Duty Manager - GRIND | National Theatre

Job Details

Duty Manager - GRIND | National Theatre

£34,744 per annum

Founded in London in 2011, Grind has grown from a single Shoreditch café into a city-wide collection of buzzing coffee shops, cafés and trucks - serving great coffee, food and cocktails to a killer soundtrack. Our cafés are the beating heart of the brand: fast-paced, vibrant and full of personality. We believe coffee can be a force for good, leading the way with compostable pods, plastic-free packaging and carbon-free shipping. Through the Better Coffee Foundation, we’re on a mission to become the world’s most sustainable coffee company - recovering 43 million pods’ worth of ocean-bound plastic in our first year alone.

Purpose

As Duty Manager, you’ll be at the heart of the action, leading, motivating, and supporting our team to deliver a world-class hospitality experience. You’ll oversee daily operations, assist Team Leaders when needed, and ensure seamless coordination with the wider venue.

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, love hospitality, and want to be part of an iconic venue, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Lead & Inspire: Brief, motivate, and guide team leaders and Customer Service Assistants (CSAs) to achieve daily financial targets, KPIs, and uphold our exceptional service standards.
• Deliver an Outstanding Guest Experience: Keep the customer journey at the heart of everything, identifying opportunities to enhance service and acting on feedback.
• Maintain Excellence in Operations: Ensure food and drink offerings are well-stocked, beautifully presented, and consistently delivered with quality in mind.
• Optimize Performance & Efficiency: Monitor and maintain systems and equipment, report any issues, and follow up on maintenance to keep everything running smoothly.
• Drive Success & Team Growth: Support staff development through inductions, training, and 1-2-1 meetings, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to succeed.
• Ensure Compliance & Safety: Uphold all food safety, health & safety policies, and incident reporting procedures to create a safe and efficient work environment.
• Lead Evening Bar Performance: Own after-5pm trade, driving wet sales through confident leadership, upselling and an energetic guest experience.
  
• Develop & Inspire the Team: Coach Team Leaders and CSAs to deliver standout service across coffee and bar, building skills, confidence and product knowledge.
  
• Champion Coffee Excellence: Maintain exceptional coffee standards at all times — from extraction and recipes to presentation and pace — in line with brand expectations.
  
• Keep Operations Safe & Compliant: Ensure food safety, H&S and incident procedures are followed, creating a smooth, safe and efficient workplace.
  

Requirements

• A natural leader - you lead by example and are always present on the floor with your team.
• Passion for exceptional service - you’ll ensure every guest has an unforgettable experience.
• Flexibility - evenings, weekends, and bank holidays are all part of the excitement!
• At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role, ready to hit the ground running.
• Strong communication skills - both written and verbal.
• Previous experience in a high-volume single or multi-venue hospitality or leisure setting.
• Knowledge of EPOS and procurement systems (Desirable).
• Awareness of COSHH & Level 3 Food Hygiene (Desirable).
• Personal Licence (Desirable).

Benefits

• Healthcare & Wellbeing - Medicash health benefits (including dental, mental health & optical for you and up to 4 children), free annual health check with Aviva Digicare, discounts at Nuffield Health & Pure Gym, and access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Exclusive Perks & Discounts - Save on entertainment (up to 55% off cinema tickets), shopping (up to 15% off), Vodafone plans, and travel with top providers such as TUI & Expedia.
• Workplace Benefits - Meals on duty, pension scheme, life assurance, and professional subscriptions paid.
• Leave & Family Support - 23 days + bank holidays, your birthday off, extra leave after maternity return, a day off for your baby’s 1st birthday, and a holiday purchase scheme.
• Career & Financial Support - Ongoing training & development, career pathways, financial wellbeing programme, and preferred rates on salary finance products.
• Exclusive National Theatre discounts (15% off outlets, 25% off Bookshop, complimentary show tickets)
• Food & drink discounts (Kerb Card: 20% off drinks, 50% off food at Seven Dials Market)
• VIP last-minute O2 show tickets (subject to availability)
• Discounted onsite parking (£4/day)

Who are Levy?

Levy, part of Compass Group, known for delivering exceptional food, drink, and hospitality experiences at world-renowned venues such as Wimbledon, Twickenham, and Tottenham Hotspur. Focused on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, Levy prides itself on using sustainably sourced ingredients and providing outstanding service. The company is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2027, partnering with the British Paralympic Association, and ensuring all team members earn at least the Real Living Wage or London Living Wage.

Why Join Us?

At Levy UK & Ireland, we celebrate diversity and foster inclusion, valuing every individual’s unique strengths. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and success. We promote fairness, ensure all voices are heard, and provide equal opportunities for all.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, equitable workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute. Together, we achieve greatness.