Kitchen Manager

Job Title: Kitchen Manager

Reports to: General Manager

Location: New York, NY (Upper East Side Kitchen)

Company: JustFoodForDogs, LLC

Job Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt

About JustFoodForDogs:

JustFoodForDogs, the #1 vet recommended fresh food for dogs, is dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives through real, whole-food nutrition. Founded in 2010, JustFoodForDogs revolutionized the fresh whole food movement for dogs when it opened the first open-to-the-public kitchen cooking food for dogs. All of our recipes are formulated by veterinarians and made with 100% human-grade ingredients. Today, consumers can find JustFoodForDogs at JustFoodForDogs retail locations, their favorite retailers and on-line at JustFoodForDogs.com. The company’s offerings include daily meals, shelf-stable products, supplements, and treats. To learn more about JustFoodForDogs, visit JustFoodForDogs.com

Job Summary

When it comes to pets, pet parents, and our people - we are Raving Fans! Our open-concept kitchens offer experience, transparency, and connection to the highest expression of our Brand. As the Kitchen Manager, you play a critical role in how we lead our “four wall operation”-championing exceptional guest experiences, driving on production plans with high operational execution, and cultivating a positive workplace culture where people can be successful. You are a hands-on individual who leads by example, excels at coaching people, and can critically think, problem-solving operational challenges; all while achieving success through your team!

Key Responsibilities

1. Guest Service Leadership

• Live our Misson: Lead each day with a customer-first mentality, inspiring the team to find creative ways to say “yes” to guests and deliver great service.
• Model the Standard: Maintain a strong kitchen presence throughout the day to introducing the kitchen to guests, ensure both efficiency and productivity, and apply guest feedback with empathy and professionalism.
• Foster a Positive Attitude: Ensure the team maintains a fun, welcoming, and positive atmosphere that keeps guests returning by engaging with guests in our open-kitchen environment.

2. Team Leadership & Development

• People Planning & Talent Acquisition: Participate in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and on-going training and development for regular talent benchmarking to ensure the store is optimally staffed with highly performing individuals.
• Be a Team Player: Build a transparent, collaborative, and motivating work environment. Address behavioral and performance issues promptly and respectfully through active coaching and partnered corrective action as needed. Provide ongoing training, intentional career growth pathing, and constructive feedback to direct reports.
• Deliver Results: People and performance go together. Work with your Regional/District Manager, General Manager, and Retail Kitchen Operations to deliver on assigned goals. Work through the front and back-of-house teams to consistently deliver an exceptional guest experience, rooted in operational excellence to exceed sales and profitability goals. If it matters, it should be measured - productivity, efficiency, yield, quality, safety, and beyond.

3. Operational Standards & Execution

• Maintain Excellence: Oversee daily opening and closing procedures, ensuring strict compliance with brand standards, product quality, inventory management (receiving, on-hand, waste, and shrink), and standard operating procedures.
• Production Optimization: Participate in forecasting, ordering, and production planning along with labor optimization through schedules. Understand P&L statements to drive profitability without compromising on quality or service.
• Safety & Compliance: Enforce rigorous food safety, sanitation, and physical security measures, ensuring the kitchen and sales areas pass all audits.

4. Agile Problem Solving

• Navigate High-Volume Environments: Anticipate bottlenecks during rush periods and make quick, calculated adjustments to staffing positions or workflows.
• Adaptability: Welcome change and adapt smoothly to new corporate initiatives, product rollouts, or unexpected mechanical/facilities challenges; and can independently solve problems.
• Conflict Resolution: Serve as the problem solver for interpersonal team conflicts or intricate customer complaints, resolving issues with an open mind and structured judgment in partnership with the General Manager.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years of progressive leadership experience in a high-volume quick-service or fast-casual restaurant, or food production environment. ServSafe National Food Manager’s Card Required
• Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong emotional intelligence and sense of team dynamics and is comfortable with technology.
• Work Ethic: "Hungry and Humble” a self-motivated professional who takes immediate initiative, actions feedback, possesses a servant’s heart, and continuously looks for operational improvements.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, squat, and walk for extended periods, work in a fast-paced environment with highly repetitive work, and lift up to 50 lbs. Ability to work alone at times.
• Availability: Flexible schedule, including the ability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Tenets of the Pack (Company Values)

Live Our Mission - We believe this is more than a job. It’s a cause.

Be a Team Player - We put company goals and success first.

Maintain a Positive Attitude - We bring energy, enthusiasm, and drive to everything we do.

Deliver Results - We play to win.

JUSTFOOD FORDOGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

JUSTFOOD FORDOGS does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law.