Culinary (Kitchen) Shift Leader 2pm-10:30pm

Workstream; Dahlgren (VA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Flexible scheduling

Sundays off

Leadership development

Scholarship opportunities

Hands-on operational leadership

Advancement opportunities

Positive environment

Job summary

Chick-fil-A King George is seeking a Kitchen Shift Leader to manage high-volume kitchen operations and coach Team Members. You will ensure food safety, cleanliness, speed, and guest satisfaction, while leading by example and maintaining standards.

The role emphasizes ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment. Prior restaurant or leadership experience is preferred, with opportunities for growth and advancement.

Qualifications

• Previous restaurant or leadership experience preferred.
• Character, initiative, leadership potential, and growth mindset are valued.
• Strong standards for food safety and cleanliness.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day kitchen operations in a high-volume restaurant.
• Direct Team Members based on business needs and priorities.
• Maintain food quality, safety, cleanliness, speed, and productivity.
• Prepare the kitchen and team for peak periods.
• Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks.
• Coach Team Members and give clear feedback.
• Train and develop new and existing Team Members.
• Delegate cleaning, stocking, preparation, and tasks.
• Communicate shift information to leadership and teammates.
• Support opening and closing operations and uphold standards.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Food safety

Communication

Coaching

Problem solving

Job description

Kitchen Shift Leader

A Kitchen Shift Leader at Chick-fil-A King George is someone who wants to win, loves developing people, and takes pride in running an excellent kitchen.

This role is more than assigning positions and keeping the shift moving.

Our Kitchen Shift Leaders take ownership of the entire kitchen experience—from food safety and food quality to cleanliness, speed, teamwork, and operational readiness.

We are looking for leaders who see a problem and take action. They work with urgency, anticipate what the team will need next, protect our food safety standards without compromise, and challenge themselves and others to continually get better.

Most importantly, our Kitchen Shift Leaders understand that everything happening in the kitchen ultimately impacts a guest. Every safe product, clean workstation, properly stocked position, accurate order, and hot piece of chicken contributes to the experience we provide.

What Winning a Shift Looks Like

As a Kitchen Shift Leader, you will:

• Lead with urgency. Keep yourself and the team moving with purpose while maintaining high standards.
• Protect food safety. Ensure food is handled, prepared, stored, labeled, cooked, cooled, and served according to our food safety standards.
• Own cleanliness. Maintain a kitchen that is clean, organized, stocked, and ready for business—not just at closing, but throughout the shift.
• Deliver excellent food. Protect Chick-fil-A standards for food quality, accuracy, temperature, appearance, and consistency.
• Think ahead. Anticipate rushes, product needs, staffing challenges, breaks, transitions, and potential bottlenecks before they become problems.
• Solve problems. Stay calm when challenges arise, identify solutions, communicate clearly, and take action.
• Develop people. Coach Team Members in the moment, recognize great performance, correct opportunities respectfully, and help others become better.
• Hold the standard. Address performance, behavioral, food safety, cleanliness, and operational concerns rather than walking past them.
• Support the guest experience. Understand that speed, accuracy, food quality, and kitchen execution directly affect every guest we serve.
• Lead by example. Demonstrate the attitude, work ethic, professionalism, accountability, and standards you expect from others.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day kitchen operations in a high-volume, fast-paced restaurant
• Position and direct Team Members based on business needs
• Maintain awareness of food quality, food safety, speed of service, cleanliness, and productivity
• Prepare the kitchen and team for peak business periods
• Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks
• Ensure proper product levels while minimizing waste
• Verify food safety procedures and immediately correct concerns
• Coach Team Members and provide clear, respectful feedback
• Train and develop new and existing Team Members
• Delegate cleaning, stocking, preparation, and operational responsibilities
• Ensure assigned tasks are completed with excellence
• Communicate important shift information to fellow leaders
• Support opening and/or closing operations
• Hold Team Members accountable while maintaining a positive and encouraging environment
• Partner with restaurant leadership to continuously improve our operation

Who We're Looking For

You may be a great fit if you:

• Want to win and enjoy working toward measurable goals
• Take pride in doing things the right way, even when no one is watching
• Have high standards for food safety and cleanliness
• Naturally notice things that need to be fixed and take action
• Enjoy fast-paced environments and work with a strong sense of urgency
• Stay composed and solution-focused when things don't go according to plan
• Enjoy coaching, encouraging, and developing others
• Are willing to have respectful accountability conversations
• Communicate clearly and confidently
• Are dependable and take ownership of your responsibilities
• Are teachable and actively seek feedback
• Understand that leadership means serving the team—not simply directing it

Previous restaurant or leadership experience is preferred, but character, initiative, leadership potential, and a desire to grow are equally important to us.

Position Requirements

• Full-time and part-time opportunities available
• Ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Ability to regularly lift and carry approximately 10–60 lbs.
• Reliable transportation
• Availability to open and/or close as required by the position
• Ability to communicate effectively with Team Members and restaurant leadership
• Ability to coach and address Team Member performance and behavioral concerns
• Commitment to Chick-fil-A King George's standards for food safety, cleanliness, quality, and guest service

What We Offer

• Competitive pay
• Flexible scheduling
• Sundays off
• Leadership and professional development
• Scholarship opportunities
• Hands-on operational leadership experience
• Opportunities for increased responsibility and advancement
• A positive environment where you can make an impact on others

Our Operator began his own journey by leading in a local Chick-fil-A restaurant before ultimately being selected as a Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator. He is passionate about developing others and helping members of our team pursue their own professional and personal goals.

Our Leadership Standard

At Chick-fil-A King George, leadership means taking ownership.

We don't expect our leaders to have every answer. We do expect them to notice, communicate, problem-solve, take action, and continually raise the standard.

See it. Own it. Solve it. Develop others.

Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are operated by independent franchised business owners who make their own employment decisions and are responsible for their own employment policies and practices.

Working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant is more than a job – it’s an opportunity for teamwork and leadership development in a positive, people-focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, franchised Operators who invest in the future of their Team Members and give back to their communities.