Kitchen / Operations Manager
Location: Winter Park, FL
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: General Manager / Owner
About New General
At New General Café & Coffee Bar, we believe healthy dining will ultimately improve the way communities eat.
We serve familiar, house-made dishes with a focus on quality ingredients, nutrition, and wellness. We never use seed oils or cane sugar and prioritize organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
Position Overview
We are looking for a hands-on Kitchen / Operations Manager to oversee our daily kitchen and BOH operations. This person will lead the kitchen team, maintain food quality and consistency, manage daily operations, and build the systems and tools needed to run an efficient kitchen.
The ideal candidate is an experienced leader who is organized, accountable, and comfortable working alongside their team in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
Kitchen & Team Management
- Lead, manage, and develop the BOH team.
- Create schedules and manage daily staffing needs.
- Hire, train, and coach kitchen team members.
- Hold team members accountable to company standards and expectations.
- Create a positive, professional, and productive BOH culture.
Food Quality & Execution
- Ensure all food is prepared according to New General recipes and standards.
- Maintain consistent food quality, portioning, presentation, and ticket times.
- Oversee daily prep and ensure the kitchen is properly prepared for service.
- Ensure all food leaving the kitchen meets quality standards.
- Monitor and reduce food waste and product loss.
Operations, Costs & Vendors
- Track and manage food costs.
- Monitor inventory and maintain appropriate par levels.
- Manage food ordering and purchasing.
- Build and maintain relationships with vendors.
- Communicate with vendors regarding pricing, availability, substitutions, and product quality.
- Look for opportunities to improve pricing and purchasing.
- Monitor waste, product usage, and inventory to identify areas for improvement.
- Develop systems and tools to improve kitchen organization, consistency, and efficiency.
- Build and maintain operational tools such as prep lists, inventory sheets, ordering guides, recipe and portion guides, cleaning schedules, and checklists.
- Help improve kitchen workflow and overall operational efficiency.
Food Safety & Compliance
- Ensure all food safety and sanitation standards are followed.
- Maintain proper labeling, dating, storage, and temperature procedures.
- Ensure the kitchen is clean, organized, and prepared for health inspections.
Communication
- Communicate regularly with the General Manager and Owner regarding food costs, staffing, inventory, vendors, and operational needs.
- Work closely with the FOH team to ensure smooth service, strong communication, and to cultivate positive synergy between the teams.
Qualifications
- Minimum 3 years of kitchen management & or operations management experience.
- Previous experience leading and developing a team.
- Experience managing food costs, inventory, ordering, and vendors.
- Strong knowledge of food preparation, food safety, and kitchen operations.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to build and improve systems and processes.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and remaining hands-on.
- Reliable, accountable, and able to work weekends.
- ServSafe certification preferred or willingness to obtain.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
Full-time employees are eligible for accrued PTO and benefit options.