Restaurant Manager

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is a renowned, innovative restaurant chain known for bringing California creativity to every meal. Founded in 1985 by former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, CPK revolutionized the pizza landscape with its unique, hearth-baked pizzas like The Original BBQ Chicken, California Club, and Thai Chicken. These signature dishes are crafted in an energetic open kitchen, helping to define California's role in the pizza revolution alongside cities like Chicago and New York. Over the decades, CPK has grown into more than just a dining place; it has become a vibrant community for tastemakers, rule breakers, and earth shakers who embrace challenges with boldness and creativity. The brand’s culture is grounded in its ROCKS philosophy, which stands for Respect, Opportunity, Communication, Kindness, and Service. This philosophy guides how employees engage with their work and their communities, creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for all.

The role at California Pizza Kitchen is a leadership position centered around delivering a phenomenal guest experience while embodying CPK’s passionate and people-first culture. The restaurant is committed to moving individuals forward and encouraging team members to apply their unique talents and passion every day. This management role involves leading and inspiring a team to uphold high standards in hospitality and culinary excellence, fostering a culture of continuous growth and development. The manager is expected to build a team dedicated to executing exceptional hospitality and culinary service, coaching employees to reach their full potential through career development and cross-training.

Key responsibilities include building restaurant sales, profitability, and guest counts alongside managing the restaurant’s profit and loss statement. The candidate will forecast financials, adjust labor expenditures, practice portion control, prepare budgets, and analyze variances to meet financial objectives. Communication skills are essential, as the manager must interact effectively with employees, guests, suppliers, and senior management through clear verbal and written communication. Furthermore, maintaining a safe and healthy environment by upholding sanitation standards and procedures is crucial.

CPK offers a comprehensive eight-week training program combining online learning, book study, and hands-on shoulder-to-shoulder training to equip leaders with the tools they need to succeed. Employees enjoy a tremendously passionate company culture with opportunities for internal growth and advancement, supported by a unique electronic learning platform called “The Proof.” The company fosters a collaborative work environment where individuality is celebrated, alongside an employee-driven Kindness Fund that supports team members during life challenges.

The financial package offered is industry competitive, including bonus potential and a comprehensive benefits suite featuring medical, dental, and vision coverage. Managers receive all the pizza they can eat during work, along with a Management Dine-Out card for family and friends. The role demands hands-on leadership, strong operational acumen, and dedication to customer satisfaction, set within a nurturing yet high-performance culture that respects innovation and bold ideas.

The current salary for this position ranges from $70,000 to $75,000 annually, reflective of the leadership and responsibility required. California Pizza Kitchen is committed to equal employment opportunities and provides a diverse, inclusive workplace, free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, or other legally protected classifications. At CPK, everyone has a seat at the table, empowering managers and staff alike to be bold, be epic, and be themselves.