Culinary Operations Manager

Fresh Kitchen is a pioneering fast-casual restaurant brand dedicated to redefining the concept of fast food by prioritizing real, made-from-scratch food with high-quality ingredients and exacting standards. The company exclusively uses 100% pure olive oil, avoiding seed oils, and emphasizes hand-cut vegetables, antibiotic and hormone-free meats, responsibly sourced seafood, and entirely gluten-free recipes. Known for its commitment to wholesome, nutritious food, Fresh Kitchen brands its philosophy as Good Food Forever, embodying an inclusive approach to health and sustainability. The brand is ambitiously pursuing growth, aiming to establish 100 remarkable restaurants by 2034, emphasizing a deep commitment to people, culture, food quality, and operational performance. This vision is supported by fostering a team culture built on respect, accountability, and continuous improvement, and they seek leaders who share these values and are passionate about building lasting successes in the food industry.

The Culinary Operations Manager role at Fresh Kitchen is a vital leadership position responsible for the complete back-of-house operations in the restaurant. This role demands a hands-on leader who is deeply involved in the day-to-day kitchen activities, guiding the team on food quality, speed, consistency, kitchen flow, and stringent food safety and sanitation standards. The Manager holds the responsibility for staffing, coaching, training, and developing the kitchen team, ensuring that every shift runs efficiently and meets high standards. In addition to maintaining the consistency and excellence of the food served, the role involves strict oversight of inventory management, cost control, waste reduction, and labor deployment to align operational efficiency with Fresh Kitchen's brand promise. The Manager is expected to work in close partnership with the Managing Partner, Assistant Culinary Manager, and Restaurant Operations Manager to balance back-of-house execution with front-of-house flow and the complexities of online ordering and catering volumes.

This leadership position calls for a proactive, organized, and disciplined individual who operates with ownership mentality, constantly raising standards and fostering a kitchen culture of accountability, pride, and high performance. They must be capable of making real-time decisions during peak hours to maintain speed and quality, handle detailed audits and food safety checks, and ensure the kitchen is always inspection-ready. The Culinary Operations Manager at Fresh Kitchen is crucial in developing future culinary leaders, managing strong onboarding and training processes, and embedding systems that support repeatable high-performing shifts in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. This role also includes contributing to the continued growth of Fresh Kitchen’s brand and culture by exemplifying leadership that is empathetic, rigorous, and driven by both results and shared values. Employment is full-time, with a salary range of $65,000 to $75,000 plus an 8-12% profit-sharing bonus, reflecting a commitment to rewarding leadership and operational excellence.