Newnham College is seeking to recruit an experienced, pro-active Café Manager to take charge of the day-to-day running of the Iris Café at Newnham College. Working as part of the wider catering team, this role takes the lead on creating a friendly, welcoming café atmosphere serving Fellows, staff, students and the general public with a range of beverages, including barista service, cakes, sandwiches and other culinary treats. The café is a light, bright open space with a garden for the warmer months and has a reputation as a sociable hub where you can relax, meet with friends or do a bit of work whilst sipping your favourite drink.
The successful applicant will have some managerial experience, running a similar facility or be ready to take on this challenge. The café is staffed by a permanent team with additional help from casuals who work on a rota basis and the café is open 7 days a week but not in the evenings. Having good commercial sense, a customer focused attitude, experience of food safety and allergen awareness and with an eye for what sells well, this vacancy offers an ideal opportunity to take on a café which already has a great reputation and take it to the next level.
This is a permanent full-time post working 37.5 hours per week with responsibility for a team working Monday - Sunday. The salary is paid at point 34 on the University’s single salary spine which is currently £31,861 per annum. The College offers membership of the generous USS pension scheme, with a current employer contribution rate of 14.5% and holiday entitlement is 33 days per year (inclusive of bank holidays) with an additional day of paid leave for your Birthday. Other benefits include access to Medicash, the College’s health cash plan, a free meal when on duty, free car parking where available and free use of the College’s gym facilities.
How to apply
A job description with person specification is available by clicking on “Job Description” and an application form and equal opportunities form can be found on the main vacancy page: https://newn.cam.ac.uk/about/vacancies. Please demonstrate in the application form how you meet the essential requirements of the role found in the person specification.
Completed applications should be emailed to [email protected] by the closing deadline of noon on Monday 23 November 2026. The intention is that interviews will take place during week commencing Monday 30 November 2026.
Newnham College is an equal opportunities employer.