Kitchen Operations Lead - Quality, Cost & Team Growth

Tacoria - Summit; Summit (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Tacoria - Summit is seeking a seasoned BOH Manager to oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, safety, and efficiency. You will lead cooks, prep staff, and dishwashers, while coordinating with FOH to maintain smooth service.

You will manage inventory, control costs, implement FIFO, and train staff on safety and sanitation. The role demands leadership under pressure in a fast-paced environment at our Summit location.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of kitchen experience, including leadership or management (preferred)
• Strong knowledge of cooking techniques and kitchen operations
• Leadership and team development skills
• Understanding of food safety regulations and best practices
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, and supervise cooks, prep staff, and dishwashers
• Create schedules and manage labor to meet business needs
• Lead by example during service, maintaining a calm and organized kitchen
• Coach staff on technique, consistency, and food safety
• Ensure dishes meet quality, portion, and presentation standards
• Maintain consistency in recipes and cooking procedures
• Conduct regular line checks and tastings
• Oversee final food presentation
• Manage food inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships
• Control food costs, waste, and portioning
• Conduct regular inventory counts and track usage trends
• Ensure proper storage and rotation (FIFO methods)
• Enforce health, safety, and sanitation regulations
• Ensure compliance with local health department standards
• Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free kitchen
• Train staff on food handling and safety procedures
• Oversee prep lists and daily kitchen setup
• Ensure efficient ticket flow and timely food production
• Coordinate with FOH to manage service pace and special requests
• Troubleshoot issues during service to prevent delays
• Monitor kitchen KPIs (ticket times, waste, labor %)
• Maintain equipment and coordinate repairs as needed

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team development

Cooking techniques

Working under pressure

Time management

Organization

Problem-solving

Food safety knowledge

Job description

Tacoria - Summit is seeking a seasoned BOH Manager to oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, safety, and efficiency. You will lead cooks, prep staff, and dishwashers, while coordinating with FOH to maintain smooth service.

You will manage inventory, control costs, implement FIFO, and train staff on safety and sanitation. The role demands leadership under pressure in a fast-paced environment at our Summit location.