Kitchen Leader/ Manager

Chick-fil-A; Machesney Park (IL); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

College scholarships

401k

Insurance

Bonuses

Job summary

Chick-fil-A Machesney Park is seeking a Kitchen Shift Leader to head our back-of-house team in a fast-paced restaurant. You’ll organize a shift, coach staff, protect food safety, and keep production moving during busy periods, working hands-on with the team.

We value dependable attendance, clear communication, and high standards while treating others with respect. Prior Chick-fil-A experience isn’t required, but leadership experience is essential.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of experience in a restaurant, commercial kitchen, or similar food-service operation.
• Experience leading a team, directing shift activities, or coaching employees.
• Ability to give concrete examples of directing others and solving operational problems.
• Commitment to servant leadership and respectful, clear feedback.
• Willingness to work different shifts, including Fridays and Saturdays.
• Ability to follow written procedures and maintain standards during rushes.
• Dependable attendance and on-time reporting to scheduled shifts.
• Ability to perform essential kitchen tasks (standing, bending, lifting, etc.).
• Ability to work around heat, noise, and changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead shift execution by positioning staff, setting priorities, and adjusting coverage as needed.
• Ensure food quality and safety, following recipes, timing, labeling, and rotation.
• Coordinate kitchen production to anticipate demand and maintain stock.
• Coach team members, provide direction, and address performance concerns promptly.
• Coordinate with front-of-house to align product availability and priorities.
• Maintain cleanliness and readiness of stations, storage, and equipment.
• Help prevent waste and uphold food quality without compromising safety.
• Complete opening and closing checklists and shift handoffs thoroughly.
• Escalate staffing, equipment, safety, or performance issues to leadership when needed.

Skills

Leadership experience

Team coaching

Communication

Attendance

Flexible shifts

Servant leadership

Shift execution

Food safety awareness

Punctuality

Problem solving

Job description

Kitchen Shift Leader

Chick-fil-A Machesney Park | Machesney Park, IL

Employment type: Full-time

Pay: Starting at $18.00 per hour

Applicants may be asked to start off at a lower wage or title based upon experience and qualifications to better integrate with the existing team.

Schedule: Needs to have flexible availability and is required to work Fridays and Saturdays.

Candidate must be a good culture fit with the existing team; we have cultivated an environment based on care for each other and excellence in what we do. Those who do not fit that description will not be good fits for the role.

Lead the kitchen. Develop the team. Deliver consistent results. Be part of an experienced leadership team

Chick-fil-A Machesney Park is hiring a Kitchen Shift Leader to lead our back-of-house team in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who can organize a shift, coach team members, protect food safety, and keep food production moving during busy meal periods. You will work alongside the team—not simply supervise from the sidelines.

We are looking for demonstrated leadership experience, dependable attendance, clear communication, and the ability to hold high standards while treating people with respect. Chick-fil-A experience is not required, but previous experience leading others is.

What you will lead

• Shift execution: Position team members, communicate priorities, coordinate station coverage, and adjust as business needs change.
• Food quality and safety: Verify that recipes, cooking procedures, holding times, labeling, product rotation, and food-safety standards are followed.
• Kitchen production: Anticipate demand, maintain appropriate product levels, and coordinate preparation, cooking, assembly, packaging, and staging.
• Team coaching: Train employees, give clear direction, address performance concerns promptly, and follow up to ensure improvement.
• Front-of-house coordination: Communicate product availability, production delays, and priorities so both teams can serve guests effectively.
• Cleanliness and readiness: Ensure stations, equipment, dish areas, storage areas, coolers, and freezers remain clean, organized, and ready for service.
• Waste control: Help prevent overproduction, unnecessary remakes, and product loss without compromising food quality or safety.
• Opening and closing: Verify assigned checklists, cleaning, stocking, preparation, and shift handoffs are completed thoroughly.
• Accountability: Address issues within your authority and promptly elevate staffing, equipment, safety, or performance concerns to restaurant leadership.

You will also prepare food, wash dishes, remove trash, clean equipment, and complete other essential kitchen responsibilities. Leaders set the example by participating in every part of the operation.

Required qualifications

• At least one year of experience working in a restaurant, commercial kitchen, or comparable food-service operation.
• Previous responsibility for leading a team, directing shift activities, or training and coaching employees. This may include experience as a shift leader, kitchen supervisor, team lead, lead cook, or trainer with team oversight.
• Ability to describe specific examples of directing others, solving operational problems, and maintaining standards during busy periods.
• The ability to execute servant leadership and know what that means
• Willingness and availability to work different shifts, including Fridays and Saturdays.
• Ability to follow written procedures, communicate clear instructions, and give respectful, direct feedback.
• Dependable attendance and the ability to report to work on time for scheduled shifts.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of an active kitchen role—including standing, bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling with reasonable accommodation where required.
• Ability to work around heat, noise, cold storage, cleaning chemicals, and changing operational priorities.

Preferred qualifications

• Leadership experience in a high-volume quick-service, fast-casual, or full-service restaurant.
• Experience coordinating kitchen production and communicating with front-of-house teams.
• Experience training employees across multiple kitchen positions.
• Current food-safety certification.
• Experience monitoring food waste, product rotation, opening and closing standards, or shift performance.

What success looks like

• Your team understands its assignments and priorities.
• Food is prepared safely, accurately, and consistently.
• You anticipate production needs rather than waiting for shortages.
• You remain calm, make decisions, and communicate clearly during rushes.
• You correct missed standards respectfully and verify that they are resolved.
• Cleaning, stocking, preparation, and closing tasks are completed—not left for the next shift.
• You take responsibility for your decisions and help your team improve.

What we offer

• Hourly pay of Starting at $18.00 per hour, based on relevant experience and qualifications, with lots of room to grow.
• Free food, college scholarships, 401k, insurance,
• bonuses based on performance
• Role-specific training and clear performance expectations.
• Opportunities to earn additional responsibility through demonstrated performance.

Location: Machesney Park (IL)1505 West Lane Rd, Machesney Park, IL 61115, USA

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.