FOR SANITATION  

Maintain highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation in kitchen and storage areas?| Run a clean, tidy and safe work environment | Be extremely sensitive about cleaning and food safety issues in all areas  

BE A GENUINE LOVER OF GREAT FOOD  

Enjoy making great Market-style food and/or merchandising great Market-style food | Have an eye for and create beautiful displays | Make great decisions regarding quality?  

BE AN EXCELLENT PROVIDER OF SERVICE 

Have a genuine love of providing great service to others | actively look for ways to help others while enjoying it 

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE 

Must be 18 or older 

1 – 2 years’ work experience in retail or food is helpful, but not required 

Must love coffee! 

WHAT’S NICE TO HAVE 

Coffee/barista skills are a huge plus! 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO DO BE ABLE TO DO – with or without an accommodation 

Frequently raise or lower objects up to 40 pounds from one level to another regularly |Remain on feet in upright position for continuous periods of time |Walk throughout store, including to other buildings and outdoor areas | Exerting force on a regular basis so object is moved to or from team member | Carrying objects up to 40 pounds on a regular basis | Grasping and/or picking up objects | Regularly reaching for objects | Bending forward by bending at waist or bending legs and spine 

WHAT THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS LIKE 

It is tight!  Not quite being packed in like sardines, but pretty close sometimes. It may be necessary to step outside depending on the task at hand or walk between buildings.  Be prepared for all weather conditions. That means from time to time you will need a raincoat, warm outerwear, boots, and an appreciation of Vermont’s beautiful and changing weather! 

MAINTAINING A CLEAN & SANITARY WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Follow all safety and health protocols | Housekeeping is important | Tidy up your workspace regularly | Wipe down frequently touched surfaces | Pick up items on the floor that could be trip/fall hazards. 

MORE ABOUT YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION 

It is not a contract of employment | Employment remains at will | Performing all or some of the job to expectation is not a promise or guarantee of continued employment |Any responsibilities can be temporarily or permanently changed or modified at any time in the Market’s sole discretion, with or without prior notice to our staff | Changes may be made with or without being in writing | Employees may be required to perform other jobs for The Market even if not within this job or this department | This describes the general nature and level of work performed in this job |  Understand this should not be construed as an exhaustive listing of all job duties and responsibilities of employees so classified.