About Sankofa Cafe
Sankofa Video, Books, and Cafe is a long-standing, family-owned community gathering space committed to cultural enrichment, economic equity, and neighborhood connection. We are seeking a motivated, community-minded Assistant Cafe Manager to support daily operations, help lead our team, and grow with us as we continue to serve as a hub of culture and connection in Washington, DC.
Position Summary
The Assistant Cafe Manager works closely with Sankofa leadership and ownership to support the smooth running of Sankofa Cafe. This is a full-time, salaried role with real day-to-day responsibility and a clear pathway to advancement into a Cafe Manager position. The ideal candidate is an emerging hospitality professional who is self-motivated, deeply rooted in the DC community, and excited to grow within a mission-driven, family-owned establishment. This role is designed for someone ready to take on meaningful responsibility while continuing to develop their management skills.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Operations
- Support the daily opening and closing of the cafe, including end-of-day reconciliation, cash handling, and securing the premises.
- Ensure a welcoming, efficient, and high-quality experience for all customers and staff.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment in compliance with DC health and safety regulations.
- Serve as the on-site point of contact for the café in the absence of ownership, escalating issues as appropriate.
- Manage accounts payable, and coordinate with Sankofa leadership to ensure invoice payments.
- Staff or coordinate coverage for counter during high volume days or staff call-outs.
Staff Support & Supervision
- Assist with training, scheduling, and day-to-day supervision of cafe staff, including baristas, food prep, and support personnel.
- Help foster a positive, inclusive, and mission-aligned workplace culture.
- Support staff compliance with food safety, alcohol service, and cafe policies.
- Provide frontline coaching and relay performance feedback to ownership.
Inventory & Ordering
- Assist with ordering, receiving, and tracking food, beverage, and supply inventory.
- Help maintain vendor relationships and flag supply or other issues.
- Conduct regular inventory counts and support efforts to minimize waste.
- Assist in coordinating seasonal menu items and limited-time offerings.
Programming & Community Engagement
- Support the planning and execution of cafe programming, events, and community activations under the direction of ownership.
- Help coordinate seasonal promotions and community-centered offerings.
- Engage warmly and authentically with customers, neighbors, and community partners.
- Collaborate with the bookstore on events and daily operations to optimize customer experience.
Qualifications:
Required
- 1–3 years of experience in cafe, restaurant, or food & beverage service, with some supervisory or lead experience.
- Self-motivated with the ability to manage responsibilities independently and take initiative.
- Strong interpersonal skills and genuine commitment to community-centered work.
- Reliable, organized, and comfortable with the pace of a busy café environment.
- Alignment with Sankofa Cafe’s mission and values.
- Ability to proactively identify areas for café improvements and implement solutions
Preferred
- Experience in a mission-driven, nonprofit-affiliated, or community-focused food service establishment in Washington, DC.
- Food Manager Certification (ServSafe or equivalent) — preferred upon hire; must be obtained within 60 days of start date.
- Liquor service training certification (ABRA-approved or equivalent).
- Interest in community programming, events, or cultural activations.
- DC resident strongly preferred; candidates from Ward 1 especially encouraged to apply.
- Familiarity with DC’s food service and ABRA regulatory environment a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
Sankofa Cafe is a mission-driven, family-owned business. We offer a supportive, community-rooted work environment and a genuine path to advancement for the right candidate. Benefits include:
- Full-time salaried position with flexible scheduling
- Free coffee and one free meal per shift
- A close-knit, community-focused team and workplace culture
- Clear growth pathway to full Cafe Manager as the business expands
Pay: $23.50 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
