About Tea Zaanti
Tea Zaanti is Salt Lake City's only Tea & Wine Café. We are a community-focused gathering place where great tea, thoughtful hospitality, and meaningful connections come together. We're building more than a café—we're creating a neighborhood destination and helping cultivate Salt Lake City's communi-TEA vibe.
As we continue to grow, we're looking for our first Café Operations Manager to help lead our team, improve our systems, and elevate the customer experience.
Basics
Position: Full-Time Café Operations Manager
Schedule: 35–40 hours per week, typically Wednesday/Thursday through Sunday
Compensation: $22–$30/hour depending on experience, plus tips when scheduled as a barista, plus incentive bonuses
The Opportunity
This is not a position for someone who simply completes assigned tasks.
We're looking for a leader who notices opportunities, identifies problems, and takes ownership of making Tea Zaanti better. The ideal candidate is naturally curious, highly organized, and excited to help shape the future of a growing independent business.
You'll work closely with the owners to strengthen operations, develop staff, improve customer loyalty, and create systems that allow Tea Zaanti to continue growing while maintaining the warm, welcoming atmosphere our customers love.
Key Responsibilities
Staff Leadership & Development
Lead by example and help create a positive, supportive workplace culture.
Provide coaching, feedback, accountability, and encouragement to staff.
Create and manage employee schedules.
Oversee training and ensure consistency in service and product quality.
Assist with hiring, onboarding, and staff development.
Help cultivate a culture where employees feel appreciated, respected, and proud to work at Tea Zaanti.
Customer Experience & Community Building
Deliver and model exceptional hospitality.
Build relationships with regular customers and create memorable guest experiences.
Help develop and manage customer loyalty initiatives.
Identify opportunities to increase customer engagement and retention.
Support events, promotions, and community-building efforts that strengthen Tea Zaanti's role as a neighborhood gathering place.
Operations Management
Lead day-to-day café operations during our busiest shifts.
Ensure smooth, efficient service and a top-notch customer experience.
Maintain high standards for cleanliness, organization, and presentation.
Ensure beverage and food quality and consistency.
Help develop and implement new menu items, seasonal specials, and promotions.
Monitor operational challenges and proactively address issues before they become problems.
Inventory & Cost Management
Manage inventory levels and ordering.
Maintain appropriate stock levels while minimizing waste.
Learn and assist with monitoring labor and product costs.
Help identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
Continuous Improvement & Ownership
Consistently ask: "What can we do better?"
Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, merchandising, hospitality, and operations.
Take ownership of projects from idea through implementation.
Bring creative ideas forward and help turn them into action.
Help ensure Tea Zaanti continues to grow as a destination for tea lovers and the surrounding community.
Shared Responsibilities
Retail merchandising and product presentation.
Café appearance, including indoor and outdoor guest spaces.
Organization of storage, inventory, and back-of-house areas.
Equipment care and maintenance, including espresso machines, tea boilers, refrigerators, and related equipment.
Supporting all aspects of operating Salt Lake City's only Tea & Wine Café.
What Success Looks Like
Within the first six months, a successful manager will:
Build strong relationships with staff and regular customers.
Improve consistency and organization throughout the café.
Implement at least one meaningful operational or customer experience improvement.
Contribute ideas that increase customer engagement, loyalty, or sales.
Become a trusted leader who helps move Tea Zaanti forward.
Qualifications
Required
3–5 years of restaurant, café, or hospitality experience.
At least 1 year of leadership or supervisory experience.
Availability to work weekends and lead during peak business hours.
Strong customer service and communication skills.
Ability to coach, motivate, and lead a team.
Preferred Traits
Self-starter with strong initiative and follow-through.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Comfortable making decisions independently.
Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
Ability to identify inefficiencies and create practical solutions.
Entrepreneurial mindset and desire to contribute to a growing local business.
Outstanding personality and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
Genuine enthusiasm for tea, hospitality, and community.
Bonus Points
Experience with café operations, specialty coffee, tea, wine, or retail food service.
Experience with scheduling, inventory management, ordering, or staff training.
Ideas for helping Tea Zaanti become an even stronger community destination.
Love tea. Love people. Love making things better. We'd love to meet you.
Email your resume to scott@teazaanti.com
