Operations Manager

Job Title: Operations Manager

Wage: Starts $70,000-74,000 DOE

Benefits: PTO, health insurance, dental/vision insurance, 401k plan

Reports to: Owners Tyler + Kelsea

We here at Captain + Stoker are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead and support our three shops on the Monterey Peninsula! This role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, developing strong leaders, and creating positive guest experiences across the company. Working closely with ownership, you’ll help shape the future of the business by driving performance, strengthening systems, and building a culture rooted in hospitality, accountability, and continuous improvement – which butterfly effects its way into sustaining a thriving community. This is a hands-on leadership role that balances strategic thinking with day-to-day execution. You’ll spend time in our cafés supporting managers and teams, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring our standards are consistently reflected in every customer interaction.

What You’ll Do

• Lead + develop great teams
• Coach, support, and develop shop managers and shift leads
• Foster a positive, accountable, and collaborative culture across all locations
• Support interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and ongoing employee development
• Provide regular performance feedback, conduct employee reviews, and help team members grow in their careers
• Champion coffee education, hospitality training, and leadership development
• Drive operational excellence through being a good example
• Oversee daily operations across all shop locations
• Ensure consistency in product quality, service standards, cleanliness, and guest experience
• Conduct regular store visits and operational reviews
• Develop, improve, and maintain systems, processes, and operational standards
• Partner with managers to optimize scheduling, labor utilization, and workflow efficiency

Business Performance

• Monitor sales, labor, inventory, and operating expenses
• Work with ownership to achieve revenue, profitability, and growth goals
• Analyze business performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and guest satisfaction
• Support menu launches, seasonal initiatives, promotions, and special projects
• Ensure every shop delivers warm, welcoming, and memorable hospitality
• Respond to customer feedback and identify opportunities for improvement
• Monitor customer reviews and feedback channels to celebrate successes and address concerns
• Stay informed about local events, seasonal trends, and market conditions that impact the shops foot traffic

Maintain Compliance & Systems

• Ensure compliance with food safety, labor, and workplace regulations
• Support employee onboarding, certifications, and required training programs
• Maintain operational systems, vendor relationships, inventory processes, and supply management
• Help ensure facilities, equipment, and shops remain safe, organized, and well-maintained

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Have

• 3+ years of leadership experience in coffee, hospitality, restaurant, or retail operations
• Multi-unit management or large team experience preferred
• A passion for hospitality, coffee, and building strong teams
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• You are computer savvy and have no issue using different systems, i.e. Gmail, Google Sheets, Square, Basecamp, and Rippling.
• Experience managing labor, inventory, and financial performance
• The ability to balance big-picture strategy with hands-on execution
• A proactive leadership style focused on coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement rather than acting like “the boss”

Work Environment

This position is primarily based in our cafés and requires regular travel between all Captain + Stoker locations. We believe great communication happens face-to-face, so you’ll spend significant time in our shops supporting teams, building relationships, and staying connected to the day-to-day realities of the business. You’ll also work regularly from our main office alongside other department leaders to help keep projects moving and everyone rowing in the same direction. The role may involve standing for extended periods, occasional lifting, and jumping into shop operations when needed. We operate in a fast-moving world, and while there is always a little chaos, we’ve found that hands-on leadership, strong communication, and genuine collaboration are what allow us to continue growing while staying true to who we are.

Captain + Stoker is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Hospitality starts with making people feel welcome, and that extends far beyond our café walls. We strive to create a workplace where every team member feels safe, respected, and valued for who they are. We believe that embracing different perspectives, experiences, and identities makes us a stronger company, a better team, and a more meaningful part of our community. Please email us at kelsea@captainandstoker.com with your resume, and a small “about me” so we can get to know who you are outside of that resume, along with your availability and potential start date. Thank you + we cannot wait to meet you!