Social Media Manager (Princeton)

Ooika is bringing heritage Matcha home. We've earned an international reputation for our Matcha education, our relationships with award-winning farmers, and above all, our hospitality. We don't run paid influencer campaigns, and we'd rather donate that budget to local non-profits and focus on the craft of Matcha. All of our Matcha is ground fresh in the United States, and we want to share it with the world. That's where you come in.

As Social Media Manager, you'll be the voice and eye of Ooika across every platform. You'll translate terroir, cultivar, and the "aroma of shadows" into content that makes people care about heritage Matcha as much as we do. Our aesthetic is elegant, understated, and minimalist. Matcha should always be the brightest thing in the room. As a mission-driven company, you're excited to deepen your own Matcha education and share it honestly with the world. We're a fast-paced, ground-up startup: things change frequently, feedback is constant, and we move fast. We're looking for someone who rises to that and thrives in it.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, edit, shoot, and publish content across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok.

• Capture our drinks, milling process, and cafe life in our brand aesthetic.

• Translate Matcha education into accessible content for a general audience.

• Collaborate and utilize content from Ooika’s founder Marc who produces photo and video assets in Japan.

• Own the content calendar and align posts with monthly specials, events (Sakura Fest, Pumpkin Fest), classes, and product launches.

• Engage authentically with our community: replies, comments, and DMs handled with the same care as in-store hospitality.

• Track performance, test new formats and "risky" ideas, and report on what's working.

• Network to create meaningful collaborations.

• Stay aligned with Ooika's apolitical, mission-first brand voice in all public content.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven experience managing social media for a brand, with a portfolio of original photo/video content.

• Strong eye for composition, lighting, and minimalist, brand-consistent visual storytelling.

• Ability to shoot and edit on both phone and camera, and to work quickly in a high-volume cafe setting.

• Genuine interest in Japanese tea culture.

• Reliable transportation to Ooika in Princeton, New Jersey.

• Flexibility to capture content during open hours, including some weekends, events, and early shifts.

• Consistent, thorough, and proactive communication skills.

• Ideal, but not necessary: experience with paid social, light graphic design, or community management.

COMPENSATION:

• Full time, salary negotiable depending on experience.

• 401(k) savings plan.

• Mental health paid time off & sick time off.

• Free drinks on and off shift.

• Employees and family/friends discounts.

• Open to limited remote-work arrangements.

TO APPLY:

Email your resume, cover letter, links to your social/portfolio work, and your availability to hiring@ooika.co.

Honzu is an elevated take on classic Japanese Kombini-style cuisine, in support of Japanese Tencha (unground Matcha) farmers. Heritage Matcha farmers shade tea bushes using rice straw. This practice, known as Honzu, is becoming commercially extinct. Honzu sourcing includes rice from the same farmers who provide rice straws for Matcha cultivation.

Serving made-to-order, generously stuffed Ongiri with single cultivar rice. Classics like Chicken Karaage and Ebi-Fry, battered and fried in-house. As a mission-driven company, you're excited to deepen your appreciation and mastery of the Japanese culinary arts.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Uphold uncompromising sanitation and cleanliness standards to protect customer well-being.

• Provide gracious hospitality and actual care for each customer.

• Operate with high speed for fast service, while ensuring portion-size precision.

• Follow Honzu’s standardized recipes to the gram accuracy.

• Monitor and verify ingredient quality, temperature, and use-by dates.

• Safely handle TSC and RTE food items, aligning with local ordinances.

• Handle Japanese rice with proper care and techniques.

• Work efficiently in a very small kitchen and exercise strong communication with the team.

• Ensure organization of storage and stock areas.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.

• Reliable transportation to Honzu in Princeton, New Jersey.

• Must have availability to work on the weekends.

• Strength to lift at least 60 lbs.

• Consistent and thorough communication skills.

COMPENSATION:

• $18.75 an hour and up, depending on experience, plus tips.

• 401(k) savings plan.

• Mental health paid time off & sick time off.

