Kitchen Manager

R365hire; Aliso Viejo (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunity for Growth

Dynamic Environment

Team Member Discount

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Employee discounts

Flexible schedule

Free uniforms

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

Job summary

Buffalo Wild Wings is seeking a Kitchen Manager to lead the heart-of-house operations and drive legendary guest experiences. You will supervise HOH staff, manage shift execution, and enforce safety and quality standards.

You’ll coach team members, handle onboarding, training, and performance reviews while balancing labor and service speed to meet ABLM guidelines. Strong leadership and hospitality instincts are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of restaurant/bar leadership experience.
• Knowledge of labor laws, health codes and food safety practices.
• Ability to coach and develop HOH staff and managers.

Responsibilities

• Manage HOH operations, ensuring service, safety and efficiency during each shift.
• Hire, onboard, train and develop HOH staff with a focus on staffing.
• Monitor labor, scheduling and COGS while maintaining guest service.
• Interacts with guests, seeks feedback and maintains high guest satisfaction.
• Lead training programs and ensure compliance with certifications.

Skills

People management

Guest service

Time management

Teaching others

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Benefits:

• Opportunity for Growth
• Dynamic Environment
• Team Member Discount
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Flexible schedule
• Free uniforms
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance

Position Overview

The Kitchen Manager position creates legendary experiences for guests and team members through the management of the Heart‑of‑House (HOH). The Kitchen Manager is directly accountable for the execution and performance of the HOH and provides direction and supervision to all HOH team members.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the operation of the sports bar, conducting effective zone management every hour throughout each shift
• Provides support to team members and managers and adds energy to each area of the sports bar
• Interviews, hires, onboards, trains, develops and retains team members, with specific responsibility for HOH staffing
• Diligently follows and enforces food and general safety requirements and models behavior that protects them and others
• Coaches team member and shift manager behaviors and makes recommendations for the counseling, discipline and termination of team members
• Responsible for overall speed of service and ticket time tracking
• Interacts with guests in the dining room and the bar, makes personal connections and seeks specific feedback about their experience
• Manages the HOH execution (service, safety and efficiency) as well as the overall

HOH financial and labor performance:

• Food Cost of Sales and variances
• Oversees effective and efficient ABLM scheduling of labor for HOH
• Reviews and analyzes overall inventory and ordering levels
• Responsible for Overall Satisfaction (OSAT), Market Force and other guest feedback metrics related to HOH service
• Maintains HOH organization, food storage standards, food safety measures and cleanliness standards
• Responsible for the management of cost of goods sold (COGS) related costs for the

HOH

• Ensures the execution of training programs and ensures compliance for direct reports on all training and certification requirements
• Handles team members’ complaints or concerns by actively listening, involving the necessary individuals, investigating and resolving where appropriate
• Ensures compliance with all local, state and federal laws
• Assists with all activation rollouts and introductions of new products, tools and services
• Creates and executes strategic plans for HOH based off feedback reports
• Supports GM with Certified Trainer selections in area of responsibility and training program execution
• Conducts pre and post shift meetings
• Completes all manager tools on time and with integrity
• Manages the balance of labor hours and service efficiency during their shift to meet labor guidelines (ABLM) without sacrificing guest service
• Interviews, hires, onboards, trains, develops and retains team members, with specific responsibility for HOH staffing
• Conducts scheduled performance appraisals for direct reports
• Stays current on all federal, state, local and company required training and certifications, such as responsible alcohol service and food safety
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• General knowledge of labor laws, health codes, safe food handling and sanitation, responsible alcohol service, safety and security systems and procedures and computer operations
• Strong people management and communication and interpersonal skills
• Superior guest service and hospitality skills
• Skill in time management and organization with attention to detail
• Self-motivated and a passion for teaching others
• Ability to read and comprehend written materials and perform basic to intermediate mathematical computations
• Ability to maintain a high degree of pace and intensity for an extended period of time

BUFFALO WILD WINGS CULTURE

The physical demands for this position require the individual to sit, stand, bend, lift up to 50 pounds, and move intermittently during working hours. These physical requirements may be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodations. The duties of this position may change from time to time. Buffalo Wild Wings reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Buffalo Wild Wings or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Requirements:

• General knowledge of labor laws, health codes, safe food handling and sanitation,
• Strong people management and communication and interpersonal skills
• Superior guest service and hospitality skills
• Skill in time management and organization with attention to detail
• Self-motivated and a passion for teaching others
• Minimum 1 year of restaurant/bar experience in a leadership role

Company Information

You are applying for work with a franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings not Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. Any information you submit will be provided solely to the franchisee. If hired, the franchisee, SC Wings, LLC will be your only employer. Franchisees are independent business owners who are solely responsible for their own employees and set their own wage and benefit programs that can vary among franchisees.