Kitchen Manager

Posted yesterday

pickle pad birdie parteeOld Bridge (NJ)

Food Service Managers Full-Service Restaurants

SENIORITY

Mid

SALARY

$50,000-$60,000 annually

Apply

About the role

Job Description: Job Description Kitchen Manager - The Pickle Pad & Birdie ParteeAbout the VenueThe Pickle Pad & Birdie Partee is a family entertainment center in Old Bridge, NJ, featuring indoor pickleball courts, golf simulator bays, and mini-golf attractions. The venue's bar and dining area operates under the Crave Social Eatery concept, serving a full menu and drinks to guests throughout the facility.

Position Summary: The Kitchen Manager owns all back-of-house operations for the Crave Social Eatery kitchen, reporting directly to the General Manager. This is a ventless kitchen built around TurboChef high-speed ovens rather than a hood, fryers, or open flame, so the role centers on precise execution of pre-prepared/pre-cooked product rather than traditional line cooking. Responsibilities span food quality and consistency, staffing and training, food cost and inventory control, and full health and safety compliance in a high-volume, entertainment-venue environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Hire, train, schedule, and supervise all kitchen staff (prep, expo, dish/warewash)
Operate and maintain TurboChef high-speed ovens and other rapid-cook equipment; train staff on correct programs/cook times for each menu item
Own food cost, portioning, and inventory: ordering, receiving, rotating, and storing pre-prepared/frozen product (no on-site frying, grilling, or open-flame cooking)
Enforce food safety and sanitation standards across all NJ health code and ServSafe requirements, including proper thawing, holding, and reheat temperatures
Maintain recipe consistency, plating standards, and ticket times during service
Order from and manage relationships with vendors and distributors
Oversee preventive maintenance and repair of kitchen equipment (TurboChef ovens, warewash, refrigeration, etc.)
Coordinate closely with the bar/FOH team and General Manager on service flow, private events, and league/tournament food service
Conduct routine line checks, temperature logs, and equipment checklists
Manage labor costs against sales targets and adjust staffing to volume
Step in during peak periods and staff call-outs Qualifications & Experience
2+ years of kitchen management experience, ideally in a high-volume, quick-service, or ventless/assembly-style kitchen (fine dining or fryer/line-cook background not required)
Current ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire, per NJ food code)
Hands-on experience with TurboChef, Merrychef, or similar rapid-cook/combi ovens strongly preferred
Proven track record managing food cost percentage, labor cost, and inventory
Strong leadership and staff development skills; experience hiring and training BOH teams
Working knowledge of NJ health department regulations and safe food handling/holding temperatures
Proficiency with POS/inventory systems and basic scheduling software
Prior experience in an FEC, sports/entertainment venue, or multi-concept dining environment a plus Physical Requirements & Work Environment
Able to stand and move continuously for full shifts (up to 10 hours)
Able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs (cases of frozen/refrigerated product, supplies, equipment)
Comfortable working around hot ovens and warewash equipment; no open-flame or fryer exposure
Must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays, aligned with peak FEC traffic (leagues, tournaments, parties, events)
Fast-paced, high-volume environment shared with pickleball, golf simulator, and event operations Compensation, Schedule & Benefits
Full-time, salaried position: $50,000-$60,000 annually, based on experience
Health insurance provided
Schedule includes nights, weekends, and holidays as business needs require, typically 45-50 hours/week

Before you apply

Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.

Your profile is current

It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.

Two examples you can talk through

Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.

A number in mind

What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.

Your notice period

Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.

Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.