Senior Kitchen Manager

BJ's Restaurants•Downey, CA

About The Position

As a Senior Kitchen Manager at BJ’s Restaurants, you’ll lead kitchen operations by building strong teams, delivering exceptional food, and driving operational excellence. You’ll oversee team development, food quality and safety, inventory, and kitchen execution while creating an environment where team members can thrive. As a member of the restaurant leadership team, you’ll exercise independent judgment and make operational decisions that support restaurant performance, team engagement, and guest satisfaction. This is an exempt management position focused on leading people, developing talent, and ensuring operational excellence across the kitchen. The role requires a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and a minimum 50-hour work week consisting of five 10-hour shifts. The stated salary range is $74,000–$79,000 per year, with bonus eligibility.

Requirements

At least one year of full-service kitchen experience or General Manager-level experience in a fast-casual environment.
One year of experience leading, coaching, and motivating high-performing teams.
Experience using kitchen systems and technology, including KDS, scheduling, inventory management, and ordering.
Passion for creating exceptional guest experiences and fostering a positive, team-focused culture.
Demonstrated success managing food costs, labor, safety standards, and operational performance.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in a fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards, with a track record of high health inspection scores.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays, with a minimum 50-hour work week consisting of five 10-hour shifts.

Responsibilities

Lead daily kitchen operations and ensure smooth execution and a well-prepared team.
Set priorities through pre-shift communication, coaching, and team development.
Maintain a safe, compliant, and well-functioning kitchen environment.
Support hiring, development, performance management, and career growth for team members.
Champion food safety, sanitation, and operational standards.
Ensure menu items are prepared with quality, consistency, and attention to detail.
Oversee daily preparation and production to deliver an exceptional guest experience.
Train, coach, and develop kitchen teams.
Foster accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Partner with front-of-house leaders to deliver seamless service and support guest recovery when needed.
Manage food costs, labor, safety standards, and operational performance.