Shift Leader

Workstream; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 44,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

El Pollo Loco is hiring a Restaurant Shift Lead to supervise shifts, train crew, and uphold food safety and guest service standards. You’ll work under a General Manager, assist with onboarding, and help ensure quality and efficiency during peak hours.

Prior experience as a shift lead or supervisor is highly valued. A ServSafe certificate is required, and strong English communication is essential for daily operations and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• ServSafe certificate required.
• English communication skills; sixth sense for guest needs.
• Experience supervising shifts or crew members preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction to crew during shifts to meet business needs.
• Ensure cleanliness, guest service, speed of service, and product quality.
• Train crew on policies, food safety, and guest safety with management support.
• Coach and discipline staff with GM involvement.
• Handle cash controls and inventories; support scheduling and ordering.

Skills

Leadership

Guest service

Food safety

Cash handling

Training/coaching

English communication

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

POS systems

Job description

We will provide your serv safe certificate

A bright future starts with us at El Pollo Loco. Allow us to work for you and get ready to experience a people-centric culture. Our priority is our people, and we offer an environment full of personal and professional growth opportunities. Our restaurants will give you the chance to experience a fun and productive workplace environment, where you will be able to think and help to produce multiple solutions. We are committed to helping your growth and will always fully invest in your success.

An opportunity to start your career as a leader. Supervise assigned shifts while developing skills to become a restaurant manager. Our Shift Leaders are provided with development classes and have access to many levels of management and the leadership team for mentorship. Practice your team building skills, problem solving/decision making and strengthen your guest service skills.

Restaurant Shift Lead/Assistant Manager is generally as a full time or part time restaurant job.

Prior experience as shift lead, crew lead, supervisor, team lead, restaurant manager, restaurant assistant manager very helpful to your success at this job.

Requirements/Responsibilities

Restaurant Shift Lead/Assistant Manager’s Responsibilities/Duties:

• Provides direction to crew members to ensure the shift is prioritizing the business needs.
• Ensures the assigned shift meets all company expectations including but not limited to restaurant cleanliness, guest service experience, speed of service, and product quality.
• Assists in the training of crew members of policies and procedures, emphasizing the importance of food safety, crew/guest safety, product quality, restaurant cleanliness and exceptional guest service.
• Coaches and takes appropriate disciplinary actions with the support of the General Manager.
• Maintains a positive and professional work relationship with the team to foster a positive workplace environment. Must report crew member issues to the appropriate party, General Manager, District Leader, Human Resources, etc.
• Completes a series of administrative tasks including but not limited to cash handling, conducting product inventories, reporting of sales/speed of service/inventory variances and more.
• Ensures compliance of state laws during the shift such as meal break timing and harassment prevention.
• Assists in product ordering and receiving from vendors.
• Ensures the restaurant operates to comply with brand and company standards during assigned shifts. Opening or closing procedures must be followed during these shifts.
• Ensures food safety and sanitation processes are followed to comply with state, county and company procedures.
• Effectively assess food products for quality, proper preparation/holding and portioning to control costs.
• Trains and develops team members, follows individual development plans set by the general manager.
• Monitors guest service meets expectations, resolves guest complaints and coaches team to ensure no repeat guest dissatisfaction occurs. Reports any significant complaints and crew service behavior concerns to the General Manager.
• During assigned shifts is responsible for cash controls and cash security.
• Contributes to controlling and managing costs on P&L.
• Actively recruits and interviews candidates to be presented to the General Manager, if hired, assists with the onboarding process.
• Coaches, councils and disciplines team members, communicate employee concerns with the General Manager.
• Performs administrative duties under the direction of the General Manager such as placing/receiving grocery orders, conducting inventories, creating and posting schedules.
• Ensures company safety programs are followed to ensure the safety of our guests and team members.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand and walk for a long period of time.
• Exposure to heat, steam, smoke and cold.
• Must have a high level of mobility and flexibility.
• Must be able to bend, reach, kneel, grasp, wipe and scoop.

Qualification Standards:

• Must have a ServSafe Certificate.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• High School diploma or equivalent is preferred.
• Written and verbal English communication skill, second language is a plus.
• Must have a minimum of 6 months El Pollo Loco crew member experience or 1 or more years of restaurant supervision experience.
• Must have a basic understanding of computer systems such as email use and reaching various websites.
• Must have basic math skills.

Restaurant Shift Lead is generally as a full time or part time restaurant job.

Prior experience as shift lead, crew lead, supervisor, team lead, restaurant manager, restaurant assistant manager very helpful to your success at this job.

Made Fresh. Made by Hand. Made every day.
It all comes down to fresh. Fresh salsas made from scratch, fresh sliced avocados and of course, fresh, never frozen, fire-grilled chicken. Because maximum freshness means maximum flavor.