Other

Kilwins East Village; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discount

Annual bonus

Leadership training

Flexible schedule

Casual dress

Career advancement

Job summary

Kilwins East Village Austin is seeking a Kitchen Lead & Confectioner to craft fudge, caramel, and chocolate confections while leading the production area.

You will work with the Store Manager, train staff, ensure quality and cleanliness, and provide friendly service to guests in a made-in-store environment. Training provided; 25+ hours per week; starting wage $18 per hour plus tips, with opportunities for growth as Kilwins expands in Austin.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent; business, culinary or hospitality studies are a plus.
• Experience: 2-3 years in retail or food service management, customer-facing.
• Leadership: Proven ability to inspire and guide a team.
• Culinary interest: Passion for confection-making.
• Customer focus: Dedication to guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Production & preparation: make fudge, caramel, brittle, dipped items per recipes.
• Guest interaction: perform confection-making in front of guests and answer questions.
• Quality & food safety: ensure freshness, presentation, and safety guidelines.
• Team collaboration: monitor inventory and support packaging, merchandising, and service.
• General: follow opening/closing procedures and support store leadership.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Communication

Reliability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Kilwins East Village Kitchen Lead / Confectioner
Location: 3500 E Parmer Lane, Suite 3120, Austin, TX 78754
March Start: Confectioner & Kitchen Lead – Kilwins at East Village
Are you passionate about chocolate and fudge and ready to lead in a dynamic retail environment where chocolate, ice cream, and customer smiles go hand in hand? Kilwins Austin at East Village, is looking for a confectioner & kitchen lead who is passionate about making quality confections for our new store, to help bring handcrafted joy to our community. Training provided.
Job type: 25+ hours per week
Pay: Starting at $18 per hour + tips (approx $6/hr)
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for creating our signature hand-crafted fudge, caramel, chocolate confections, and other sweet treats in accordance with Kilwins’ recipes, quality standards, and presentation guidelines. This role combines artistry, attention to detail, and a passion for customer delight. Confectioners also engage with guests by preparing products in view of the public, creating a fun and memorable experience. Responsible for providing excellent customer service, restocking inventory, providing counter service, and performing general cleaning duties in the retail store. Will receive training in customer service techniques, cooking recipes and procedures, sales suggestions, cleaning/health standards, and general retail store procedures.

Company Overview

Kilwins Chocolate, Fudge, and Ice Cream is a celebrated confectionery brand, beloved for its handmade chocolates, rich original-recipe ice cream, and signature fudge crafted fresh daily in-store. At Kilwins, we don’t just sell sweet treats; we create them! We’re looking for a hands-on and creative Confectioner to lead our kitchen. This is a unique opportunity to lead a team, delight customers, and become a confection artisan, producing our gourmet treats with training provided by Kilwins.

Mission

To create enjoyment and make people happy.

Core Values

• Treat others as you want to be treated: This is the "golden rule" and informs their relationships with customers, employees, and the community.
• Do your best: This applies to the quality of their hand-crafted products and the level of service provided to customers.
• Have fun: This value emphasizes creating an enjoyable atmosphere for both employees and customers.

About the Store

At Kilwins Austin, we offer a delicious experience with chocolates, original recipe ice cream, and a variety of made-in-store treats including hand-paddled fudge, caramel apples, brittles, caramel corns, and more. Guests will see—and smell—the magic being made fresh daily.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Production & Preparation

• Prepare fudge, caramel, brittle, dipped items, and other chocolate confections following Kilwins’ recipes and processes.
• Operate and maintain candy-making equipment, including marble tables, kettles, and enrobing machines.
• Monitor ingredient quality and maintain consistency in taste, texture, and appearance.

Guest Interaction

• Perform confection-making in front of guests, engaging with them to showcase the artistry and tradition of Kilwins.
• Provide samples and answer customer questions about products and processes.
• Uphold Kilwins’ values of creating “Sweet Memories” through hospitality and service.

Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure all confections meet Kilwins’ standards for freshness, presentation, and portioning.
• Follow health, sanitation, and safety guidelines at all times.
• Maintain a clean and organized production area, tools, and equipment.

Team Collaboration

• Assist with inventory management by monitoring ingredient levels and reporting needs.
• Support team members with packaging, merchandising, and guest service as needed.
• Contribute to a positive and cooperative work environment.

General

• Follow proper opening and closing procedures.
• Work in tandem with the Store Manager and rest of our leadership team to advance initiatives to increase sales and regulate costs of the restaurant in order to run a successful business. In addition, this position requires frequent time in our theater like kitchen making our products.
• The Kitchen Lead will regularly exercise discretion in assisting the Store Manager in managing the overall operation of the store. A majority of time is spent working in the kitchen on Made In Store production and supervising and directing the workforce. A Kitchen Lead assists with keeping labor overhead and food costs down while increasing sales. A Kitchen Lead takes responsibility for customer satisfaction, team member supervision, quality control, and maintaining a well-trained team.
• Flexibility, strong communication skills, leadership, and the desire to provide an excellent experience for customers is crucial to success in this position.
• Responsible for making the best fudge, caramel corn, brittle, caramel, and dipped items that you’ll ever enjoy.
• Create and serve quality chocolates, fudge, and ice cream for others to enjoy.
• Operate and maintain candy-making equipment, including marble tables, kettles, and enrobing machines.
• Provide integrity, honesty and knowledge that promotes the culture, values and purpose of Kilwins Brand.
• Engage and connect with every customer by providing excellent customer service and brand knowledge.
• Be able to provide knowledge of Kilwins history and products.
• Quality control.
• Perform general cleaning duties.
• Follow proper opening and closing procedures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to operate transactions in an accurate manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work well with others.
• Must be customer service oriented with outgoing personality and manners.
• Ability to follow directions/instructions.
• Our store is casual, but we do expect professionalism and punctuality.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education in business, culinary arts, or hospitality is a plus.
• Experience: 2-3 years of retail or food service management experience, ideally in a customer-facing role. Previous sales experience is helpful, but not necessary.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to inspire and guide a team toward shared goals.
• Culinary Interest: A passion for learning confection-making and creating delicious treats by hand. Previous cooking experience is helpful, but not necessary.
• Customer Focus: Dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences.

PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able tp drive an automobile and have a valid driver’s license.
• Because chocolate and ice cream cravings do not follow a typical 9-5 schedule, availability to work nights and weekends.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not intended to cover a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including working in other areas to cover absences or to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.

Benefits

• Employee discount
• Annual performance bonus
• Leadership training
• Work life balance
• Flexible schedule
• Casual dress
• Opportunity for advancement
• Opportunity to grow with Kilwins in the Austin Metro Area

Why Join Kilwins East Village?

• Help launch and grow an exciting new store in a fantastic new mixed-use development on Parmer Ln.
• Be part of a national brand known for handcrafted quality and outstanding service.
• Enjoy a supportive, people-first environment with direct collaboration with the owner.
• Competitive pay and benefits offered for the right candidate.