Kitchen Operations Manager

Kitchen Operations Manager — COWLOON

Location: South Loop, Chicago, IL
Job Type: Full-time

COWLOON is a new Chinese restaurant bringing a fresh, modern energy to Chinese dining in Chicago. We are building a restaurant rooted in great Chinese food, hospitality, and a strong team culture. We are looking for an experienced Kitchen Operations Manager to help us build and lead our kitchen team from the ground up.

This is a people-first leadership and operations role. Our menu and recipes have already been developed, so your focus will be on building the team, training employees, establishing strong kitchen systems, maintaining standards, and making sure our food is executed consistently every day.

We need someone who can be the glue of the kitchen — someone who can bring people together, create structure, communicate clearly, solve problems, and build a kitchen culture where everyone knows their role and takes pride in their work. Cowloon can seat up to 85 guests and flow is crucial.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Interview, hire, onboard, and train kitchen employees
• Build and maintain a reliable, hardworking kitchen team
• Establish clear expectations around performance, attendance, cleanliness, teamwork, and food quality
• Train employees on COWLOON’s recipes, preparation methods, equipment, and procedures
• Coach employees and provide ongoing feedback
• Hold team members accountable while maintaining a positive and respectful workplace
• Develop strong communication and teamwork across kitchen stations
• Identify opportunities to develop employees and help team members grow within the restaurant

Kitchen Operations:

• Oversee daily prep, service, opening, and closing procedures
• Build schedules and ensure appropriate staffing and station coverage
• Manage kitchen flow during high-volume service
• Monitor inventory and communicate ordering and supply needs
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, cleanliness, and organization standards
• Establish efficient kitchen systems, checklists, and routines
• Ensure equipment and workstations are properly maintained
• Identify operational problems and implement practical solutions
• Maintain a kitchen that is organized, prepared, and ready for every service

You Are Someone Who:

• Is an experienced Kitchen Operations Manager, Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or Chinese restaurant leader who understands both Chinese cuisine and people management.
• Naturally takes ownership and solves problems
• Enjoys building and developing teams
• Is highly organized and dependable
• Communicates clearly and directly
• Can balance being supportive with holding people accountable
• Stays calm and solutions-oriented during busy service
• Is hands-on and willing to jump in when the team needs support
• Takes pride in food quality and consistency
• Enjoys creating structure and systems
• Wants to help build something from the ground upHire → Train → Organize → Lead → Hold Accountable → Support → Execute

COWLOON is being built from the ground up, giving you the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the restaurant’s culture, team, and operations.

If you have experience with Chinese cuisine, love leading people, and take pride in creating a kitchen that runs exceptionally well, we’d love to meet you.

Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief introduction about your experience managing restaurant teams and your experience working with Chinese cuisine and kitchen operations.

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person