Cafe Manager

Job Title: Seasonal Café Manager – New Café Opening
Company: Canyon Wren Café
Location: Dutch John, Utah
Job Type: Seasonal / Full-Time
Season: April through October
Pay: DOE, based on experience
Start Date: Early 2026 / Pre-opening planning may begin before season

About Canyon Wren Café

Canyon Wren Café is a new seasonal café opening in Dutch John, Utah, located near the Green River, Flaming Gorge, Yellow Dory Fly Shop, Kestrel Cove Lodge, and WRF Guides.

We are looking for an experienced Café Manager who has helped open a café/coffee shop from the construction/build-out stage through opening day and daily operations.

This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys building systems from the ground up, creating a strong team culture, and working in a small, remote, seasonal destination community.

Position Overview

The Café Manager will help lead Canyon Wren Café from construction completion to full seasonal operations. This role requires someone who understands café flow, staffing, food safety, inventory, vendor coordination, training, customer service, and the many small details that make a new café successful.

Because Dutch John is a remote location, the right person must be organized, proactive, flexible, and comfortable solving problems without immediate access to big-city resources.

This is not just a “run the register” management position. We need someone who can help open the doors, build the team, set the standards, and manage the café throughout the operating season.

Responsibilities

The Café Manager will be responsible for:

Managing the café opening process, including setup, organization, staff training, and opening-day readiness

Helping establish daily systems, checklists, service flow, prep schedules, cleaning standards, inventory procedures, and customer service expectations

Coordinating with ownership, contractors, vendors, equipment suppliers, health department requirements, and internal teams as needed

Hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising baristas, prep cooks, and seasonal café staff

Overseeing daily café operations, including coffee service, grab-and-go food, pastries, drinks, lunch items, and retail/merchandise coordination

Managing inventory, ordering, par levels, waste control, and seasonal purchasing needs

Maintaining food safety, cleanliness, and health department compliance

Creating a positive, professional, and welcoming guest experience

Working closely with Yellow Dory Fly Shop, Kestrel Cove Lodge, and WRF Guides to support lodge guests, anglers, guides, and visitors

Handling guest issues, staff concerns, and daily operational problems with professionalism

Maintaining opening and closing procedures, cash/POS accountability, and daily reporting

Supporting ownership with seasonal budgeting, sales goals, labor control, and operational improvements

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has:

Previous café, coffee shop, bakery, restaurant, or food-service management experience

Direct experience opening a café, coffee shop, restaurant, or similar business from construction/build-out to opening day

Strong leadership and staff-training skills

Experience with coffee service, espresso operations, grab-and-go food, or casual café service

Knowledge of food safety, health inspections, prep flow, cleaning systems, and inventory management

Ability to work independently in a remote seasonal location

Strong organization and communication skills

A calm, practical approach to problem-solving

Comfort working in a small team where everyone helps where needed

Experience with POS systems, scheduling, ordering, and vendor communication

A positive attitude and willingness to build something new from the ground up

Remote Location Notice

Canyon Wren Café is located in Dutch John, Utah. This is a beautiful but remote seasonal destination community near the Green River and Flaming Gorge.

Applicants should understand that this role requires comfort with rural/remote operations, limited local services, seasonal tourism patterns, and a hands-on management style.

Schedule

This is a seasonal position, with the café expected to operate approximately April through October. Pre-opening work may begin before the season depending on construction progress, planning needs, and candidate availability.

Schedule may include early mornings, weekends, holidays, and peak tourism periods.

Compensation

Pay is based on experience, especially experience opening and managing a café, coffee shop, or restaurant.

Housing assistance or seasonal lodging options may be discussed depending on candidate needs and availability.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to help open and manage a brand-new café in one of Utah’s most beautiful outdoor destinations.

Canyon Wren Café will serve anglers, lodge guests, guides, locals, and visitors traveling through Dutch John and the Green River corridor. We are building more than a café, we are creating a welcoming gathering place for good coffee, good food, and good days on the river.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief note describing your café, coffee shop, restaurant, or food-service management experience.

Applicants with direct experience opening a café, coffee shop, restaurant, or similar operation from build-out to opening day are strongly encouraged to apply.

Work Location: In person