Kitchen Manager

SSA Group•Venice, FL

About The Position

The Kitchen Manager oversees back-of-house preparation, staffing, food service, safety, quality, availability, merchandising, and guest-service standards at the assigned location. The role supports daily operations, maintains a clean and organized work environment, and helps deliver warm, welcoming, memorable experiences for guests and clients in keeping with SSA’s 452 Hospitality approach. The Kitchen Manager directs and coaches kitchen associates, supports training and performance management, coordinates prep and cleaning tasks, monitors food-safety practices and records, and maintains kitchen equipment. The role works with restaurant supervisors, the Food Service Operations Manager(s), and the Regional Executive Chef to address daily service and quality issues, and operates in accordance with applicable laws and company policies. This is a full-time, non-exempt position eligible for overtime. The role may require varied hours and days, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and requires standing for extended periods and handling or moving boxes weighing 10–35 pounds as needed.

Requirements

Three years of supervisory experience.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate with the General Manager and personnel.
Proven leadership skills and an understanding of team building and development, while fostering partnerships with other branch managers.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills and the ability to stay organized.
Multitasking, attention to detail, analytical, planning, and leadership skills.
Ability to remain flexible in a fast-paced environment.
Basic computer knowledge and skills for office functions.
Ability to stand for extended periods and move and handle boxes weighing 10–35 pounds as needed.
Ability to work varied hours and days, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate is a team player who is personable, professional, upbeat, energetic, takes initiative, and uses tact and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

Deliver warm, welcoming, and memorable experiences for every guest and client, embodying 452 Hospitality.
Ensure the back of house is adequately prepared and staffed for daily operations.
Oversee kitchen duties and ensure food-service, safety, quality, availability, merchandising, and guest-service standards are met.
Oversee safety logs, including food temperatures, product rotation, and waste.
Ensure staff follow uniform, hygiene, handwashing, and glove-use practices.
Support SSAfety training on knife handling and ensure direct reports use knives and slicers properly.
Create daily preparation and item lists and delegate work as needed.
Support operations and fill staffing or task gaps to keep service running smoothly.
Maintain checklists for routine and daily cleaning, ongoing projects, and menu planning.
Assign duties to associates and coach them on projects, daily tasks, and guest interactions.
Respond to guest and client feedback and report issues to the Operations Manager to help prevent recurrence of complaints.
Train new employees and issue performance reviews.
Manage performance coaching and progressive documentation with oversight from the Operations Manager.
Report employee attendance and hour discrepancies to payroll.
Oversee break and rest-break management for back-of-house employees.
Inspect equipment and perform routine maintenance and cleaning as necessary.
Help the team complete daily tasks in a timely manner.
Communicate daily service or quality issues to the Regional Executive Chef and Food Service Operations Manager.
Work with restaurant supervisors to ensure locations operate to standard.
Supervise in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Perform other tasks as necessary and maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment.
Uphold and demonstrate an understanding of company policies and procedures.
Promote an inclusive and supportive approach within the Brand team and across units, remove barriers, and empower team members’ growth and opportunity.
Lead by example in sustainability and conservation efforts, apply relevant practices in the business, and provide opportunities to teach unit staff.
Engage with SSA and the unit in community efforts and opportunities to give back.

Benefits

Paid Time Off plan of up to 144 hours based on tenure.
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, plus other voluntary benefits for the employee and family; employee premiums apply.
401(k) program with a 15% company match, subject to eligibility requirements.
Up to 120 hours of SSA-paid leave for qualifying reasons, including parental leave and serious medical conditions affecting the employee or family.
Up to 40 hours of paid bereavement leave.
On-demand pay access to a portion of earned wages before payday.
Meal plan and employee discounts where applicable.
Tuition discount through a partnership college.
Holiday pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Paid sick leave in accordance with applicable state and local laws.