Student Cafe Operating Officer (UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA)

Accepting applications for Fall 2026 and future semesters!

Who We Are: Saxbys® is a hospitality company fueled by our rave-worthy menu, driven by its mission to Make Life Better®, and fiercely dedicated to social impact in the communities it serves. But Saxbys greatest resource of all? Our people. We’re not looking for employees: we’re looking for teammates. We’re not hoping to hire you for a job: we’re hoping to help build your career.

Join us in our goal to bring our Experiential Learning Platform to college campuses across the country. We are looking for team members who are passionate about equipping the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs with the skills they will need to succeed in the future workplace. If this is the type of work that gets you up in the morning, we’d love for you to consider joining our team.

Job purpose: As the Student COO of a Saxbys cafe you will gain invaluable experience developing a team, and managing the financials & business fundamentals of a bustling cafe. While you will have the full support and resources of the Saxbys headquarters team, you will also have unparalleled ownership of the entrepreneurial and operational processes.

The Student COO will be offered semesterly to two students and operate on a rotational program at the following locations: University of Virginia and Boston University. In the rotational model SCOOs will spend 8 weeks on Team Development and Community Leadership and the other 8 weeks on Financial Management.

What You Will Own

Team Development: Build and lead a high-performing team of peers through effective recruiting, training, coaching, and performance management to create a positive work environment that embodies Saxbys' values and culture.

Community Leadership: Establish the cafe as a community cornerstone through exceptional hospitality, meaningful partnerships, and impactful initiatives that demonstrate Saxbys' commitment to making life better.

Financial Management: Drive cafe profitability by managing sales growth, labor costs, inventory, and overall operational efficiency while maintaining Saxbys' high standards for product quality and guest experience.

Brand Representation: Serve as the face of Saxbys on campus, effectively communicating the company's mission, values, and Experiential Learning Platform to stakeholders, guests, and potential team members.

Who You Will Support

Operations Lead: Collaborate on strategic initiatives, provide regular updates on cafe performance, and implement feedback to continuously improve operations.

Marketing Team: Generate content for social media, implement local marketing initiatives, and execute promotional campaigns to drive cafe awareness and sales.

Recruiting Team: Assist in identifying, recruiting, and developing talent for both cafe positions and future Student COO succession planning.

Who You Will Supervise

This position will supervise an average of 60 direct reports

What Success Looks Like

Cafe achieves or exceeds budgeted revenue targets

Cafe operates at or above budgeted Net Operating Income

30%+ of cafe staff are developed into Team Leads

Guest satisfaction metrics consistently above 4.5/5

Where You Excel

Confident Communicator

Developer of Individual Contributors

Master of Prioritization

Adaptable to Change

Autonomous Problem Solving

Financial Acumen

What You Have Done

Completed at least one year of undergraduate studies

Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, professional, or volunteer settings

Experience in customer service, hospitality, or retail preferred

What is Required

Support, exhibit, and promote Saxbys Mission and Core Values in all daily activities.

Must be an undergraduate student of the partner organization in good academic standing

Ability to work 20 hours per week during cafe operating hours

Physical requirements:

Able to stand, walk, and smile for extended periods of time

Able to stoop and kneel

Push, pull, lift or carry up to 35 lbs

Ascend or descend ladders, stairs, ramps