Head Barista & Venue Manager

Who We Are

We're a specialty coffee roaster and cafe supplier based in St Peters, moments from Newtown and we're in the process of renovating our espresso bar into a destination in its own right. The vision is a space built around a filter coffee focus (pour-over, batch brew), a sightline straight into our working roastery, and a bar designed to sit at the heart of everything we do. Beyond the bar, we roast and supply coffee to cafes across Sydney and run a dropshipping platform that helps customers launch their own coffee label.

We're looking for someone who can be part of shaping that renovation as it comes together, then take the finished space and run with it.

The Role

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has already run successful cafes and knows specialty coffee inside and out as a barista, as an operator, and as someone who understands how a great venue turns foot traffic into a loyal following. You'll work shifts behind the bar as Head Barista, setting the standard for quality and service through your own hands as much as your leadership, while taking ownership of the day-to-day running of the espresso bar and driving the ideas that grow it: new revenue streams, a sharper social presence, and a menu that gives people a reason to come back.

You'll report to the Director and have real input into how the business evolves.

What You'll Be Doing

Running the floor

• Work rostered shifts as Head Barista, setting the bar for quality, consistency, and pace on the machine
• Bring an operator's eye to the final stages of the renovation, offering input on layout, flow, and functionality before the doors open
• Oversee daily operations of the espresso bar service standards, rostering, stock, and the overall guest experience
• Set the tone for a team that makes people feel genuinely welcome, whether they're ordering a filter coffee or just settling in for an hour
• Manage costs, margins, and reporting, with a clear read on the numbers you bring to the Director

Growing the business

• Design and launch paid coffee pairing events: tastings, cuppings, and experiences that bring people in and build a following
• Introduce our specialty line and microlots to the menu, with a focus on telling the story behind each bean
• Source and bring in the right food professional to develop a seasonal Spring/Summer menu (toasties and similar) that pairs naturally with our coffee
• Identify and collaborate with the right social media talent to sharpen and grow our presence, giving the venue and the brand a voice worth following

Building the brand

• Champion the story of the roastery, the cafe supply business, and the dropshipping platform in a way that feels woven into the venue, not bolted on
• Help position St Peters as a neighbourhood worth the trip from Newtown

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience successfully running or managing a cafe or hospitality venue
• A current, active specialty coffee barista skillset, confident and consistent on high-volume espresso and filter service, not just familiar with it
• A track record of generating new business; events, partnerships, or revenue streams you've built from scratch
• An eye for talent and the confidence to source and manage external collaborators with social media and food, who can execute at a high standard
• A strong instinct for food and coffee pairing even if the menu development itself sits with a specialist
• Solid financial literacy; rostering, margins, stock control, and reporting to a director or owner
• A genuine love of hospitality, and the instinct to make people feel welcome without ever making them feel like they need a reason to stay

Reporting Line

Reports to: Director

This is a fulltime position.

Remuneration: Negotiable, based on experience

Pay: $85,000.00 – $90,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person