General Manager

Food With Conviction

The Key Unlock Potential (The Key) is looking for a full time General Manager of our community café, set to open in June 2024.

About the opportunity

The Key Unlock Potential (TKUP), is a charity that helps people rebuild their lives after leaving prison. We are creating a safe workspace in the community, allowing individuals to establish routines, acquire new skills, and regain confidence. Acting as a bridge between prison, rehabilitation, and employment, TKUP aims to break the cycle of reoffending.

In partnership with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HMP Bristol, we are setting up a community café that will be staffed by people on temporary release from HMP Bristol and recent ex-offenders and will serve “food with conviction”: simple, fresh homemade meals and drinks.

Supported by The Restore Trust, we will also provide training, employability skills, and follow-on advice for the staff on work placements, with a view to The Key Café becoming a new model for rehabilitation and resettlement, benefiting ex-offenders in Bristol, and in communities nationwide.

About the Role:

Having received planning permission we need to appoint an exceptional individual to take on this unique and diverse role that will demand, not only excellent managerial and leadership skills, but experience of new openings, and project management, and a real appreciation of brilliant hospitality.

The role will require strong people development skills, in terms of nurturing and training staff who’ve lost their sense of self-worth and confidence, may not have had a regular job, and may come from a less than supportive social network.

There will be excellent support, training and development for the General Manager, provided by The Restore Trust and an approachable Board of Trustees who have vast experience and knowledge in many charitable and commercial sectors.

The General Manager will be part of the senior management team and will be key to the success of The Key Café project from design and build, to setting up and opening the Café, and the day-to-day operations, so previous experience of new openings would be beneficial. However, a ‘can do’, positive and problem-solving attitude is critical.

We see the General Manager, and The Key Café itself, being at the heart of the community, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion to ensure that our staff and our customers feel valued, feel important and feel part of something special.

About you:

You need to have a passion for food and hospitality, with brilliant service, quality and people skills running through your veins!

Ideally with a background in cafes, bars, or restaurants you will need to relish the opportunity to run your own, unique food business, that has a strong social purpose, and bags of opportunity for you to develop and grow the offer, the operation, and the income.

As well as an entrepreneurial spirit, you will need to be a good communicator and collaborator and are confident building partnerships within the community and with other charities, influencers, and potential funders.

About your Responsibilities:

• Manage and lead the day-to-day operations of a busy cafe.
• Manage the P&L on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, agreeing realistic targets and budgets.
• Manage stock, ordering and production of food, drink, and merchandise.
• Develop and innovate the food and drink menu (non-alcoholic drinks only).
• Manage, supervise, and lead the team, their shifts and their rota.
• Inspire, engage and develop the team through regular reviews and appraisals,
• Organize and plan for recruitment and training.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, food hygiene, data and employment legislation.
• Prepare and present monthly reports for the Board of Trustees.
• Support the Board to develop PR, communication, and marketing activity, to promote the Café and the Charity within the community and across the city.
• Liaise and collaborate with project managers, HMP Bristol representatives, charity partners and supporters.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience of managing projects with diverse contributors. 
• Awareness of the social justice agenda, challenges, and priorities.
• Knowledge of the HMP prison and probation services. 
• Knowledge of safeguarding staff and customers.
• Experience of the charity sector and volunteering.

What's in it for you?

• Salary of up to £32,000 per annum (DOE) plus pension scheme
• Working 5 days per week, straight shifts, no evenings
• 28 days holiday per annum (inc. Bank Holidays and closed on Christmas/Boxing Day).
• Free meal allowance on shift and staff discount available.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Mental health support.
• Personal development through qualifications.