Retail Manager - Chef Daniel Boulud Restaurants

About the role

Brasserie Boulud and Épicerie Boulud is Chef Daniel Boulud's neighborhood French bakery and café, offering handcrafted pastries, artisan breads, sandwiches, salads, coffee, grab-and-go specialties, and curated retail products. Inspired by the tradition of the French neighborhood bakery, Épicerie delivers exceptional hospitality, quality, and craftsmanship in a warm, welcoming environment.

The Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for overseeing daily operations, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, operational excellence, and financial performance. The ideal candidate is an organized, energetic hospitality professional with experience managing high-volume cafés, bakeries, or fast-casual concepts while delivering refined service.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the bakery and café.
• Ensure smooth service during breakfast, lunch, and afternoon business.
• Maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness, organization, and food safety.
• Monitor product quality, freshness, and presentation throughout the day.
• Partner with the culinary team to ensure proper inventory levels and product availability.
• Oversee opening and closing procedures and ensure operational readiness.
• Create a warm, welcoming environment for every guest.
• Resolve guest concerns promptly and professionally.
• Build relationships with regular guests and foster neighborhood loyalty.
• Maintain the highest standards of hospitality reflective of Chef Daniel Boulud's brand.
• Recruit, interview, hire, train, and develop front-of-house team members.
• Coach employees through regular feedback and performance management.
• Create schedules that support business needs while managing labor costs.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and respectful workplace culture.
• Lead daily pre-shift meetings and communicate operational priorities.
• Monitor labor, sales, and operating expenses.
• Manage daily cash handling and POS reconciliation.
• Assist with inventory management, ordering, and waste reduction.
• Analyze sales trends and identify opportunities to improve performance.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and health department regulations.

Requirements

• 3+ years of management experience in a café, bakery, restaurant, or hospitality environment.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent communication and guest service abilities.
• Experience managing labor, scheduling, and inventory.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume setting.
• Flexible schedule, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• NYC Food Protection Certificate preferred (or willingness to obtain).

Preferred Experience

• Experience in luxury hospitality or upscale dining.
• Knowledge of French pastries, artisan breads, coffee service, and retail food operations.
• Experience with POS systems and Microsoft Office.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.