Culinary Operations Manager

Fresh Kitchen is an innovative fast-casual restaurant brand dedicated to transforming the traditional concept of "fast food" by offering food that is real, fresh, and made from scratch. The company prioritizes the quality of its ingredients, utilizing 100% pure olive oil instead of seed oils, hand-cut vegetables, antibiotic and hormone-free meats, responsibly sourced seafood, and entirely gluten-free recipes. This commitment to quality and wholesomeness underpins their mantra of "Good Food Forever," reflecting their mission to provide meals that customers can feel good about at every visit. Established with a clear and ambitious vision, Fresh Kitchen aims to expand its footprint to 100 remarkable restaurants by the year 2034, steadily building a network that balances outstanding food quality with a compelling company culture.

Fresh Kitchen is not just focused on the food but also on cultivating a vibrant and supportive environment for its employees and guests. The company holds strong values centered on people and culture, and this emphasis is evident in their hiring practices and leadership development. They seek leaders who are passionate, driven, and committed to building something lasting—a brand that stands for consistency, care, and excellence in every aspect.

The role of Culinary Operations Manager at Fresh Kitchen is pivotal to maintaining the brand’s high standards and operational excellence within the kitchen. This is a hands-on leadership position that demands ownership and accountability for all back-of-house activities, including product quality, execution speed, consistent food standards, kitchen flow, food safety, staffing, training, and cost controls. The Culinary Operations Manager plays a central role in ensuring that the kitchen is always running efficiently, safely, and to the high standards customers expect from Fresh Kitchen.

This individual will lead and inspire the kitchen team, setting the tone for every shift to guarantee that food quality and consistency remain impeccable. Being much more than a back-office manager, the Culinary Operations Manager actively coaches staff in real time, builds effective systems, and fosters a culture of high performance and accountability. This role requires close collaboration with the Managing Partner, Assistant Culinary Manager, and Restaurant Operations Manager to synchronize back-of-house and front-of-house operations, including accommodating online ordering and catering volumes.

Success in this role means upholding incredible food quality in every bowl and every shift, ensuring peak periods run efficiently without sacrificing accuracy or cutting corners, and maintaining an organized and smooth kitchen environment. The manager will also champion a kitchen culture characterized by high standards, trust, and pride where team members are coached continuously, schedules are set to maximize team strengths, and future leaders are developed. Food safety, sanitation, and inventory management are also core responsibilities, requiring meticulous attention to detail and discipline.

Fresh Kitchen offers competitive compensation with salary ranging from $65,000 to $75,000, supplemented by an 8-12% profit-sharing bonus. The company also provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes affordable group health, vision, and dental plans, plus a 401(k) match. Employees enjoy free meals, a supportive culture with clear values, nine paid holidays, progressive paid time off, balanced work schedules, and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. Working at Fresh Kitchen means being part of a brand that is not only vocally passionate about good food but also equally committed to its people and their growth, making it an excellent career opportunity for culinary professionals seeking a meaningful and rewarding leadership role.