Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager

Restaurant Kitchen Manager – New Restaurant Opening

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Kitchen Manager to help lead the opening of an exciting new full-service restaurant and tavern concept in Houston’s Energy Corridor. This is a great opportunity for a strong back-of-house leader who enjoys building teams, training employees and taking ownership of kitchen operations.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a high-volume, full-service restaurant with a scratch kitchen. This person must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and capable of running the kitchen independently while partnering closely with the General Manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead all daily back-of-house operations, including food preparation, production and service execution.
• Recruit, train and develop a strong opening kitchen team.
• Learn all recipes, procedures and specifications and effectively train the kitchen staff.
• Ensure food is prepared consistently and according to company standards.
• Maintain food quality, presentation, ticket times and overall kitchen organization.
• Create a positive work environment that encourages employee retention and teamwork.
• Manage food safety, sanitation, cleanliness and proper product handling.
• Control food costs, waste, inventory and labor.
• Communicate effectively with employees, vendors and restaurant leadership.
• Partner with the General Manager to ensure smooth communication between the front and back of the house.
• Assist with guest-facing and front-of-house responsibilities when necessary.
• Contribute operational, menu and seasonal-special ideas while following the company’s approval process.
• Remain actively involved in kitchen operations and step into any position when needed.
• Help create an excellent experience from production through final delivery to the guest.

Qualifications

• Previous Kitchen Manager, Executive Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef or similar leadership experience.
• Experience in a high-volume, full-service restaurant.
• Scratch-kitchen experience is strongly preferred.
• New-restaurant opening experience is helpful but not required.
• Strong training, coaching and employee-development abilities.
• Proven ability to build and retain a dependable kitchen team.
• Professional communication and guest-service skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining a strong partnership with the General Manager.
• Comfortable taking ownership of the kitchen while following established recipes, procedures and operating standards.
• Strong understanding of food safety, labor management, inventory and cost controls.
• Must be comfortable working in a large, physically demanding restaurant environment.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and remain hands-on throughout the shift.

What We Offer

• 55-60k Starting Salary
• Attainable performance-based bonus opportunity
• Multiple health-insurance options
• Company-paid $25,000 life-insurance policy
• Option to purchase additional life-insurance coverage at the company’s group rate
• $100 monthly dining gift card for use at participating company restaurants
• Five vacation days after six months
• Ten vacation days annually after the first year
• Fifteen vacation days after five years
• Twenty vacation days after ten years
• Opportunity to help launch and grow a new restaurant concept
• Potential advancement and training opportunities as the concept expands

This is not a desk-management position. We are looking for an energetic leader who enjoys being present in the kitchen, developing employees and creating an operation that both guests and team members want to return to.