• Free drinks on and off shift.

• Employees and family/friends discounts.

TO APPLY:

• Email your resume, cover letter, and your availability to hiring@ooika.co.

Honzu’s Vision

Honzu is an elevated take on classic Japanese Kombini style cuisine, in support of Japanese Tencha (unground Matcha) farmers. Heritage Matcha farmers shade tea bushes using rice straw. This practice, known as Honzu, is becoming commercially extinct. Honzu sourcing includes rice from the same farmers that provide straw for Matcha cultivation.

Serving made-to-order, generously stuffed Ongiri with single cultivar rice. Classics like Chicken Karaage and Ebi-Fry, batter in-housed. The entire Honzu menu is made from scratch, and without compromise. As a mission driven company, you're excited to deepen your appreciation and mastery of the Japanese culinary arts, and lead our Kitchen.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Training: Training and retraining members of staff, overseeing their ability to follow recipes and make consistent food items.

• Real-Time Feedback: Observing Kitchen staff while on duty and providing feedback in real time to be more successful in their role.

• Team Building & Support: Encouraging members of the team to stay aligned with Ooika’s mission. Executing team-building exercises and staying sensitive to team morale.

• Reporting: Reporting and documenting, including but not limited to staff feedback, training, and retraining exercises.

• Equipment: Maintain, light repairs, and documentation of all equipment at Honzu, including, but not limited to, air-conditioner, Fryer, Blender, refrigerators, freezers, grease trap, POS system, and related equipment.

• Stock: Assist the Manager with proper inventory taking and management.

• Communication: Proactive and immediate, and frequent over-communication with all members of leadership. Avoid making assumptions about what other leadership members “probably” or even “do” know. Communicate!

• POS: Knowledge of our POS system, including handling complex orders, refunds, creating new menu items, adding or removing points from customer accounts, updating photos on the POS, etc.

• Shop Cleaning & Hygiene: Ensuring the shop is always hygienic, clean, and well-organized according to Ooika standards. Shop operates according to all local health-code regulations.

• Knowledge and ability to make all Ooika recipes including: mochi cakes, cookies, fruit sauces, chocolate bases, seasonable special bases, and the drinks themselves.

• Knowledge and ability to make all Honzu recipes including: Onigiri bases,  marinades, soups, fried items, sauces, dips, specials and seasonable items.

• Ability to properly document recipe adjustments, and changes, into the Honzu recipe handbook.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least one year of barista experience in kitchen settings with some experience in training or supervision.

• Availability to work at least 30 hours per week.

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team through a high-pressure, fast-paced rush while maintaining composure and standards.

• High personal bar for cleanliness, food safety, and holding others accountable to the same.

• Emotional intelligence, communication skills, and the ability to maintain professional relationships with co-workers and customers.

• Reliable transportation to Honzu in Princeton, New Jersey.

• Willingness and flexibility to work during our open hours, which may include weekends and holidays.

• Strength to lift at least 60lbs.

COMPENSATION:

• Competitive hourly pay starting at $20.75, depending on experience, plus tips.

• Staff meals + discounts on everything we make.

• 401(k) savings plan.

• Mental health paid time off & sick time off.

• Free drinks on and off shift.

• One staff meal on shift.

• Employees and family/friends discounts.

TO APPLY:

Email your resume, cover letter, and your availability to hiring@ooika.co.

Ooika is committed to preserving Japanese heritage Matcha. We operate some of the only full-scale matcha mill stones, known as Ishi Usu, in the United States. We're looking for baristas who are passionate about Matcha and Japanese tea to join us on our mission.

Our Barista staff help support authentic Matcha by providing efficient operations and deeply personal, warm service. Our team is known for going "above and beyond" for our customers, and your positive and genuine attitude will be key to maintaining that. As Ooika manufactures Matcha in-house, you must have the highest standards of cleanliness. As a mission-driven company, you're excited to deepen your Matcha education and share it with our customers. Our cafes are high-volume and fast-paced, and we’re looking for someone who rises to the challenge and thrives under pressure.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide an "unreasonably high" level of customer service.

