Kitchen Manager

Talkin' Tacos; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Shift meals & discounts

Clear career path and leadership dev

High-energy restaurant culture

Learning culture

Paid time off

Paid weekly

Job summary

Talkin’ Tacos in Nashville is seeking a hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our back‑of‑house with confidence, consistency, and hustle.

You’ll coach and develop the culinary team, oversee daily kitchen operations, protect food quality, ensure health and safety compliance, and drive a profitable, high‑performing restaurant.

This role is about building culture, growing people, and raising the bar on standards in a fast‑paced environment, with clear paths for growth within our management team.

Qualifications

• Hands-on leader who motivates and mentors the team.
• Strong operational and organizational skills.
• Passion for food, people development, and high standards.
• Calm, solutions‑oriented mindset in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and direct the kitchen team to execute with speed, quality, and consistency.
• Ensure all food is prepared to Talkin’ Tacos standards—bold flavor, zero shortcuts.
• Maintain compliance with health, safety, fire, and food handling regulations locally and nationally.
• Execute and uphold kitchen and restaurant policies during shifts.
• Step in on the line and perform all kitchen positions as needed.
• Manage daily prep sheets, yield sheets, and monthly inventory.
• Monitor labor costs to meet budget while protecting quality and morale.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

People development

Food quality

Budgeting

Hiring

Job description

THE ROLE

Our Kitchen Manager is a key ingredient in keeping the flavor strong and the operation running smooth. This role leads the heart of our restaurant—the kitchen!

KITCHEN MANAGER

THE ROLE

Our Kitchen Manager is a key ingredient in keeping the flavor strong and the operation running smooth. This role leads the heart of our restaurant—the kitchen!

The ideal Kitchen Manager is a hands‑on leader who brings confidence, consistency, and hustle to the back of house. You’ll coach and develop the culinary team, oversee daily kitchen operations, protect food quality and safety, and help drive a profitable, high‑performing restaurant.

At Talkin’ Tacos, leadership isn’t just about running shifts—it’s about building culture, growing people, and raising the bar.

As part of our management team, you’ll step into a fast‑paced, high‑energy environment with a clear path for growth. We’re serious about great food, strong teams, and a culture of continuous learning—no bland leadership, no dead ends.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE WORKING HERE!

• Medical benefits
• Shift Meals & Discounts
• Clear career path and leadership development
• A high‑energy, growth‑mindful restaurant culture
• A team that values learning, accountability, and fun
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Weekly

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR!

• A leader who leads from the front and earns respect through action
• Strong operational and organizational skills
• A passion for food, people development, and high standards
• The ability to stay calm, focused, and solutions‑oriented in a fast‑paced environment

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and direct the kitchen team to execute with speed, quality, and consistency
• Ensure all food is prepared to Talkin’ Tacos standards—bold flavor, zero shortcuts
• Maintain full compliance with health, safety, fire, and food handling regulations at all levels (local, state, and federal)
• Execute and uphold kitchen and restaurant policies and procedures during assigned shifts
• Step in on the line when needed and confidently perform all kitchen positions
• Ensure proper food storage, accurate temperatures, and up‑to‑date recipe books, portions, and ingredients
• Drive accurate daily prep sheets, yield sheets, and conduct monthly inventory
• Anticipate, identify, and solve issues related to inventory, systems, staffing and execution
• Manage labor costs to meet budgeted goals while protecting food quality and team morale
• Oversee training and development of kitchen team members to build bench strength and future leaders
• Support hiring by interviewing candidates and making thoughtful hiring recommendations
• Seniority Level
• Associate
• Employment Type
• Full‑time
• Job Functions
• Management
• Skills
• Training
• Food Quality
• Food and Beverage Operations
• Food Preparation
• Food Handling