Café Supervisor - Kōkihi

Role overview

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is seeking a full-time permanent Café Supervisor for its North Campus. AUT is a forward-looking university focused on students, collaborative working, and creating meaningful outcomes through practical knowledge. Its café network supports campus life by providing welcoming places for students, staff, and visitors to eat, drink, and connect.

In this role, you will help run a busy campus café, deliver excellent guest service, and support a positive customer experience. You will work closely with the Retail Manager to keep operations running smoothly, improve productivity, and maintain strong standards across food, beverage, and service delivery.

Key duties

• Make sure guests receive prompt and efficient service.
• Maintain high standards in food and beverage handling, preparation, and presentation.
• Handle café ordering and stock-related coordination.
• Support day-to-day store operations alongside the Retail Manager.
• Help increase café productivity and profitability.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, training, and preparing staff rosters.
• Lead in a hands-on way and set a positive example for the team.

What you will need

• At least 2 years of experience supervising in a café environment.
• Practical knowledge of food and beverage handling and presentation.
• Hands-on experience using 2-group and 3-group coffee machines.
• Strong customer orientation and service focus.
• Good spoken and written English.
• Well-developed organisation and time management skills.
• Proven leadership ability, including the capacity to motivate and develop others.
• A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Willingness to support AUT’s Te Aronui journey and its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Working style and expectations

The ideal candidate will bring an open, collaborative approach and adapt well to changing priorities. You should be comfortable working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and demonstrate cultural humility, awareness, and respect when engaging with indigenous communities. Experience contributing to indigenous, equity, or inclusion-focused initiatives would be an advantage.

Location and hours

This position is based at North Campus and is a full-time permanent role. The role involves 40 hours per week.

What AUT offers

• Flexible working and a supportive, caring workplace culture.
• Recognition frameworks that value your contribution and lived values.
• The tools and trust to make a real difference each day.
• Māori and Pacific development programmes.
• Cultural capability development programmes for all staff.
• Professional development and funded study pathways.
• Free gym membership.

Application information

Applicants must submit a CV and a cover letter that explains why the role and AUT are of interest, and how the candidate meets some or all of the key criteria. Additional comments may also be included to support the application. Applications must be submitted through the online application process; email applications are not accepted.

Additional information

Start date will be agreed with the successful applicant. The salary range is $63,483 to $67,781 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications. For further information, applicants may make an enquiry or call 09 921 9499. Job reference: 90142.

Values and inclusion

AUT is committed to te Tiriti, excellence, and inclusivity, and aims to be the university of choice for Māori and Pacific communities. The university welcomes applicants of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations, and accessibility needs.

Māori proverb

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi — with your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.