Café Manager - Unity Place

x+why launched in 2019 with a simple belief: business should be a force for good. We’re a founder-led, Certified B Corp creating hospitality-led spaces that put people and planet alongside profit.

Today, we operate 17 coworking, event and members’ club spaces across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes, supporting a community of more than 5,000 members.

Unity Place is our Milton Keynes home, conveniently located near the train station with free parking on site. We’re now preparing to launch a brand-new café within our space - and we’re looking for someone to take the lead.

This is a permanent position and the hours will be Monday - Friday (yes, that means no weekends!!), and shifts will range from 7am - 4pm.

The bit about the role

This is a proper opportunity to make something your own.

You’ll lead the launch of the café, and take ownership of everything from the day-to-day service and standards to its commercial performance. You’ll manage ordering, stock control, rotas, food safety and compliance, making sure the operation runs smoothly and customers receive consistently warm, efficient service.

You’ll also build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and our vending partner, listening to feedback and spotting opportunities to improve what we do.

This is a hands-on role, so you’ll be just as comfortable preparing drinks and serving customers as you are reviewing sales, managing costs or planning the rota. As the café becomes established, you’ll help shape the offer and support its expansion into fresh food, catering and events.

The bit about you

You might already be managing a busy café, or perhaps you’re an experienced Assistant Manager or Head Barista who is ready to lead an operation of your own.

Either way, you know what good service looks like and care about getting the details right. You’re calm under pressure, commercially aware and confident leading a team, but you’re never too senior to roll up your sleeves when things get busy.

As a brand-new operation, the café will continue to evolve as we learn what works. You’ll be resilient and positive in the face of change, comfortable with some ambiguity and excited by the opportunity to shape something new. You’ll bring ideas, respond constructively to feedback and adapt confidently as the café moves through its different phases.

Most importantly, you’ll enjoy creating a place where customers want to return and where your team genuinely enjoys coming to work. Even on Mondays.

Why x+why?

You’ll have the chance to launch a brand-new café, help build the team and leave your fingerprints on how we develop. Good ideas move quickly here, and you’ll have the freedom to shape an operation with plenty of potential to grow.

We’re a good bunch of humans - curious, passionate and motivated. The Milton Keynes team are super welcoming and supportive, yes they take what they do seriously, but they also like to have a little fun along the way!

We welcome people from all walks of life. For us, it’s less about where you’ve come from and more about the attitude you bring, how you treat others and the values you share.

What next?

Click apply and send us your CV.

And one small ask: while AI definitely has its place, we’d love your cover letter to sound like you. It doesn’t need to be long, just honest, concise, and written in your own voice.

In return, we promise every application will be reviewed by a real person.