Kitchen Production Manager

Ikea Ab; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

WiselyPay – earned wages early

Parental leave

Retirement and bonus plans

Co-worker discount

Education assistance

Safety shoe reimbursement

Telehealth

Dental and vision plans

Medical and Rx plans

Diversity and inclusive environment

Job summary

IKEA is seeking a Restaurant/Store Food Operations leader in California to maintain quality across customer and co‑worker restaurants and the bistro. You will drive brand standards, cost control, and effective supply planning in a fast-paced environment.

You will oversee the Food Production team, ensure compliance with safety rules and local laws, and develop actions to support commercial goals while leading a diverse IKEA Food Commercial team.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in leading multi-unit high-volume food service operations.
• Ability to deliver strong business results through people.
• Experience in a customer facing environment.
• Advanced knowledge of HACCP plans and food quality and safety systems.

Responsibilities

• Maintain quality standards in customer and co-worker restaurants and bistro.
• Ensure IKEA Food Operating and Brand Standards are met to support brand consistency.
• Develop action plans to support commercial goals: sales, productivity, and cost control.
• Oversee production team, inventory, purchasing, and invoicing processes.
• Establish routines for equipment maintenance in restaurant and bistro areas.
• Ensure operations comply with quality and local food safety regulations.
• Report all food incidents or potential incidents.
• Forecast sales for restaurants to enable proper supply planning and inventory management.
• Build competence in IKEA Food Commercial team for ongoing development.

Skills

Multi-unit leadership

High-volume food service

Customer facing

HACCP knowledge

Food quality & safety

Job description

Why we will love you

Food is your passion, whether you're cooking or serving customers. You know food plays a vital role in creating a better everyday life for the many people – especially when it's honest, healthy and delicious.

What you'll be doing day to day

• Responsible for maintaining quality standards in the customer and co-worker restaurants and bistro, implementing the global and national compliance standards, managing the food supply chain and range competence in the store.
• Ensure IKEA Food Operating and Brand Standards are consistently met to support brand consistency.
• Supports the implementation of the IKEA Food Concept and develops action plans for IKEA Food to support commercial goals: including sales, productivity, performance analysis and problem resolution, food and operational cost control, merchandising and maintenance of the IKEA Food Sales Areas.
• Oversees the IKEA Food Production team, ensuring efficient execution of routines including goods flow, inventory management, purchasing, ordering, waste management and invoicing.
• Establishes and monitors routines for equipment maintenance in the Restaurant and Bistro production and serving areas.
• Ensures that the operations of all IKEA Food areas in the IKEA Store operate in accordance with IKEA Quality and Food Safety requirements and other local legislation.
• Ensures that all food incidents, or potential incidents, are reported.
• Plans and maintains sales forecasts for the customer and co-worker restaurants and bistro to enable proper supply planning, ordering, efficient goods handling and inventory management.
• Builds competence in IKEA Food Commercial team to secure ongoing development within IKEA Food and the IKEA Retail Store.
• Contributes to an environment where the IKEA culture is a strong and living reality that embraces the diversity of co-workers and customers.

Together as a Team

Thanks to us, customers, co-workers and people at home can have a better everyday life through food that's good for both people and planet. Together we serve more than 660 million customers yearly at the IKEA restaurants worldwide, underlining our Scandinavian heritage by offering a modern taste of Sweden. We also offer a variety of foods in our bistros and in the "Swedish Food market". We are a diverse group of people who all live by the motto: Laughter is brightest in the place where the food is!

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in leading multi-unit high-volume food service operations in either Quick Service Restaurant or casual dining.
• Ability to deliver strong business results through people.
• Experience in a customer facing environment.
• Advanced knowledge of HACCP plans and food quality and safety systems.

JOB TYPE – Permanent

HOURS - 40 hours per week /Benefits Eligible

SHIFTS – Fully open work schedule availability including evenings and weekends required; Work schedules are published one month in advance

The pay range for this role is $83,065 - $119,199

At IKEA, taking care of our co-workers and their dependents is a top priority. That’s why we offer our eligible, regular co-workers (part-time and full-time) a full menu of benefits and perk options to help everyone maintain work and life balance, be well and plan for their future. Join our team and enjoy these benefits and so much more!

• Generous paid time off, holiday and sick time
• WiselyPay – get earned wages up to two days early
• Paid parental leave (up to 16 weeks)
• KinderCare tuition discount
• Retirement and bonus plans
• Co-worker discount, meal deal, and referral bonus
• Pet insurance program
• Education assistance and learning programs
• Safety shoe reimbursement
• 24/7 telehealth visits
• Dental and vision plans
• Medical and Rx plans (must work min. 20 hrs/wk)
• A fun and inclusive work environment

Thank you for your interest in applying for this role. Please be aware that this is a Sensitive Position. The successful candidate will be required to complete a background check and a drug test as a condition of employment for this role.

The anticipated posting closing date is on or around 11/9/26