Shift Lead: Fast-Paced Kitchen Champion

Panda Restaurant Group; Mankato (MN); On-site; USD 20,664,000 - 30,307,200; Full time

Job summary

Panda Restaurant Group in Minnesota is seeking a Shift Lead to oversee a fast-paced shift, support management, and model Panda’s mission—food with passion, service with heart, and ambiance with pride.

You will gain hands-on experience in cooking and preparing Panda favorites, while developing leadership and store-ops skills in a growth-oriented environment. This role emphasizes guest satisfaction and a collaborative team culture.

Qualifications

• High school education
• Operations experience preferred
• Food Handler certification obtained at applicant's own expense

Responsibilities

• Assist in leading the shift and managing the team during the shift.
• Prepare Panda favorites and maintain quality.
• Create a welcoming environment for guests.
• Support management in ensuring smooth store operations.

Skills

People leadership

Customer service

Food safety awareness

Education

Some high school

Operations experience preferred

Job description

Our Panda Shift Leader associates are important leaders of our team and are responsible for bringing Panda’s mission alive in our restaurants by supporting management in creating food with passion, service with heart and ambiance with pride.

Role

As a Shift Lead for our team, you will have the opportunity to embrace a central role in a fast-paced and growth-oriented environment. Our restaurants are the heart and soul of our company, and we believe our people are the recipe for success. You will:

• Support in creating a vibrant and welcoming environment for our guests.
• Gain valuable skills managing store operations and leading the team during the shift.
• Gain hands on experience in cooking and preparing Panda favorites for our guests.
• Gain a diverse range of skills to develop yourself and others.
  
  

Shift Lead Qualifications Education And Experience

• Some high school
• Prefer some Operations experience Food Safety:
  
  

Local/municipal requirements, such as Food Handler certification, acquired at applicant’s own expense

ADA Statement

While performing duties, counter areas are often hot with steam from steam table and food vapors. Workspace is restricted and employees are generally expected to remain standing for long periods of time. Employees must prepare hot and cold foods, use Chinese cook knife and other kitchen equipment and work quickly without losing accuracy. Employees must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., stand up to four hours and reach across counter tops measured at 36 inches to serve customers. Kitchens are hot and noise levels are usually high; storage space is limited and shelving is high. Employees must be able to work in a fast-paced work environment, have effective verbal communication skills, ability to adapt to a dynamic environment with changing priorities, and the ability to manage conflicts/difficult situations.

Panda Strong Since 1983

Founded in Glendale, California, we are now the largest family-owned American Chinese Restaurant concept in America. With close to 2,800 locations globally, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives. Whether it’s impacting our team or the communities we work in, we’re proud to be an organization that embraces family values.

You’re Wanted Here

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunity, and does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, including but not limited to sex/gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related conditions), gender expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, and veteran status. Additionally, Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. complies with all federal, state, and local laws regarding requests for workplace accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. Applicants are entitled to reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to effectively participate in the application and hiring process, for example, sign language interpreters. If you believe you require an accommodation for the application or interview process or for the position for which you are applying, please reach out to [e-mail].