Company description

Café Momentum is more than a restaurant —it’s a nationally recognized nonprofit and transformative experience for everyone who walks through the door. Based in Dallas, we provide a 12-month paid internship program for justice-involved youth ages 15-19 that includes culinary, job and life skills training, along with comprehensive wraparound support services.

Our interns also participate in Café Momentum Academy, where they work toward their high school diploma or equivalent and receive dedicated mental health services and case management as part of our trauma informed care model. The goal: to equip our youth with the tools and support they need to break the cycle of incarceration and reach their full potential.

Job description

We are looking for a General Manager who is equal parts strong operator, people leader, coach, and community ambassador.

This leader will play an important role not only in Dallas, but in helping shape the future of Café Momentum as we prepare for our new Flagship location and continued growth.

This is not a role for someone who wants to stay in the office. We need a hands-on leader who is in the dining room, at pre-shift, in the kitchen, supporting the team, connecting with guests, mentoring young people, and setting the tone every day.

If you are the kind of leader who can build a culture of professionalism, hold people accountable with heart, and create an exceptional guest experience while changing lives, we want to talk with you.

What You’ll Do

• Lead all day-to-day restaurant operations for Café Momentum Dallas
• Directly oversee the Assistant General Manager and Chef de Cuisine, while building, coaching, and developing the broader management and front-of-house team
• Create a culture of professionalism, clear expectations, accountability, and follow-through
• Partner closely with culinary, program, and operations leaders to ensure a seamless experience for both guests and interns
• Be highly visible in the restaurant – greeting guests, working the floor, coaching in the moment, and staying until the last guest leaves
• Build a team that works together, communicates well, and supports one another
• Support special events, donor experiences, and community relationships
• Serve as a leader and role model for our interns, helping them build confidence, professionalism, and life skills

What Will Make Someone Successful Here
The right person will:

• Have 5+ years of restaurant management experience, including leading other managers
• Be an experienced GM, AGM, Director, or senior leader from an upscale casual, polished casual, nonprofit, social enterprise, hotel, or independent restaurant environment
• Know how to create systems and structure without losing warmth and humanity
• Be respected because they lead by example, communicate clearly, and follow through
• Be comfortable having difficult conversations and holding people accountable
• Have strong front-of-house instincts and know how to create a memorable guest experience
• Be able to balance mission and business: caring deeply about our youth while also driving standards, consistency, and results
• Be someone who naturally “works the room” and makes guests, donors, and team members feel welcome and important

Why This Role Is Special

• You will directly impact the lives and futures of young people
• You will be part of one of the most respected restaurant nonprofits in the country, working with Founder/CEO and 2025 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year Chad Houser
• You will work alongside a team that cares deeply about the mission and each other
• You will help lead the Flagship Café Momentum restaurant with visibility across the organization
• Generous PTO, a 403(b), health benefits, and one three-day weekend every month
• Additional earning potential tied to events and catering

If you are looking for a role where you can do meaningful work, lead a great team, and make a difference every single day, we would love to hear from you.

Physical requirements: This role requires standing and walking for extended periods; frequent bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, twisting, and reaching; and the ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, including overhead. The General Manager must be comfortable performing repetitive hand and wrist motions and working in a busy restaurant environment that may be hot, humid, and involve cleaning chemicals.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $75,000 - $100,000

Application instructions

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Deadline

April 30, 2026