Kitchen Manager - Des Moines

Big Grove Brewery; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Grove Brewery in Des Moines, Iowa seeks a Kitchen Manager to lead all daily kitchen operations. The role includes managing culinary staff, overseeing food preparation, inventory management, and ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Candidates should possess a high school diploma, experience in food service, and leadership skills. The position is full-time, requiring evening and weekend availability, with a strong focus on culinary excellence and team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience working on a full‑service line is required.
• Experience in a leadership position is desired.
• Strong working knowledge of current culinary techniques and sanitation standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of daily kitchen operations.
• Manage culinary staff and maintain kitchen cleanliness.
• Assist in inventory and ordering of supplies.
• Develop and contribute to menu items.

Skills

Culinary techniques

Leadership

Food safety

Inventory management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe certification

Job description

Summary / Objective

The objective of our kitchen manager position is to oversee all aspects of daily kitchen operations, ensuring that all food preparation and cooking activities are carried out efficiently, safely, and in accordance with Big Grove's quality standards. This role involves managing culinary staff, assisting in inventory and ordering of supplies, and maintaining kitchen equipment and facilities. The kitchen manager is also responsible for ensuring food safety and cleanliness of the kitchen, managing food and labor costs, and working with our Chef de Cuisine and Sous Chefs to develop a menu that meets positive customer experience and profitability goals.

Core Values

• Set the Tone
• Thirst for Improvement
• We Care
• Passion Driven

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Leadership and Staff Management

• Train and develop a high-performing kitchen staff, including cooks, prep cooks and dishwashers
• Assign tasks, delegate responsibilities and provide feedback to ensure efficient kitchen operations.
• Address disciplinary issues when necessary
• Team management: Correct and compliant use of people and performance tools
• Maintain routine kitchen maintenance and cleanliness
• Ability to adapt and handle situations that may arise pertaining to the operation of the kitchen, including costs, productivity, scheduling and team health
• Ensure enough staff are scheduled to cover shift needs and manage real‑time staffing based on business volume; run efficient labor
• Assist in execution of events.
• This position operates in a hospitality environment and routinely uses cleaning supplies, high‑heat kitchen equipment, and point‑of‑sale terminal systems.

Food Quality and Consistency

• Maintain Big Grove high food standards for food quality, ensuring all dishes are prepared according to recipe specifications.
• Maintain safety and sanitation standards.
• Creation, development, costing, description and execution of specials.
• Be an active contributor for new menu items and culinary technique while upholding Big Grove standards and expectations.

Team Focused Approach

• Safety minded
• Thorough and efficient

Ability to Communicate

• Be a high‑performing team member with a holistic view of the business, communicate with all people, collaborate with all departments, solve organizational problems, and accomplish goals.
• Contribute to and exemplify Big Grove values, vision, standards, and culture.

Supervisory Responsibility

Yes. Supervises Back‑of‑House staff while on duty. Works closely with Front‑of‑House leadership to ensure Big Grove operates in the best possible way.

Physical Demands

This position is very active and requires standing, rotating, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full‑time position and hours of work may vary from week to week. Schedules will be posted the week prior to allow time for employees to be informed of work requirements. The business is open 7 days a week during many day parts. Evening and weekends are a key requirement. Minimum of 40 hours per week, although the job may require more during certain events or times of the year.

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Preferred Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working on a full‑service line is required.
• Experience in a leadership position is desired.
• Strong working knowledge of current culinary techniques and sanitation standards.
• ServSafe certification.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.