Kitchen Lead/Expediter- Millhouse Kitchen + Bar(Weekend Availability Required)

Valley Hospitality; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Valley Hospitality in Columbus, GA is seeking a Kitchen Lead / Expediter to manage the pace and efficiency of busy restaurant service. You will oversee ticket flow, coordinate with front of house, and ensure dishes meet quality and presentation standards during peak hours.

The ideal candidate brings experience in a high-volume kitchen, strong communication, and the ability to stay calm under pressure while guiding the team from the first ticket to the last.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a high-volume restaurant kitchen.
• Strong understanding of kitchen operations and service flow.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to remain calm and focused in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with expediting, kitchen leadership, or a similar role preferred.
• ServSafe certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Control the pace and flow of the kitchen during service.
• Coordinate communication between the kitchen and front of house.
• Review plates to meet recipe, presentation, portion, and quality standards.
• Ensure all food is prepared and served per specifications.
• Identify and correct issues before food leaves the kitchen.
• Communicate ticket times, delays, shortages, and issues to management.
• Help organize the kitchen during high-volume periods.
• Assist with prioritizing tickets and maintaining service flow.
• Support cooks and kitchen team during service.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and food safety standards.
• Assist with training and reinforcing kitchen standards and procedures.
• Hold the team accountable to recipes, procedures, and expectations.

Skills

High-volume kitchen experience

Kitchen operations knowledge

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Calm under pressure

Ticket management

Expediting leadership

ServSafe certification preferred

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Control the pace and flow of the kitchen during service
• Coordinate communication between the kitchen and front of house
• Review completed plates to ensure they meet recipe, presentation, portion, and quality standards
• Ensure all food is being prepared and served according to established specifications
• Identify and correct issues before food leaves the kitchen
• Communicate ticket times, delays, shortages, and service issues to management
• Help organize the kitchen during high-volume periods
• Assist with prioritizing tickets and maintaining proper service flow
• Support cooks and other kitchen team members during service
• Help maintain cleanliness, organization, and proper food safety standards
• Assist with training and reinforcing kitchen standards and procedures
• Help hold the team accountable to established recipes, procedures, and expectations

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced kitchen professional who understands how to manage the pace and pressure of a busy restaurant service. This person must be confident, organized, communicative, and able to make quick decisions while maintaining a high standard of quality.

The Kitchen Lead / Expediter should be able to see the entire operation during service, anticipate problems before they happen, and help the team execute consistently from the first ticket to the last.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a high-volume restaurant kitchen
• Strong understanding of kitchen operations and service flow
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability to remain calm and focused in a fast-paced environment
• Strong attention to detail and food quality
• Ability to read and manage tickets effectively
• Experience with expediting, kitchen leadership, or a similar role preferred
• ServSafe certification preferred