Find & Apply For Restaurant / Food Service Manager Jobs in Frenchtown, Montana

About Montana Knife Company Montana Knife Company is a premium American-made knife brand known for its exceptional craftsmanship and innovation in the outdoor industry. We don't just make knives - we craft purpose-built tools trusted by serious outdoorsmen, hunters, and adventurers around the world. As we continue to grow our brand and bring the MKC retail experience to new communities, we're opening our newest location on Main Street in Bozeman, Montana - complete with a Black Rifle Coffee Company shop inside, just like our flagship store in Missoula. Position Summary We are seeking a General Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our new Bozeman retail location from the ground up. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who takes ownership, sets the tone for a great customer experience, and knows how to run a tight, profitable retail operation. You'll be responsible for the full store - retail sales floor, staffing, merchandising, inventory, and P&L performance - while also overseeing the Coffee Manager and the in-store Black Rifle Coffee Company shop, ensuring both sides of the business run in lockstep and reflect the MKC brand and standard of excellence. This is not an entry-level position; we need a proven retail or hospitality leader who can build a strong team and culture from day one in a brand-new store.

Key Responsibilities Store Leadership & Operations:

Own all day-to-day operations of the Bozeman location, including opening/closing procedures, scheduling, cash handling, loss prevention, merchandising efforts and facilities upkeep. Ensure the store consistently reflects MKC's brand, quality standards, and customer experience.

Team Management:

Recruit, hire, train, and lead a high-performing retail team. Directly manage retail staff and oversee the Coffee Manager , who in turn leads the Black Rifle Coffee Company coffee team. Set clear expectations, coach performance, and build a culture of accountability, hospitality, and pride in the product.

Coffee Shop Oversight:

Partner closely with the Coffee Manager to ensure the Black Rifle Coffee Company shop runs smoothly (staffing, quality, speed of service, and consistency) while integrating coffee operations seamlessly with the retail floor experience.

Sales & Customer Experience:

Drive retail sales performance and ensure every customer who walks through the door gets a genuine, knowledgeable, Montana-made experience. Train staff on product knowledge across the knife lineup and coffee menu alike.

Inventory & Merchandising:

Manage inventory levels, product displays, and merchandising standards for both knives and coffee/retail goods. Coordinate with the home office on restocking, new product rollouts, and visual merchandising direction.

Financial Performance:

Own the store's P&L. Manage labor costs, control shrink, and hit revenue targets across both the knife retail and coffee shop sides of the business. Report performance regularly to company leadership.

Local Brand Ambassadorship:

Represent Montana Knife Company in the Bozeman community. Build relationships with local customers, partners, and the broader Main Street business community as the face of our newest storefront.

Community Events:

Plan, host, and lead in-store and local community events - think product launches, sharpening demos, maker/vendor collaborations, and partnerships with local outdoor and hunting groups. Use events as a key tool to build foot traffic, deepen customer loyalty, and establish the Bozeman store as a true community gathering spot on Main Street.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

Work with HR, marketing, finance and operations teams at the Missoula headquarters to align the Bozeman store's launch and ongoing operations with company-wide standards and initiatives using the Missoula flagship location as the model.

Qualifications Experience:

3-5+ years of retail, hospitality, or multi-department management experience, ideally including experience managing both a retail sales team and a food & beverage or coffee operation.

Leadership:

Proven ability to hire, train, and lead a team, including managing a manager (experience overseeing a department head or shift-lead level manager is a strong plus).

Business Acumen:

Comfortable owning a P&L, managing labor and inventory costs, and making data-informed decisions to hit revenue and profitability goals.

Customer Focus:

A genuine passion for hospitality and customer experience, with the ability to set that standard for an entire team across two connected but distinct operations (retail knives and coffee).

Entrepreneurial Mindset:

A self-starter who thrives on ownership and autonomy - someone who can open a brand-new store, build its culture and processes from scratch, and make smart calls with minimal oversight. You treat the store like it's your own business, using MKC's Missoula location as a proven template but not afraid to problem-solve and adapt where Bozeman's market calls for it.

Communication:

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across a growing organization and represent the brand well locally.

Availability:

Must be able to work retail hours, including weekends and holidays as needed, based on the demands of a new store launch.

What We Offer Competitive Compensation:

Salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits Package:

Paid vacation 401(k) matching Medical Vision Dental Health Savings Account (HSA) & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA)

Life Insurance and AD&D Growth Opportunity:

The chance to open and lead one of MKC's newest retail locations, with room to grow as the company continues to expand.

Company Culture:

Join a tight-knit, founder-led team that's fueled by a love for the outdoors and American craftsmanship, now bringing that spirit to Bozeman's Main Street How to Apply If you're excited about the opportunity to lead a brand-new Montana Knife Company location in Bozeman, including our Black Rifle Coffee Company shop, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you're the right fit for the General Manager role.

Deadline:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply soon. Qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps in the interview process. Montana Knife Company is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Come join us in spreading the spirit of Montana craftsmanship to customers everywhere!