Kitchen Manager: Lead, Train & Optimize Café Kitchen

Brass Bird Coffee; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) program

Paid sick leave

Employee meals

Paid Vacation

Overtime pay

Job summary

Brass Bird Coffee & Kitchen in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our back-of-house operations. This full-time role combines administrative duties with active daily kitchen production and service, overseeing prep, inventory, and cost control.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years of kitchen leadership experience, strong skills in scheduling, food safety, and team development, and the ability to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays in a busy cafe setting.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of kitchen leadership experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of kitchen production, prep systems, inventory, ordering, and food-cost control.
• Experience creating schedules and directing kitchen staff.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and proper food-storage practices.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Current California Food Protection Manager Certification, or ability to obtain one.
• Availability to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, prep production, and service
• Order food, ingredients, disposables, and other kitchen products
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while controlling waste and food costs
• Receive and inspect deliveries for quality, accuracy, and proper storage
• Develop and manage weekly prep lists and production schedules
• Ensure all recipes, portion standards, plating guidelines, and quality expectations are consistently followed
• Train and coach kitchen employees on recipes, procedures, food safety, and performance standards
• Prepare and execute rotating soups, seasonal specials, and menu features
• Work directly with ownership to develop and test menu ideas and specials
• Create the weekly kitchen schedule based on staffing and business needs
• Monitor attendance, punctuality, productivity, and employee performance
• Ensure employees receive required meal and rest breaks and that break procedures are properly documented
• Maintain compliance with food-safety, sanitation, labeling, temperature-control, and workplace requirements
• Maintain an organized, clean, safe, and fully stocked kitchen
• Communicate equipment, staffing, purchasing, and operational concerns to ownership
• Participate in cooking, prep, and service as needed

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Inventory management

Food safety knowledge

Staff training

Communication

Job description

Brass Bird Coffee & Kitchen in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our back-of-house operations. This full-time role combines administrative duties with active daily kitchen production and service, overseeing prep, inventory, and cost control.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years of kitchen leadership experience, strong skills in scheduling, food safety, and team development, and the ability to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays in a busy cafe setting.