Assistant Manager

El Pollo Loco; Compton, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401K with match

Flexible Spending Accounts

Tuition Reimbursement

Life Insurance

Meal Discounts

Job summary

El Pollo Loco in Compton, CA is seeking an Assistant Manager to lead shifts, supervise crew, and ensure top service. You’ll train staff, manage schedules, monitor inventory, and uphold food safety and quality standards while driving guest satisfaction.

We promote from within and offer comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision, 401(k) match, and tuition reimbursement. A Serve Safe certificate and restaurant supervisory experience are valued.

Qualifications

• Must be an EPL Shift Leader or have 2–4 years of restaurant supervisory experience.
• Familiarity with Point-Of-Sale systems is desired.
• High school diploma or GED preferred; Serve Safe certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise assigned shifts and provide supervision to crew in the absence of the General Manager.
• Train and develop crew members.
• Complete administrative tasks including schedules and inventories.
• Create and ensure exceptional guest experiences.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, and cleanliness standards.
• Maintain cost controls and support sales and profit goals.

Skills

Team leadership

Customer service

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Conflict resolution

Basic math

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Serve Safe Certification

Tools

Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems

Job description

1918 W Artesia Blvd, Compton, CA 90220, USA

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 7:00 AM

Have you ever envisioned leading a team to success or dared to help manage a million-dollar business? Well here’s your opportunity to live the dream! Put your team-building skills to the test and bring us your passion, energy, and strong customer service skills. We’ll provide you with an awesome training program, great mentors and an exceptional team that will help you launch your career. The rest is up to you!

What’s in it for you!

We offer eligible Employees the following Benefits/Perks:

• Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance
• 401(K) Plan with match and immediate vesting
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Basic Life and AD&D/Long Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement Program (General Manager and Assistant Manager only)
• Meal Discounts

Requirements:

• Experience: Must be an EPL Shift Leader or have 2-4 years of supervisory experience, preferably within a restaurant environment. Familiarity with Point-Of-Sale systems is desired.
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent (GED) preferred.
• Communication:Excellent written and verbal English communication skills (second language a plus)
• Competencies: Basic math and computer skills, and strong interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills
• Driving/Vehicle: Must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle that may be used for company business.
• Food Handler Card: Must have a Serve Safe Certificate at time of hire or obtain a Serve Safe Certificate and pass the EPL Food Safety Audit (FSA) class upon hire, where applicable.
• Work Hours: Full-Time schedule, and may work any shift including opening, mid-day, and closing. The great news is that our restaurants are not open 24 hours!
• Career Advancement/Career Plan: We promote heavily from within, so from an AM you can develop to become a General Manager, Area Leader, Director of Operations, and beyond!
• Work Attire: EPL logo’d shirt will be provided, and black slacks and no-slip shoes are required

Assistant Manager Job Summary:

• Supervising assigned shifts, and provides supervision to crew members in the absence of the General Manager
• Training and developing crew members
• Completing administrative tasks (e.g. financial and inventory control, schedules, logging maintenance, etc.)
• Creating and ensuring exceptional guest experiences
• Ensuring compliance with all security, food safety, quality, and cleanliness standards
• Maintaining cost controls and contributing to the sales/profit goals
• Building your skills and leveraging the available tools to prepare yourself for a future General Manager role

Company & Culture

For over 35 years El Pollo Loco continues to dominate the market in delivering the best citrus-marinated fire-grilled chicken. We opened our first restaurant in 1980 in Los Angeles, and today we are over 450 restaurants strong and still growing!From our products to our people, we’re truly amazing!

As an Assistant Manager at El Pollo Loco, you’ll be a key player in turning up the heat and driving the fire-grilled experience from behind the scenes. You’ll ensure the restaurant runs smoothly, delivering exceptional service and quality while guiding your team to success and growing yourself as a people leader. Ready to ignite your flamin’ good career?

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Assistant Manager works closely with the General Manager to maintain high standards of quality, cleanliness, and customer satisfaction. This position is an important step in the journey toward assuming the responsibilities of a General Manager. It requires a proactive and hands‑on approach, along with a willingness to cross-train and support various aspects of restaurant operations. Duties include ensuring the restaurant is operated according to all EL Pollo Loco policies, procedures, and standards, as well training and developing restaurant team members.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In collaboration with the General Manager, monitor and control labor costs through effective labor scheduling, cross-training, and team member retention initiatives.
• Responsible for restaurant opening and closing procedures, including security protocols. Coordinate crew tasks for setup, food prep, and cleaning.
• Conduct inventory checks and update the inventory system. Handle food deliveries, ensuring accuracy in inventory records.
• Ensure customer service and speed of service metrics meet company goals and standards. Maintain restaurant cleanliness according to EPL and health/food safety standards. Ensure adherence to safety practices and Quality, Service, Cleanliness (QSC) standards
• Direct and prioritize team members’ tasks during shift. Cover workstations and fill in during team member breaks, as needed. Adjust shift staffing based on sales volume for productivity. Monitor and adjust food production as needed.
• Welcome customer feedback and address any comments or concerns they may have, using EPL’sJust Say YesPolicy. Ensure that all feedback is communicated promptly to the restaurant management team for swift resolution and continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management to support restaurant operations.

QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

Must be at least 18 years old. High school diploma or equivalent (GED) preferred. Must be certified on all EPL SPECS positions or must have 2-4 or more years of restaurant supervisory experience.

License/Certifications:

• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle that may be used for company business.
• Must obtain Serve Safe Certification and pass the EPL Food Safety Audit (FSA) class upon hire.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive pay and quarterly bonuses
• No overnight hours
• Employee discount on food
• Excellent career growth potential (we promote from within)
• Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance + Flexible Spending Account
• Paid vacation
• 401(K) Plan with match and immediate vesting (must be at least 21 to participate)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Insurance Legal Insurance, Long Term Disability Coverage and Pet Insurance
• Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more...

Why work for us?

When it comes to our people, our motto is: Let them cook. In fact, we see you as our secret ingredient. While our chicken is fire, it’s our people

Who set us ablaze. You’re the ones bringing the passion, ideas and energy–the flavor–whether cooking in the restaurant or working in the support center. That’s why we take pride in providing a place where you can express, develop and belong… all while enjoying a healthy balance. Here, fire-grilled chicken makes flamin’ good careers.

The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. Individual pay will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.