Kitchen Manager

California-Pizza-Kitchen; Paramus (NJ); On-site; USD 63,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training program

The Proof learning platform

Pizza benefit (all you can eat)

Manager meals

Kindness Fund

Bonus potential

Benefits package (medical, dental, VSP

401K

Job summary

California Pizza Kitchen in Paramus, NJ is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager to lead day-to-day operations in a high-volume restaurant. You will oversee food prep, cooking, plating, and ensure a smooth, guest-first experience while maintaining safety and quality standards.

You will guide a hospitality-driven team, foster development, manage labor and costs, and contribute to P&L planning. The role requires strong leadership, communication, and a passion for culinary execution.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years BOH management experience in a high volume, faced paced restaurant.
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written.
• Exceptional leadership skills – ability to motivate, inspire and develop a team.

Responsibilities

• Delivering a phenomenal guest experience.
• Overseeing the day-to-day functioning of the kitchen, ensuring smooth coordination between food preparation, cooking, and plating.
• Maintain optimal workflow during peak periods and adapt as necessary.
• Leading and inspiring the team with a people-first mentality to build on CPK's best in class culture.
• Building a team around hospitality and culinary execution and developing top talent to drive the business forward - fostering career growth and cross training for the team.
• Building sales, profitability, and guest counts.
• Managing the P&L for the restaurant.
• Meeting financial objectives by forecasting, adjusting labor expenditures, practicing portion controls, preparing budgets, and analyzing variances.

Job description

At California Pizza Kitchen, we bring the biggest and best parts of ourselves to work and to our communities, and are guided by our ROCKS philosophy (Respect, Opportunity, Communication, Kindness and Service). We are committed to moving people forward and encourage everyone to apply their passion at CPK. So go ahead…be bold, be epic, be YOU!

PERKS

Tremendously passionate, one-of-a-kind company culture.

Opportunities for growth and development.

We love promoting from within!

• Comprehensive eight-week training program utilizing several methods of learning including online, book and shoulder-to-shoulder teaching.
• Unique electronic learning platform appropriately titled “The Proof” to engage continuous development.
• All the pizza you can eat!
• Manager meals while working and a Management Dine-Out card to enjoy with your family and friends.
• Employee driven assistance program called the Kindness Fund which lends a helping hand to our team members encountering life challenges.
• Industry competitive compensation package including bonus potential.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision and more.
• Various benefits are available for this position, including 401K, health, dental, vision, and disability insurance through CPK’s designated providers.

OUR EXPECTATIONS

• Delivering a phenomenal guest experience.
• Overseeing the day-to-day functioning of the kitchen, ensuring smooth coordination between food preparation, cooking, and plating.
• Maintain optimal workflow during peak periods and adapt, as necessary.
• Leading and inspiring the team with a people-first mentality to build on CPK's best in class culture.
• Building a team around hospitality and culinary execution and developing top talent to drive the business forward - fostering career growth and cross training for the team.
• Building sales, profitability, and guest counts.
• Managing the P&L for the restaurant.
• Meeting financial objectives by forecasting, adjusting labor expenditures, practicing portion controls, preparing budgets, and analyzing variances.
• Utilizing excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively interact with employees, guests, suppliers and senior management.
• Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
• Maintaining a safe and healthy environment by establishing, following, and complying with sanitation standards and procedures.

WHO IS CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN

We are passionate individuals committed to inspiring others by bringing California creativity to every meal! Founded in 1985, former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax combined their fervor for food and fresh ingredients to create innovative, hearth-baked pizzas such as The Original BBQ Chicken, California Club and Thai Chicken that are created in a lively open kitchen. The concept gave California a place in the pizza revolution alongside Chicago and New York. CPK has since become the place for taste makers, rule breakers and earth shakers who conquer challenges by daring to work on the edge and thinking outside the box.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of two years BOH management experience in a high volume, faced paced restaurant.
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written.
• Exceptional leadership skills – ability to motivate, inspire and develop a team.
• Passionate about execution, hospitality and service.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently exposed to computer terminals. The noise level and temperature is moderate. The employee has the ability to sit, stand and/or walk for up to 10 hours a day. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, bend or kneel, lift up to 40 lbs. and perform other diverse physical tasks as needed. The vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• NOTE: CPK reserves the right to revise or change the position plan as the need arises. This position plan is not all inclusive of total job responsibilities nor does it constitute a written or implied contract of employment. A full job description, including physical demands of the job is available upon request.

California Pizza Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, or any other legally protected classification. Everyone has a seat at our table.

The current salary range for this position is USD $63,000 to $68,000. Various benefits are available for this position, including 401K, health, dental, vision, and disability insurance through CPK’s designated providers. CPK regularly reviews its benefits offerings and may change benefits and providers from time to time.

RESPECT

Respect guides us as a company and as individuals to value our guests, co-workers, community, vendors and environment.

OPPORTUNITY

Opportunity at CPK is real and tangible. Through exciting career growth and cross training, we're always looking to develop and refine our top talent to drive the business and lead others.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is actively encouraged at CPK. We have an open-door policy and a culture where everyone is known on a first name basis and always welcome to speak up.

KINDNESS

Kindness defines the energy and spirit of California Pizza Kitchen. It shapes and guides how we develop, communicate, and hold each other accountable to our high standards.

It’s your career, Let it R.O.C.K! Since we first opened our doors in 1985, our R.O.C.K. philosophy (Respect, Opportunity, Communication, Kindness) has set CPK apart from those both inside and outside our industry. It’s not just a saying we hang on the wall but something we all strive to live and breathe every day. These values allow our employees to be who they (really) are, encourage everyone to apply their passion to their role, and open the door for all to fulfill their potential and exceed their expectations within the organization.