YAFO Kitchen Manager

Midwood Smokehouse; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Training

Free meal during shift

Dining discounts

Flexible schedules

Career growth

Job summary

YAFO Kitchen in Charlotte seeks a Kitchen Manager to lead the kitchen team, ensure consistent quality, and maintain operational flow in a fast-paced, open kitchen setting.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, food safety, and collaboration with front-of-house staff to deliver exceptional Mediterranean dishes in a vibrant, quick-service environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year in a kitchen leadership role.
• Experience in fast-casual or high-volume kitchens preferred.
• Strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate the team.
• Detail-oriented with focus on quality, presentation and taste.
• Excellent communication with kitchen and FOH teams.
• Flexible, can-do attitude for busy service hours.
• Knowledge of kitchen safety and sanitation protocols.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring quality and speed.
• Manage line cooks, prep, and open kitchen flow.
• Help with inventory, ordering ingredients, and storage.
• Ensure strict food safety and sanitation compliance.
• Train and mentor kitchen staff to maintain standards.
• Maintain kitchen equipment and tools; lead by example.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team leadership

Inventory management

Food safety

Training & mentoring

Communication

Job description

Kitchen Manager| YAFO Kitchen |

YAFO Kitchen is a fast-casual Middle Eastern Street food concept that brings an elevated twist to Mediterranean cuisine. Founded in 2016, YAFO fills a long-standing gap in Charlotte’s dining scene by offering authentic dishes, including shawarma-spiced rotisserie chicken, and homemade hummus. With an emphasis on vegetarian, vegan, and hormone-free selections, YAFO serves a multicultural menu that’s as flavorful as it is nutritious.

As part of the FS Food Group, we maintain the same high culinary standards and strive to create an environment that fosters both career growth and culinary excellence.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation based on experience
• Comprehensive training in Middle Eastern cuisine
• A complimentary meal during each shift
• Dining discounts at all FS Food Group concepts
• Work-life balance with flexible schedules
• Career growth potential as the company expands

Responsibilities

As the Kitchen Manager, you will assist in leading and managing the kitchen team to ensure smooth operations and the delivery of exceptional Mediterranean dishes. Your leadership will help us maintain the high standards of YAFO Kitchen, ensuring a memorable experience for every guest.

• Assist in overseeing daily kitchen operations, ensuring the team delivers consistent quality and speed. This includes managing line cooks, preparing dishes to order, and maintaining the flow of service in the open kitchen.
• Support inventory management, assisting with ordering ingredients, organizing storage, and ensuring all supplies are in stock and maintained properly.
• Ensure strict adherence to food safety, health, and sanitation guidelines to maintain a clean and safe environment. This includes overseeing kitchen cleanliness, handling perishables, and ensuring that health inspections are passed without issue.
• Train and mentor kitchen staff, ensuring that all team members understand and execute tasks with the same level of excellence.
• Ensure proper maintenance of kitchen equipment and tools, including grills, ovens, and prep stations, ensuring the kitchen operates smoothly and safely.
• Lead by example in maintaining a positive and motivating environment, where teamwork and communication are key.

We’re Looking for a Kitchen Manager Who:

• Has prior experience in a kitchen leadership role (minimum 1 year). Previous experience in fast-casual or high-volume kitchens is preferred.
• Has excellent leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate the team while maintaining a focus on quality and productivity.
• Is detail-oriented and committed to upholding high standards for food quality, presentation, and taste.
• Has strong communication skills, both in leading the kitchen team and collaborating with front-of-house staff to ensure a seamless dining experience.
• Has a flexible, can-do attitude, with the ability to adapt to changing kitchen dynamics and guest needs, especially during busy service hours.
• Possesses knowledge of kitchen safety and sanitation protocols and has experience working in kitchens with a strong focus on cleanliness and order.

Why Join Us

At YAFO Kitchen, we believe in nurturing culinary talent and offering opportunities for growth. As a Kitchen Manager, you'll be an integral part of a vibrant kitchen team, learning from industry leaders like Chef Shai Fargian and Chef Carmen Vasquez to assist in pushing the boundaries of Middle Eastern cuisine. You’ll have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, where your leadership and culinary expertise can shine.

A fast-casual Middle Eastern street food concept, Yafo Kitchen holds the same high culinary standards and approachable price points Charlotte food enthusiasts have come to expect from Frank Scibelli’s other restaurants. The first YAFO opened in 2016, filling a long-standing void in local Mediterranean street food. The restaurant and multicultural menu brings an elevated feel to fast-casual food through authentic breads, spreads and juices. The experience features vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu options, hormone-free selections, shawarma-spiced rotisserie chicken, hummus made from organic chickpeas and homemade items like pickled vegetables and hot mezze sides.
Israeli-born Chef Shai Fargian leads the kitchens after stints as a chef in New York City and Tel Aviv. He brings a mix of familiarity and unique flavors to the local dining scene.