Kitchen Manager (Den Airport)

Olive and Finch • Denver, CO

3d • $70,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Kitchen Manager oversees all back-of-house (BOH) operations for our airport concept, ensuring consistent food quality, cleanliness, safety, and peak efficiency within a unique, high-volume environment. This exempt leadership role is responsible for independent inventory management, strict cost controls, vendor/supply chain relations, and staff development. The Kitchen Manager leads the hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management of all BOH employees while fostering a positive, inclusive, and professional work culture. Reporting directly to restaurant leadership, the Kitchen Manager plays a critical role in upholding Olive & Finch's chef-driven standards and ensuring strict airport compliance across all kitchen spaces.

Requirements

• Must be able to successfully pass the required federal background screening and fingerprinting process mandated by Denver International Airport to secure and maintain a DEN airport badge.
• Minimum 3-5 years of progressive kitchen leadership experience required.
• Experience managing BOH operations in a high-volume airport, hotel, or complex hospitality environment is strongly preferred.
• Strong financial savvy with proven experience managing food costs, BOH labor budgets, complex inventory tracking, and waste minimization.
• Skilled in hiring, training, and performance management of diverse culinary teams.
• Deep knowledge of professional cooking techniques, high-volume kitchen standards, food safety, and airport-specific regulatory compliance.
• Flexible availability including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays to manage multi-shift airport kitchen operations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing BOH operations in a high-volume airport, hotel, or complex hospitality environment is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of kitchen operations, ensuring food is prepared strictly to company recipes, build guides, and Olive & Finch Collective quality standards.
• Maintain a pristine, safe, and organized kitchen environment in strict compliance with health department codes, sanitation regulations, and airport safety standards.
• Manage BOH staff, including hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance management, while fostering an inclusive culture of accountability.
• Develop precise prep lists, manage kitchen workflow, and ensure total readiness for high-volume airport daily service shifts.
• Lead independent inventory management processes, utilize software tracking, minimize waste, and strictly monitor food and labor costs to meet budgeted targets.
• Manage vendor relations, ordering, and receiving. Partner with the DEN Facilities & Supply Chain Manager to coordinate secure zone vendor escorts and logistics.
• Monitor kitchen facilities and equipment functionality. Assist with technical equipment triage, preventative maintenance, and airport facility compliance.
• Collaborate closely with FOH leadership to ensure smooth service, excellent ticket times, and strong cross-departmental communication.
• Assist in menu execution, seasonal rollouts, and continuous improvement of airport kitchen operations.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary based on experience.
• Bonus Eligible.
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and accrued Sick Time.
• Company-funded retirement plan.
• Generous meal discounts and opportunities for advancement within a rapidly growing company.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed