Kitchen Manager

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is a renowned casual dining restaurant chain that has been revolutionizing the pizza industry since its founding in 1985. Known for its innovative and creative approach to classic dishes, CPK combines vibrant California-inspired flavors with hearth-baked pizzas, such as the iconic Original BBQ Chicken, California Club, and Thai Chicken. The founders, former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, successfully merged their passion for fresh ingredients and bold culinary concepts to elevate California to a key player in the pizza revolution alongside regions like Chicago and New York. CPK’s lively open kitchen atmosphere and commitment to fresh, high-quality food have earned it a dedicated following among food enthusiasts and trendsetters. The company's culture thrives on creativity, innovation, and a people-first attitude, encouraging employees to bring their unique talents to work every day.

The role available at California Pizza Kitchen is a full-time Back of House (BOH) Management position with an attractive salary range of $68,000 to $73,000 annually. This leadership position is essential to maintaining CPK’s high standards of hospitality, culinary excellence, and operational efficiency. As a BOH Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day functioning of the kitchen, ensuring seamless coordination of food preparation, cooking, and plating while maintaining an optimal workflow especially during peak hours. You will be responsible for fostering a culture that prioritizes respect, communication, kindness, service, and opportunity — the five core values of CPK’s ROCKS philosophy.

In this role, you will lead and inspire your team by nurturing talent, encouraging career growth, and cross-training staff to build a versatile, world-class culinary team. Your leadership will directly influence business success through building sales, profitability, and guest count growth. You will manage the restaurant’s Profit and Loss (P&L) statements, forecast financial outcomes, control labor costs, enforce portion controls, and prepare budgets. A vital component of the position includes maintaining excellent communication with employees, guests, suppliers, and senior management. Proficiency in Spanish is considered an asset, helping enhance communication in a multicultural workplace.

California Pizza Kitchen offers a comprehensive and rewarding work environment that includes a robust eight-week training program utilizing multiple learning methods such as online, book materials, and one-on-one mentoring. Employees benefit from an industry-competitive compensation package paired with bonus potential. The benefits package is extensive and includes medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, and 401(k) plans. CPK also provides unique perks like unlimited pizza for managers during shifts and a Management Dine-Out card to enjoy meals outside of work.

CPK's culture is passionate and deeply people-oriented, with an employee-driven assistance program called the Kindness Fund to support team members during life challenges. The restaurant emphasizes safety and sanitation, ensuring a healthy work environment for employees and guests alike. Physical demands of the job involve standing, walking for long hours, occasional lifting up to 40 lbs, stooping, bending, and kneeling. Vision requirements include close and distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

At California Pizza Kitchen, diversity and equal opportunity are fundamental. The company prides itself on a welcoming workplace where everyone has a seat at the table, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, or any other legally protected classification. If you are passionate about hospitality, thrive in a fast-paced culinary environment, and want to grow your career with an innovative leader in the restaurant industry, this opportunity at CPK offers a dynamic and fulfilling pathway to success.