Tea House Manager

Lisbon · Full-time · Starting September 2026

About The Orb

The Orb is a new cultural destination opening in Lisbon in October 2026, bringing together collectible design, art, craftsmanship, hospitality, and cultural programming within a single space.

At the heart of The Orb is a tea house developed in close connection with OGATA, the renowned Japanese cultural and hospitality concept. Inspired by Japanese tea traditions, craftsmanship, aesthetics, and hospitality, the tea house is intended to offer visitors a moment of pause, reflection, and connection within the larger Orb experience.

We are looking for a Tea House Manager to help bring this vision to life.

The Role

The Tea House Manager will oversee all aspects of the tea house operation, including service, hospitality, staff management, inventory, ordering, guest experience, and daily operations.

This person will be responsible for ensuring that the tea house runs smoothly while maintaining the atmosphere, care, and attention to detail that define both The Orb and the hospitality traditions that inspire it.

This role is equally operational and experiential. We are looking for someone who can manage systems and logistics behind the scenes while also leading by example on the floor and creating an exceptional guest experience.

The Tea House Manager will play a key role in helping establish the culture, standards, and rhythm of the tea house from the very beginning.

Key Responsibilities

Hospitality & Guest Experience

• Lead and maintain an exceptional level of hospitality and service.
• Create a welcoming, calm, and thoughtful experience for every guest.
• Ensure service standards are consistently upheld.
• Share the story and philosophy behind the tea program when appropriate.
• Handle guest feedback and resolve issues professionally and gracefully.
• Help create an atmosphere that reflects the values of The Orb and the influence of Japanese hospitality.

Daily Operations

• Manage the day-to-day running of the tea house.
• Oversee opening and closing procedures.
• Ensure the space is consistently clean, organized, and beautifully maintained.
• Maintain operational systems, checklists, and service procedures.
• Anticipate operational issues and proactively solve problems.
• Work closely with the Gallery & Operations Manager to ensure a seamless visitor experience throughout the space.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, train, and manage tea house staff.
• Develop service standards and training procedures.
• Create staff schedules and oversee team performance.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, care, accountability, and hospitality.
• Lead by example and support the team during busy service periods.

Inventory & Ordering

• Manage inventory of tea, food items, serving ware, packaging, and supplies.
• Coordinate ordering and supplier relationships.
• Monitor stock levels, waste, costs, and usage.
• Maintain organized storage and inventory systems.
• Ensure operational readiness at all times.

Food Program Coordination

In addition to the tea experience, the Tea House Manager will oversee the daily food offering served at The Orb.

While food preparation will take place off-site in a licensed kitchen, the Tea House Manager will be responsible for coordinating production, ensuring daily readiness, maintaining quality standards, and overseeing the presentation and service of all food items.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating with external kitchen partners and suppliers.
• Managing production schedules and daily food orders.
• Ensuring food is prepared, delivered, and received according to quality standards.
• Monitoring inventory and forecasting daily needs.
• Overseeing food presentation and service.
• Maintaining food safety and storage standards.
• Supporting the development and refinement of the food offering over time.
• Ensuring guests enjoy a consistent and high-quality experience across both food and tea service.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in hospitality environments where food and beverage operations intersect and will be comfortable coordinating multiple suppliers, production schedules, and service requirements.

Compliance & Administration

• Ensure compliance with all food safety and hygiene requirements.
• Maintain HACCP and operational standards.
• Support reporting, inventory tracking, and operational administration.
• Help establish efficient systems as the business grows.

Events & Programming

• Support private events, tastings, cultural programming, launches, and special experiences.
• Help integrate hospitality into the broader cultural programming of The Orb.
• Ensure events are executed smoothly and professionally.

Preferred Experience

We are particularly interested in candidates who understand that hospitality is both an art and a discipline.

Experience in cafés, tea houses, restaurants, boutique hotels, luxury hospitality, or culturally driven hospitality concepts is highly valued.

Because the tea program is being developed in close connection with OGATA and inspired by Japanese hospitality traditions, we are especially interested in candidates who have experience working within Japanese hospitality environments or who have developed a meaningful understanding of Japanese tea culture and service traditions.

This may include experience with tea houses, cafés, restaurants, ryokans, cultural institutions, hospitality concepts, or other environments influenced by Japanese approaches to service and guest experience.

Candidates who have lived, studied, trained, or worked in Japan — or who have otherwise developed a deep appreciation for Japanese hospitality, aesthetics, and culture — are especially encouraged to apply.

Who You Are

• Warm, calm, and highly attentive to detail.
• A natural host who enjoys caring for people.
• Organized and operationally minded.
• Comfortable leading a team.
• Able to remain composed under pressure.
• Passionate about hospitality, culture, food, tea, design, and beautiful experiences.
• Curious and eager to learn.
• Excited by the opportunity to help build something from the ground up.

You understand that great hospitality is often invisible. It lives in the details, the atmosphere, the preparation, and the care that guests feel without necessarily noticing.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to join the founding team of The Orb.
• A creative, inspiring, and design-led working environment.
• The chance to help shape a unique hospitality concept from the beginning.
• Direct exposure to international designers, artists, makers, and cultural partners.
• Competitive compensation based on experience.
• Real opportunity for growth as The Orb evolves.

Why Join Now?

The Orb is currently building its founding team ahead of opening.

This is a rare opportunity to join a project at its earliest stage and help shape not only how it operates, but what it becomes. We are looking for people who care deeply about hospitality, culture, craftsmanship, and meaningful human connection — and who are excited by the idea of building something special from the ground up.

Location

Lisbon, Portugal.

Start Date

September 2026, ahead of our October opening.