Mexican Food Chef & Kitchen Manager – 24/7 Trailer Launch

Our company is launching a unique food trailer operation located next to a well-established gas station and convenience store on Boca Chica Boulevard, a key commercial corridor leading to the Starbase area. This location benefits from consistent traffic around the clock, thanks to construction crews and shift workers operating in the vicinity. The food trailer is not your typical food truck; it is a custom-built, 34-foot state-of-the-art kitchen inspired by the design of the Starship rocket. The trailer features a full professional kitchen designed for efficiency and quality, allowing us to serve hearty, made-from-scratch meals that cater specifically to workers with demanding, physical jobs in the region.

The food trailer will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, specializing in RGV-style breakfast tacos and authentic Mexican cuisine. Alongside our food offerings, we run a cafe program that features coffee and other cafe-style drinks to complement our menu, providing a full-food and beverage experience that fits the needs of our hardworking customers. Unlike many food vendors, the payment process is streamlined with customers paying inside the adjacent store, enabling our kitchen team to focus solely on food preparation and quality without handling cash transactions.

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Kitchen Manager who has a deep understanding of traditional Mexican cuisine, especially Rio Grande Valley (RGV) style. The ideal candidate will have experience creating menus, managing kitchen teams, and implementing food preparation systems that ensure consistency and speed. This role is pivotal in establishing the kitchen operation from scratch, including developing a practical, authentic menu built to serve a working crowd, sourcing reliable suppliers, hiring and training kitchen staff, and setting up all necessary prep and food safety procedures. Some inventory may be conveniently sourced from the adjacent store to streamline operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to run your own culinary concept within a brand-new, fully equipped kitchen space without the personal financial risk typically associated with launching a new food business. The trailer is scheduled for arrival in approximately eight weeks, and the successful candidate must have all preparations completed before launch, including menu development, team hiring, and system implementation.

Post-launch, the kitchen will operate nonstop, requiring dedication to long, irregular hours during the initial months. The workload during this startup phase is expected to be intense, with over 70 hours per week, including overnight shifts. However, once the systems and staffing are fully established, the schedule will become more manageable. Importantly, you will have the autonomy to build and manage your team as you see fit to optimize the workload.

This role reports directly to the store's General Manager, who will manage hiring paperwork and payroll, while the Kitchen Manager holds full operational authority within the kitchen. The business owner will also be actively involved during the launch period to provide support and ensure a smooth startup phase.

Compensation for this role ranges from $1,000 to $1,300 per week depending on experience, with potential exceptions for outstanding candidates. Raises will be considered every six months as the operation stabilizes. We also offer relocation assistance for the right candidate to facilitate a smooth transition to this exciting opportunity.

Benefits include a flexible schedule, food provided during shifts, paid time off, and relocation assistance. This position requires physical presence at the location and commitment to the 24/7 operational schedule, especially during the initial launch phase. Join us and be part of a unique food service venture designed to serve hardworking people in a dynamic, 24-hour environment.