Kitchen Manager

Mortadella Head is a vibrant Italian-American comfort food restaurant located in Somerville, MA, dedicated to bringing authentic, old-school recipes served with a contemporary twist to every table. The company prides itself on making everything from scratch without shortcuts, ensuring each dish carries the tradition and heart of classic Italian-American fare. Since its inception, Mortadella Head has been on a path of growth, expanding from beloved local brick-and-mortar locations to a nationally recognized brand with a thriving e-commerce presence. The culture at Mortadella Head is fueled by passionate individuals who are not only makers and dreamers but also committed to excellence, consistency, and hospitality that makes every customer feel like part of the family. The company values teamwork, humility, and continuous learning as it scales, promoting a workplace where energy, optimism, and dedication flourish.

The role of the Kitchen Manager at Mortadella Head is a pivotal position that requires a hands-on leader to oversee all back-of-house operations. This full-time position reports directly to the General Manager or Director of Operations and offers a competitive salary of $60,000 per year. The Kitchen Manager will ensure impeccable food quality, consistency, safety standards, and operational execution while fostering a strong, accountable, and motivated kitchen team. Key responsibilities encompass leading daily kitchen operations, managing food prep and production flow, enforcing rigorous food safety and sanitation standards, and maintaining cleanliness and organization during service. This role demands a leader who thrives on setting high standards, creating effective systems, and promoting a positive kitchen culture grounded in respect and accountability.

Beyond operational oversight, the Kitchen Manager plays a crucial role in team leadership by training, coaching, and developing kitchen staff to elevate performance and morale. They are responsible for building effective schedules that align with business needs and labor targets, addressing performance issues proactively, and cultivating a workplace that emphasizes pride in craft and continuous improvement. In addition to people management, the role involves rigorous inventory and cost control management including ordering, receiving, stock storage, conducting inventory counts, and minimizing waste. The Kitchen Manager also collaborates closely with front-of-house management to ensure smooth service flow, communicates kitchen needs and operational updates to leadership, and supports menu rollouts and new recipe implementations. By maintaining and improving kitchen standard operating procedures, the Kitchen Manager helps to sustain Mortadella Head's commitment to delivering outstanding food and hospitality.

This career opportunity promises growth within a dynamic and expanding restaurant group, supported by a leadership team dedicated to transparent communication and operational excellence. Mortadella Head offers a kitchen culture where every employee feels valued and empowered to contribute to the company’s success while taking pride in their craft. The position requires flexibility including open availability during nights, weekends, and holidays. Benefits such as health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, employee discounts, and paid training further reflect the company’s investment in the well-being and development of its team members. Overall, this is an excellent opportunity for an experienced kitchen professional passionate about quality food and team development to grow with a company that values tradition, innovation, and community.