FT Shift Lead - Panda Express - Denver International Airport

Concessions International PE LLC; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Panda Express at Denver International Airport is hiring a FT Shift Lead to deliver exceptional guest service, oversee daily operations, and support management. The role involves supervising staff, handling cash, and maintaining safety and cleanliness standards on a fast-paced food service line.

Starting pay ranges from $23.00 to $26.00 per hour, with a $3.00 tip differential in some shifts. Experience and business needs determine final pay during the hiring process.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1-2 years of customer service and supervisory experience preferred.
• Must be able to obtain alcohol awareness and ServSafe certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide superior guest service and greet guests.
• Explain and upsell menu items and promotions.
• Handle cash and process payments.
• Cook and store food to proper temperatures; rotate products.
• Assist management and lead staff in the absence of managers.
• Open/close the unit; manage cash, inventory, and appearance.
• Ensure policies and safety guidelines are followed.
• Train associates to maintain standards.
• Maintain clean unit and complete opening/closing tasks.
• Follow safe food handling and hygiene practices.
• Report equipment malfunctions to management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Supervisory experience

Communication

Flexibility

Education

High school diploma

GED

Job description

FT Shift Lead - Panda Express - Denver International Airport

Job Category: Food and Beverage Service

Requisition Number: FTPMS003757

• Posted: October 20, 2026
• Full-Time
• Rate: $23 USD per hour

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
1. Ensures each guest receives superior service by providing a friendly environment, which includes prompt recognition and greeting of guests with a smile using established service standards.
2. Communicates, explains and suggestively sell menu offerings, products, and promotions to guests.
3. Completes cash handling duties with appropriate paperwork; processes and presents checks to guests and completes payment transactions.
4. Cooks and stores food at required temperatures; labels, dates, and rotates all products in accordance with company standards.
5. Assist unit management with monitoring daily operations and lead employees in the performance of their duties in the absence of a unit or assistant manager.
6. Perform unit opening and closing duties which includes cash management, inventory, stocking, and unit appearance.
7. Adheres to and ensures all company policies, procedures and safety guidelines are followed.
8. Support the training of associates to ensure that unit standards, sales and customer service are maintained.
9. Ensure that all areas of the unit are properly cleaned and maintained and opening and/or closing side works are completed according to established checklists
10. Follows safe food handling and proper hygiene practices.
11. Adheres workplace safety standards for operating and maintaining equipment and reports any equipment malfunction to management immediately.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Compensation and Training:

• Pay: $23.00-$26.00 per hour, plus pooled tips. Starting pay is based on experience, qualifications, and business needs.
• Training: Six weeks.
• Pay Differential: The stated compensation includes a $3.00-per-hour differential associated with tip-pool eligibility.

How Pooled Tips and the $3.00 Tip Differential Work:

This position participates in a pooled-tip program. Eligible tips collected during each shift are combined and distributed among participating employees based on the number of hours worked.

For tip-eligible positions that qualify under applicable law, the hourly base rate may be reduced by up to $3.00 per hour from the posted rate. Pooled tips are then added to the base rate. Because tip earnings depend on business volume and each employee's share of the tip pool, tip amounts will vary and are not guaranteed.

Employees will receive at least the applicable minimum wage for all hours worked. If an employee's hourly base rate plus pooled tips does not equal or exceed the applicable minimum wage, the Company will pay the difference. Final starting pay, tip-pool participation, and assigned duties will be determined during the hiring process based on experience, qualifications, and business needs.

Example

If the posted hourly rate is $23.00 per hour, the employee's base wage rate may be $20.00 per hour, with the remaining $3.00 per hour represented by a tip differential, where permitted by applicable law. During an 8-hour shift, the employee would earn $160.00 in base wages ($20.00 × 8 hours). If the employee also receives $24.00 from the tip pool, the employee's total compensation for the shift would be $184.00, resulting in an effective hourly rate of $23.00 per hour.

If the posted hourly rate is $26.00 per hour, the employee's base wage rate may be $23.00 per hour, with the remaining $3.00 per hour represented by a tip differential, where permitted by applicable law. During an 8-hour shift, the employee would earn $184.00 in base wages ($23.00 × 8 hours). If the employee also receives $24.00 from the tip pool, the employee's total compensation for the shift would be $208.00, resulting in an effective hourly rate of $26.00 per hour.

This example is for illustrative purposes only. Actual tip earnings vary by shift and are not guaranteed. All pay practices are subject to applicable federal, state, and local wage-and-hour laws.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to obtain alcohol awareness and/or ServSafe Food Safety certification.

Open availability and scheduling flexibility are required. Weekend and holiday shifts may be necessary.

Education/Previous Experience:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); 1-2 years previous customer service and supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
Language Skills:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to effectively communicate information individually and in small group situations to customers and co workers.
Mathematical Skills:
Ability to add, subtracts, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to apply reasonable understanding in carrying out instructions in written, oral or diagram form.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to continuously stand and walk; use hands to lift and carry (0-50 lb.), frequent reaching/grasping/handling, frequent pushing and pulling (0-50 lb.), handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and talks or hears. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Tasks do not expose employee to hazardous conditions.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.