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About Café O’Play

Café O’Play is a new, mission-driven café opening in Spring 2026 as an extension of Urban Sprouts Child Development Center, a nonprofit organization rooted in community, care, and education.

More than a coffee shop, Café O’Play will be a welcoming neighborhood gathering space—a place where high-quality coffee, thoughtfully prepared food, and warm hospitality come together in a family-friendly environment. Designed to support caregivers, educators, families, and community members, Café O’Play will reflect Urban Sprouts’ values of connection, creativity, and intentionality.

The Cafe will be unique because it is part of a larger nonprofit, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center. We want the spirit of Urban Sprouts to shine through. That spirit emphasizes joy and play and we want our cafe to be a play-forward community gathering space. During the day, the cafe will operate like a more typical specialty coffee shop and cafe. In the afternoons and evenings, it will house separate programs, an afterschool tutoring program and a program that fights food insecurity by providing meals at no cost to children and families in need (these program will be run separately from the cafe but the GM should have a collaborative spirit and a heart for nonprofit work and community wellbeing since we are a cohesive team).

The café will balance exceptional specialty coffee standards with accessibility and a joyful atmosphere—creating a space where people feel cared for, staff feel empowered, and community relationships can grow.

Position Summary

The General Manager of Café O’Play will play a foundational role in bringing this new café to life. This position blends hospitality leadership, operational excellence, and community-building, with a strong emphasis on people—both guests and team members.

The General Manager will be responsible for building and leading the café team, establishing systems and culture from the ground up, and ensuring consistently high standards of coffee quality, service, and guest experience. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in both hands-on leadership and strategic planning, and who is excited to help shape a new concept from its earliest days.

Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Team Development

Hire, onboard, train, and manage all café employees
Create and foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture
Develop and maintain training materials, including:
Employee handbook
Training manual
Conduct bi-annual (or at minimum, annual) performance reviews
Lead by example on the floor when needed, including opening, closing, or shift coverage

Operations & Administration

Create weekly staff schedules at least two weeks in advance
Ensure appropriate staffing levels during all operating hours
Place and manage weekly vendor orders
Submit bi-weekly payroll accurately and on time
Track, manage, and report monthly inventory
Monitor sales, labor, and key performance metrics
Maintain POS backend programming and menu updates

Menu, Quality & Guest Experience

Develop new menu items and recipes aligned with the café’s vision
Ensure consistent, high-quality coffee and food standards
Maintain a strong focus on hospitality and guest satisfaction
Address guest feedback and resolve concerns professionally and thoughtfully

Facilities & Compliance

Ensure all equipment and facilities are clean, safe, and in proper working condition
Coordinate maintenance and repairs as needed
Maintain a current state-issued SERVSafe Manager Certification

Marketing & Brand Collaboration

Collaborate with Urban Sprouts leadership and marketing partners to shape:
Brand voice and messaging
Visual identity and guest experience
Promotions and community engagement efforts

Qualifications & Experience

Passion for specialty coffee and the ability to inspire that passion in others
Strong desire to serve others and lead with hospitality
Proven experience in hospitality management
Experience managing a specialty coffee shop with food service or a restaurant
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities
Comfort with POS systems, Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and related tools
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Organized, proactive, and detail-oriented

Reporting Relationships

Reports To: The Director of Storytelling & Engagement will serve as the direct point of contact and act as a liaison between Café O Play and the center. If the direct supervisor is unavailable, the Chief of Strategy and Institutional Advancement and the Chief Operations Officer will serve as secondary points of contact for additional support.
Supervises: All Café O’Play staff

Benefits

Consistent schedule
Paid onboarding and training period prior to opening
Opportunities to help build and shape a new café from the ground up
Supportive, mission-driven nonprofit work environment
403(b) Retirement Plan
75% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance
After one year of employment, coverage increases to 90%
Paid holidays
Two paid mental health days
One week of paid vacation/sick time

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General Manager-Cafe O Play in Saint Louis, Missouri at Urban Sprouts Child Development Center

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