• Ensure all served products meet "social media ready" quality.

• Maintain a consistently clean and sanitized workspace and service area.

• Follow cleaning protocols before, during, and after service, including deep cleaning tasks as assigned.

• Maintain hygienic food handling practices.

• Assist with Milling tasks, operating the Ishi Usu stone mill.

• Learning, demonstrating, and teaching Matcha knowledge to our customers.

• Handle payment options including: card, cash, and cryptocurrency.

• Follow all Ooika recipes and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Maintain a welcoming, but professional relationship with co-workers.

• Ability to communicate openly and frequently with Ooika staff and management.

• Assist Ooika staff with training and development of new hires.

• Perform efficiently and composedly during high-volume rushes, maintaining quality and hospitality standards even under pressure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.

• Ability to remain calm and collected in rapidly changing circumstances.

• Reliable transportation to your Ooika location.

• Willingness and flexibility to work during our open hours, which will include weekends and holidays.

• Strength to lift at least 40lbs, ideally 60lbs.

• Consistent and thorough communication skills.

COMPENSATION:

• $16 an hour, depending on experience, plus tips.

• 401(k) savings plan.

• Mental health paid time off & sick time off.

• Free drinks on and off shift.

• Employees and family/friends discounts.

TO APPLY:

• Email your resume, cover letter, and your availability to hiring@ooika.co.

Ooika was founded to help preserve authentic Japanese Matcha. Despite our business being fairly new, we’ve gained an international reputation for our Matcha education, relationship with award-winning farmers, and most importantly, our hospitality. Everything comes down to care. Real care.

Experienced in high-volume cafe environments, you’ll help lead your team by example: keeping the highest standard and providing general support in keeping all operations running smoothly. You’ll ensure that every customer is greeted, every drink is made efficiently, and every obstacle is creatively handled. As a Lead, you will embody our value of ownership, taking initiative before problems arise, stepping up when things don’t go as planned, and treating every aspect of operations as your personal responsibility. You'll bring a “can-do” attitude and grow with a "ground-up" company.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure consistency of customer experience across the entire journey: from entering the store, to receiving their order, to leaving.

• Provide training for new and current baristas, including hospitality standards, cleaning protocols, and recipe execution.

• Enforce and model health and cleanliness standards and hold the team accountable to them.

• Oversee operations and maintenance of all equipment at Ooika, including millstones, brewing equipment, and service-ware.

• Work with the general manager to coordinate scheduling and staffing, and assist with coverage if necessary.

• Exceptional level of hospitality to remember our customers' names, predict their needs, and identify how to solve a customer problem.

• Ensure Ooika’s full menu is available to our customers by conducting inventory counts, restocking, and communicating potential shortages and issues before they arrive.

• Lead the team through high-volume rushes with calm, clear direction and maintain quality, speed, and hospitality standards even at peak capacity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least one year of barista experience in specialty coffee, tea, or hospitality settings with some experience in training or supervision.

• Availability to work at least 30 hours per week.

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team through a high-pressure, fast-paced rush while maintaining composure and standards.

• High personal bar for cleanliness, food safety, and holding others accountable to the same.

• Emotional intelligence, communication skills, and the ability to maintain professional relationships with co-workers and customers.

• Reliable transportation to Ooika locations.

• Willingness and flexibility to work during our open hours, which will include weekends and holidays. Willingness to help cover shifts if necessary.

• Strength to lift at least 40lbs, ideally 60lbs.

• Ideal, but not necessary: experience and knowledge of Coffee, including latte art, dialing in espresso shots, and writing tasting notes.

COMPENSATION:

• $18 an hour, depending on experience, plus tips.

• 401(k) savings plan.

• Mental health paid time off & sick time off.

• Free drinks on and off shift.

• Employees and family/friends discounts.

TO APPLY:

• Email your resume, cover letter, and your availability to hiring@ooika.co.