Manager, Tempo Operations

Join to apply for the Manager, Tempo Operations role at Home Chef
. Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. Available online at  and in retail at more than 2,100 Kroger grocery stores, we are committed to inspiring and enabling more people to cook simple, delicious meals, no matter how busy they are.

In 2023, Home Chef introduced a new brand,
Tempo — a rotating selection of ready‑to‑heat meals delivered directly to your door. These meals are better‑for‑you versions of familiar favorites, designed to save you time and reduce stress while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Tempo Operations Manager will oversee end‑to‑end operations of Home Chef’s Ready‑to‑Heat (RTH) production, ensuring consistent quality, food safety, and execution against production targets. The role manages a cross‑functional team of culinary and production professionals including Executive Chefs and Production Kitchen Supervisors. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment, excels in leadership and team development, and is passionate about operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

• Ensure seamless execution of all RTH production operations, including prep, cooking, cooling, portioning, traying, sealing, and labeling.
• Coordinate production planning, ingredient readiness, and kitchen line staffing with plant leadership and warehouse teams.
• Monitor adherence to production schedules and address obstacles in real time.

• Lead by example and embody Home Chef values of Customer First, Best‑in‑Class Team, Ownership, Pursue Excellence, and Deliver Happiness.
• Directly manage Executive Chef and Production Kitchen Manager.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development across kitchen and production teams.
• Foster a high‑performance culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive strong communication across shifts and departments by ensuring huddles and daily communications are completed effectively.

• Ensure strict compliance with food safety programs (GMP, HACCP, SQF).
• Champion a “Safety First, Quality Always” culture across shifts.
• Act as escalation point for quality and food safety concerns, coordinating with Quality and FSQA teams.

• Collaborate with R&D chefs to support recipe rollouts, menu improvements, and ingredient transitions.
• Partner with Procurement to address sourcing issues and ingredient changes.
• Align with HR, Quality, and Engineering on process and system improvements.

• Own daily/weekly reporting of production KPIs, team performance, and quality metrics.
• Utilize Progress Tracker and other tools to track batch data, yields, and line performance.
• Identify process gaps and lead implementation of SOPs and efficiencies with Continuous Improvement.

This position requires 5% travel.

• 5+ years of leadership experience in high‑volume food production, culinary operations, or manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of HACCP and SQF requirements.
• Demonstrated success in managing cross‑functional production and culinary teams.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and production tracking tools.
• Ability to manage in a cold production environment (~38°F).
• Exceptional communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• General high school degree, or equivalent (e.g., GED).

• Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer – enter promo code PEOPLE
  30 for $30 off your first order!
• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance available.
• Paid holidays, sick time and vacation time.
• 401(k) program.
• Flexible spending accounts for qualified medical, dependent care, parking, or transit expenses.

We are humble team players. We are warm and gracious with team members and customers. We seek feedback to improve ourselves—and respectfully listen to and accept input.

We are pragmatic next‑level thinkers. We come up with novel and unique ideas.…