Chef/Kitchen Manager

Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager

Empire Burgers & Brew

Empire Burgers & Brew is looking for a hands-on Executive Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead our kitchen team. We’re looking for someone who loves being in the kitchen, leads from the front, takes pride in a clean and organized operation, and can bring creativity to a high-volume burger concept.

This is not a clipboard chef position. We want a leader who is present on the line, works alongside the team when needed, develops people, holds high standards, and takes ownership of the kitchen.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, train, coach, and develop the kitchen team
• Be actively involved in daily kitchen operations and service
• Maintain high standards for food quality, consistency, presentation, and ticket times
• Create new burgers, specials, sauces, appetizers, and other menu ideas that fit the Empire brand
• Develop monthly and seasonal Burger of the Month features
• Maintain an exceptionally clean, organized, and food-safe kitchen
• Manage food cost, waste, portioning, inventory, ordering, and receiving
• Build effective prep systems and pars to support high-volume service
• Schedule and manage kitchen labor appropriately based on sales
• Recruit and develop strong cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers, and kitchen leaders
• Hold the team accountable while creating a kitchen culture people want to be part of
• Work closely with the General Manager and ownership to continually improve the restaurant

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is:

Hands-on. You aren’t afraid to jump on the line, work the grill, help with prep, or solve a problem during a busy service.

Creative. You enjoy developing burgers and approachable American food that guests actually want to order—not creativity just for the sake of being different.

A leader. You can build a team, communicate expectations clearly, coach people, and hold standards consistently.

Obsessed with cleanliness. A clean walk-in, organized prep area, clean equipment, proper labeling, and a spotless kitchen should be non-negotiable.

Financially responsible. You understand that great food also has to make financial sense and know how to manage food cost, labor, waste, and purchasing.

Consistent. You understand that the guest should get the same great burger on a Tuesday afternoon that they receive on a packed Saturday night.

Ideal Experience

• 3+ years of kitchen management or chef leadership experience
• Experience in a high-volume restaurant preferred
• Strong understanding of food and labor cost management
• Experience hiring, training, and developing kitchen employees
• Strong knowledge of sanitation and food-safety standards
• Burger, tavern, casual American, or high-volume scratch-kitchen experience is a plus

The Opportunity

Empire Burgers & Brew is part of a growing restaurant group, and we’re looking for someone who wants more than simply managing today’s shift.

For the right person, there is an opportunity to build a team, influence the menu, improve the operation, and grow into greater responsibility within our restaurant group.

We want someone who can walk into the kitchen every day and make the food, the people, and the operation better.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Why are you looking to leave your current job?
• During a busy Friday night, where would we most likely find you and what would you be doing?
• Tell us about a kitchen team you improved. What problems did you inherit, what changes did you make, and what measurable improvement did you see in food cost, labor, turnover, ticket times, or food quality?

Work Location: In person