Kitchen Manager at Eternal Optimist – Louisville, Kentucky

Be part of a local institution and lead a nationally-recognized team in BBQ as the Kitchen Manager at Feast BBQ! We are looking for a strong leader with a history in the kitchen to join us in the NULU neighborhood.

Kitchen Manager:

General Tasks and Responsibilities

• Reports to General Manager
• Fulfill all tasks related to Shift Leader or General Manager if/when position is vacant
• Work with Shift Leaders and Team Members to meet weekly and monthly performance metrics
• Ensure the kitchen runs smoothly
• Review and approve orders through approved food distributors on a daily/weekly basis
• Work to maintain an accurate ordering lists for each purveyor, order par lists for every item ordered, and prep lists on a weekly basis
• Works with Manager to write bi-weekly schedules; taking into account business trends, events, and labor goals
• Works with Manager to establish bi-weekly meetings with individual Shift Leaders and develops a guideline for items to be discussed
• Investigate, log, and resolve complaints concerning food and service quality issues that arise in-store and online
• Work day and night services throughout the week
• Apply analytical skills to solve a breadth of problems that may arise during a typical workday
• Motivate all team members to work as a team and ensure that food and service meet our standards

Human Resources Related Tasks

• Works with General Manager to accomplish restaurant human resource objectives by selecting, onboarding, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, managing shifts, counseling, and disciplining team members; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing job contributions; planning and reviewing compensation actions; enforcing policies and procedures; relaying recruiting needs, personnel issues, and new team members to HR as needed in a timely manner
• Coordinate with General Manager and Human Resources to complete semi-annual team member evaluations
• Display a good judge of character to help ensure the right people are hired to maintain an efficient and motivated team
• Resolve conflicts between hourly team members as needed
• Complete necessary disciplinary actions for team members, including verbal warnings, written warnings, and work with the General Manager on terminations when warranted. Communicate these items to Human Resources in a timely manner
• Monitor and help lead training processes of all new employees

Operational Tasks

• Works with General Manager and Upper Management to implement strategies to increase average meal checks
• Works to improve guest feedback percentages across all platforms by ensuring that all team members are communicating with guests respectfully and providing the best level of service possible.
• Assists management with finding long term solutions to guest complaints to increase guest satisfaction and retention
• Ensure that training and service standards are met, and that all team members are actively engaged in pursuing our mission of hospitality at all times.
• Works to ensure all stores are operating at full capacity by ensuring that all team members are fully trained and all positions are filled.
• Works with team members to ensure that provided checklists are fully understood, followed, and completed.
• Create and maintain a culture of accountability, improvement, and hospitality that allows all employees to feel heard and taken care of, with an emphasis on building trusting relationships between management and hourly team members.
• Monitor and facilitate team member recognition
• Evaluate and identify team members for future promotion
• Ensure proper organization and inventory practices are upheld
• Ensure that all food items are prepared to specifications using standard recipes while maintaining portion control
• Works with Manager to ensure that all financial (invoices, reporting) and personnel/payroll-related administrative duties are completed accurately, on time, and in accordance with company policies and procedures
• Adhere to company standards and service levels to increase sales and minimize costs, including food, beverage, supply, waste, repair, utility, and labor costs
• Work with General Manager and Upper Management to analyze causes of variance between theoretical and actual food costs and enact measures for minimization
• Audit and ensure cleaning and maintenance schedule for restaurant equipment is being followed to ensure consistent operation and longevity of all purchased restaurant equipment
• Audit security procedures and equipment in place to protect employees, guests, and company assets, providing feedback and improvements as needed
• Work with General Manager and Upper Management to develop an in-depth knowledge of food/paper and labor costs and know how to analyze and ensure objectives are met by all team members
• Maintain operations by implementing production, productivity, quality, and patron-service standards; determining and implementing system improvements
• Ensure Kitchen are in complete compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations
• Have complete knowledge of all local health, alcohol, and OSHA standards and ensure the restaurant is in compliance at all times
• Accomplish company goals by accepting ownership of new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to the current position

Misc. Tasks

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by tracking emerging trends in the restaurant industry; attending educational workshops; identifying and evaluating competitors; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices
• Embody and enforce company culture and policies regarding quality, cleanliness, and respectful and hospitable communication at all times