Maternity Cover Wellness Café Manager (St. James Site) Join Londons Fastest-Growing Wellness Café Brand Healthy Ambitions Ltd is building a multi-brand portfolio targeting the £4.7 trillion global wellness market. We operate two distinct brands: Heliix (premium wellness & longevity) and Rejoove (value-conscious fitness). We currently run three wellness lounges in partnership with the luxury US gym chain Equinox : Kensington, Bishopsgate and St. James . The St. James Heliix café is located inside Equinox St. James, 12 St. Jamess Street, London SW1A 1ER . We also operate a new smoothie bar concept with Fitness First. Our mission: Serve the worlds best food & beverage offering for fitness and wellness enthusiasts. With ambitious expansion plans across the UK & Europe, we are scaling fast. We dont compromise on quality, we hire exceptional talent, we move quickly, and we build relationships based on trust, responsiveness and reliability. The Opportunity Maternity Cover (Fixed-Term Contract) Heliix is Londons premier fitness and longevity café, proudly partnered with Equinox, one of the worlds most prestigious fitness and lifestyle clubs. We specialise in nutritionally rich, premium food and drink designed to fuel performance, recovery and long-term wellbeing. We are seeking an experienced, energetic and wellness-driven Café Manager (Maternity Cover) to lead our in-club café team at our St. James site . You will play a crucial role in delivering exceptional service, strong operational standards, and a wellness-focused member experience during this fixed-term contract. This role suits an entrepreneurial operator who thrives in a fast-moving environment with minimal red tape and a proactive, make it happen attitude. What We Offer Salary: £30,000£35,000 Contract: Fixed-term maternity cover (length confirmed at offer stage) Complimentary meals during shifts Full access to Equinox Gyms Private GP & counselling services Private medical insurance Cycle-to-work scheme (including E-bikes) Expert training programme, including nutrition fundamentals 28 days annual leave (pro-rated) Flexible pension plan High-energy, wellness-focused working environment Opportunities to represent Heliix at wellness events & activations About the Role (Maternity Cover St. James Site) As Café Manager, you are the driving force of the Heliix St. James café: overseeing day-to-day operations, leading and developing the team, ensuring exceptional service standards, and championing our wellness-focused mission. This is an active, site-based leadership role youll be on the floor, not behind a desk. You will be responsible for operational and financial performance, maintaining exceptional food and beverage quality, supporting nutrition-led initiatives, and ensuring the smooth running of the café inside Equinox St. James. You will report directly to the Operations Manager and act as a brand ambassador for Heliix. Key Responsibilities Team Leadership & Culture Lead and inspire Café Assistants and Supervisors Train the team on nutrition basics, allergens and wellness service Build efficient rotas for peak periods Conduct 1-to-1s, probation reviews and development conversations Foster a positive, motivated, health-focused team culture Financial & Commercial Management Manage café P&L, wage control and budgets Analyse daily/weekly/monthly performance Implement upsell strategies for premium wellness products Deliver monthly P&L reports to Head Office Operational Excellence Oversee daily café operations including smoothies, meals and specialty coffee Maintain food safety, hygiene and H&S compliance Ensure strict allergen procedures and nutritional accuracy Oversee equipment maintenance and café cleanliness Complete weekly operational KPIs (Food Alert) Manage stock, ordering and waste control Lead deep cleans every six weeks Customer Experience & Wellness Advocacy Provide a premium, educational wellness experience Offer basic nutritional and product guidance Resolve member concerns within 24 hours Build strong relationships with Equinox members Promote seasonal menus and functional ingredients Brand Representation & Community Engagement Act as a Heliix brand ambassador Support content creation for social media Champion sustainability and waste reduction initiatives Essential Requirements We are looking for someone with 2+ years of management experience in premium hospitality (high-end coffee shops, wellness cafés, boutique restaurants, luxury hotels, Soho House-level service). You must be genuinely passionate about fitness and wellness. Required: 23+ years premium hospitality experience 2+ years management with P&L accountability Strong passion for wellness and healthy living Level 2 Food Safety (minimum) Excellent leadership and communication skills Proficiency with POS and stock systems Ability to work early mornings, evenings and weekends Entrepreneurial, proactive, solutions-focused mindset Calm under pressure and highly detail-oriented Work Schedule This is a hands-on maternity cover role with variable hours, including early starts, evenings and weekends. You will be on the café floor leading your team at the St. James site. Ready to Join Us? If youre ready to lead Londons most wellness-focused café inside Equinox St. James , and contribute to a high-growth, mission-led business during this maternity cover period, wed love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a brief cover note (max 250 words) explaining: Why wellness matters to you and how it shows in your lifestyle Your most significant hospitality management achievement Why youre excited to join a fast-scaling, entrepreneurial brand

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