Kitchen Manager

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is a renowned restaurant chain celebrated for pioneering California-style cuisine, offering a fresh and innovative take on classic dishes with a focus on quality ingredients and bold flavors. Established in 1985 by former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, CPK has carved out a distinctive place in the culinary world with inventive offerings like The Original BBQ Chicken, California Club, and Thai Chicken pizzas, all crafted in an engaging open kitchen environment. The company’s culture is deeply rooted in its ROCKS philosophy, which stands for Respect, Opportunity, Communication, Kindness, and Service. This culture fosters a warm, inclusive atmosphere where team members are encouraged to bring their best selves to work and contribute to their communities with passion and creativity.

California Pizza Kitchen is more than just a restaurant; it’s a vibrant community that values boldness, authenticity, and continuous growth. The organization is committed to providing exceptional guest experiences through innovative culinary creations and outstanding hospitality. Those who join the CPK family find themselves in a workplace that emphasizes development and leadership opportunities, providing a unique platform to build careers while impacting the broader food and beverage landscape.

The role of a Back of House (BOH) Manager at CPK is a critical leadership position designed for a passionate restaurant professional dedicated to excellence in food service and kitchen management. This full-time position comes with a competitive salary range of USD 70,000 to USD 75,000 annually and includes comprehensive benefits such as medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, and a 401(k) plan through designated providers.

As a BOH Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the kitchen, ensuring smooth coordination among food preparation, cooking, and plating teams. You will maintain optimal workflow, especially during peak service periods, by adapting strategies as necessary to meet operational demands. Leadership is central to the role, as you will inspire and manage your team with a people-first mentality to uphold and enhance CPK’s best-in-class company culture.

Your duties will include building and nurturing a team passionate about hospitality and culinary excellence, fostering career growth, and encouraging cross-training among team members. You will play a vital role in driving sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction by managing the restaurant’s profit and loss metrics. This involves forecasting, adjusting labor expenditures, applying strict portion control, preparing budgets, and analyzing financial variances to meet established targets.

Excellent communication skills are vital to this role, not only for managing your team but also in interacting effectively with guests, suppliers, and senior management. While proficiency in Spanish is a plus, it is not mandatory. Safety and sanitation are paramount; you will ensure compliance with all standards to maintain a safe and healthy work environment.

CPK offers an outstanding training program that spans eight weeks, utilizing a variety of learning methods including online modules, hands-on teaching, and book study. The company culture is known for its passion and inclusiveness, encouraging employees to express their unique talents. Managers enjoy perks such as unlimited pizza meals during shifts, a Management Dine-Out card for personal enjoyment, and access to an employee-driven Kindness Fund that provides assistance during life’s challenges.

Working conditions require stamina and physical capability, including the ability to stand, sit, walk for long hours, and occasionally lift weights up to 40 pounds. The role demands attention to detail and adaptability to changing operational needs, with an emphasis on teamwork, service excellence, and career development.

In summary, joining California Pizza Kitchen as a BOH Manager offers a compelling opportunity to lead in a dynamic, innovative restaurant environment where respect, opportunity, communication, kindness, and service shape daily work and career growth. This position is ideal for motivated individuals seeking to build a rewarding career in food service management while enjoying industry-competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.