Kitchen Manager

KITCHEN MANAGER — FARM TO SMASH

Located in San Diego, CA

About Farm To Smash

We’re not just making burgers. We’re building a better way to eat fast food. At Farm To Smash, our focus is on high-quality, better-for-you burgers, fries, and shakes made from real, fresh ingredients with zero seed oils and no shortcuts. We prep in-house daily, work with intention, and take pride in everything we serve.

We’re looking for an experienced, hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our kitchen team, maintain our high standards, and help keep daily operations running smoothly. This is an opportunity for a motivated leader who takes pride in quality, team development, and creating a kitchen that runs as good as the food we serve.

Position: Kitchen Manager

We’re looking for a dependable, organized, and detail-oriented leader who can balance hands-on kitchen work with staff management and daily operational responsibilities. The ideal candidate leads by example, communicates effectively, holds the team accountable, and takes ownership of kitchen performance from prep to service.

What You'll Do

• Lead and manage the kitchen team: Oversee daily staff operations, delegate responsibilities, support training, and hold team members accountable to company standards.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations: Ensure the kitchen is properly prepped, organized, stocked, and ready for smooth, efficient service.
• Maintain food quality and consistency: Ensure recipes, portions, cooking methods, presentation, and food preparation meet Farm To Smash standards every shift.
• Manage inventory and ordering: Monitor inventory levels, track product usage, communicate supply needs, and maintain appropriate stock levels while minimizing waste.
• Enforce company policies and procedures: Ensure all team members follow food safety requirements, sanitation practices, recipes, portion standards, and established operating procedures.
• Lead by example: Stay hands-on during service, support the team during high-volume rushes, and maintain a positive, professional, and productive kitchen environment.
• Maintain organization and cleanliness: Keep kitchen stations, storage areas, equipment, and prep spaces clean, organized, and properly maintained.
• Communicate across the team: Coordinate with FOH management and ownership regarding staffing, inventory, equipment, product quality, operational challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support team development: Train new hires, reinforce expectations, provide constructive feedback, and help build a reliable team that takes pride in its work.
• Take ownership of kitchen performance: Identify problems before they become bigger issues, communicate proactively, and help implement solutions that improve efficiency and consistency.

What We're Looking For

• 2+ years of kitchen management experience required
• Previous experience managing kitchen staff, overseeing inventory, and running daily kitchen operations
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to set expectations, coach employees, and hold the team accountable
• Highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented
• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen operating procedures
• Ability to maintain quality and consistency in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with FOH management and ownership
• A hands-on work ethic and willingness to jump in wherever needed
• Ability to stay calm under pressure, make sound decisions, and solve problems independently
• Passion for real food, quality ingredients, and clean preparation (bonus if you love our seed oil-free mission!)
• Flexible availability, including weekends and evenings, as needed

Details

• Location: Farm To Smash, San Diego
• Pay: $23-27 depending on experience
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Work Location: In person

Want to Join the Team?

If you're a strong kitchen leader who takes pride in great food, a well-run team, and high standards, we'd love to hear from you!

Please send your resume to [email protected] to apply.

Pay: $23.00 - $27.00 per hour

Experience:

• Line cook: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: In person