Kitchen Lead

ABOUT PRESSED CAFE

At Pressed Cafe, we believe great food starts with great people, quality ingredients, and a team that takes pride in what they make.

Our all-day menu features Mediterranean-inspired food made with fresh ingredients, paired with great coffee and fast, friendly hospitality.

We are a growing, founder-led company with multiple locations and an exciting expansion plan. As we grow, our Commissary is becoming an increasingly important part of how we deliver consistency, quality, and great food to every Pressed Cafe location.

Our mission is simple: GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT FOOD. GREAT COFFEE.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a hands-on Kitchen Lead who loves food, understands high-volume production, and knows how to lead a kitchen team.

This is not a desk job.

You will be on the floor working alongside the team — cooking, tasting, training, solving problems, organizing production, and making sure the food leaving our Commissary is something we are proud to put our name on.

Working closely with the Executive Chef and Commissary leadership, you will help lead daily culinary production for multiple Pressed Cafe locations while helping us continue to build and improve our production systems.

This is an opportunity for a chef who wants to be part of a growing operation and have a real voice in how we produce, improve, and scale our food.

Schedule & Compensation

• Full-Time: 55–60 hours per week
• Schedule: Friday–Tuesday
• Shift Length: 11-hour shifts
• Hourly Rate: $23/hour
• Earning Potential: With regular overtime, total annual earnings can exceed $75,000+
• Overtime: Overtime is paid in accordance with applicable federal and state wage laws.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Culinary Leadership & Production

• Lead daily culinary production and ensure food is prepared to Pressed Cafe standards
• Work hands-on with cooks and prep teams throughout the production day
• Execute recipes accurately while maintaining quality, flavor, yield, and consistency
• Oversee batch cooking, sauces, soups, proteins, vegetables, baked goods, and other commissary production
• Taste and inspect finished products and make adjustments when necessary
• Help plan daily and weekly production based on store demand
• Identify production bottlenecks and develop practical solutions
• Help scale recipes and production methods as Pressed Cafe continues to grow
• Assist with recipe development, R&D, testing, and new menu launches
• Maintain strong standards for portioning, presentation, labeling, and product quality
• Help create and improve SOPs and production systems

Lead the Kitchen Team

• Lead by example and set the standard for professionalism, organization, cleanliness, and culinary execution
• Train and develop cooks and prep team members
• Assign production responsibilities and keep the team on schedule
• Coach team members on culinary techniques and proper equipment use
• Build a culture of accountability while maintaining a positive kitchen environment
• Work with Commissary leadership to identify training needs and develop future leads
• Communicate clearly with leadership and other departments throughout the day

Food Safety & Quality

• Maintain strict food safety and sanitation standards
• Follow HACCP procedures and company food safety policies
• Monitor cooking, cooling, holding, and storage temperatures
• Ensure proper labeling, dating, storage, and FIFO rotation
• Maintain clean, organized workstations and production areas
• Ensure equipment is cleaned and maintained properly
• Participate in inspections, audits, and food safety training

Kitchen Operations

• Assist with inventory and production planning
• Monitor product usage, yields, waste, and pars
• Communicate ingredient and equipment needs before they become production problems
• Help manage labor according to production demands
• Work closely with receiving, shipping, and Commissary leadership
• Help ensure products are completed accurately and on time for daily deliveries

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a chef first — someone who understands that great production starts with great culinary fundamentals.

You should have:

• 4–6+ years of professional culinary experience
• At least 1–2 years of kitchen leadership experience
• Experience leading a high-volume kitchen, production kitchen, commissary, catering operation, hotel kitchen, or similar environment preferred
• Strong knowledge of professional cooking techniques
• Experience with batch cooking and large-scale food production
• Experience scaling recipes and maintaining consistency across large volumes
• Strong palate and attention to flavor, texture, quality, and presentation
• Ability to read, follow, and develop recipes
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to lead, coach, and hold a kitchen team accountable
• ServSafe Manager Certification required or ability to obtain within 30 days
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work on your feet in a fast-paced production kitchen
• Ability to speak Spanish (preferred)

THE CHEF WE'RE LOOKING FOR

You don't need to know everything.

But you should be someone who:

• Cares about the food.
• Takes pride in the details.
• Can lead a team without standing over them.
• Knows how to move fast without cutting corners.
• Can walk into a messy production problem and figure out how to fix it.
• Wants to teach and develop people.
• Wants to build something bigger than themselves.

If you are the kind of chef who sees a better way to do something and immediately starts thinking about how to make it happen, we want to meet you.

WHY PRESSED CAFE?

Pressed Cafe is growing, and our Commissary is growing with it.

This position gives the right chef an opportunity to be part of that growth — not simply maintaining an existing kitchen, but helping us build the culinary systems, team, and production culture that will support the next stage of Pressed Cafe.

If you're ready to roll up your sleeves, lead from the front, and help us make great food at scale, we'd love to meet you.

Pressed Cafe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Pay: From $23.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Are you comfortable working full-time, 55-60 hours/ week Friday-Tuesday?

Work Location: In person