General Manager - Kitchen Operations & Hospitality

Taste Buds Kitchen - Bellevue•Bellevue, WA

6h•$28 - $33

About The Position

Taste Buds Kitchen Bellevue is seeking an experienced, organized, and personable General Manager to lead daily operations at its culinary entertainment studio. The studio offers hands-on cooking classes, kids' camps, birthday parties, corporate team-building events, and private celebrations. This is primarily an operations and people-leadership role rather than a culinary instructor position. The General Manager will own back-of-house operations, purchasing, inventory, staffing, training, event logistics, business administration, and the overall guest experience. The role may also involve leading hands-on classes and events when operationally necessary. The ideal candidate is proactive and resourceful, thrives in a small-business environment, enjoys working with people, and takes pride in running an efficient, organized, and successful operation.

Requirements

At least 3 years of management experience in restaurant, hospitality, culinary, or event operations.
Demonstrated experience overseeing kitchen operations, inventory, food purchasing, and staff.
Proven ability to hire, train, schedule, and manage hourly employees.
Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
Working knowledge of food safety regulations and commercial kitchen standards.
Excellent interpersonal skills and a warm, outgoing personality.
Comfort using scheduling, inventory, and business management software.
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Culinary experience is strongly preferred.
Professional chef credentials are not required.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily kitchen operations, food safety, sanitation, and facility readiness.
Manage grocery shopping, ingredient purchasing, inventory, and pantry organization.
Plan and coordinate food preparation for upcoming events.
Maintain systems for ingredient storage, labeling, rotation, and waste reduction.
Ensure compliance with health department requirements and franchise standards.
Monitor kitchen equipment and coordinate maintenance.
Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and train culinary instructors, assistants, and hosts.
Manage employee scheduling, timekeeping, and labor budgets.
Coach, supervise, and evaluate staff performance; build a positive, reliable, and accountable team.
Ensure events are adequately staffed while controlling labor expenses.
Develop instructors and assistants so they can execute events independently.
Oversee cooking classes, camps, birthday parties, and corporate events, including preparation, staffing, setup, execution, and cleanup.
Ensure events begin and end on time and follow established Taste Buds Kitchen standards.
Maintain consistent program quality and guest satisfaction.
Occasionally instruct hands-on cooking classes, camps, parties, and private events when operationally necessary.
Monitor food costs, labor expenses, purchasing, and operating efficiency.
Maintain employee schedules, shopping lists, inventory records, and operational systems.
Implement processes and checklists to improve productivity and consistency.
Track operational performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with the owner on business goals, sales initiatives, and profitability.
Create a welcoming, energetic, and professional environment for guests of all ages.
Build relationships with clients, families, and community partners.
Support customer inquiries, private event coordination, and bookings.
Address guest concerns promptly and professionally.